Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel Rail Bolts May Loosen Allowing Fuel Leak
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.
Key May Be Removed When Not In Park
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
- Consequence
- Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Fuel Rail may Detach and Leak
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15F7.
Loss of Power Brakes due to Camshaft Lobe Fracture
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
- Consequence
- If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (161)
161 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 161 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 43 | 26.7% |
| Electrical system | 36 | 22.4% |
| Unknown or other | 35 | 21.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 17.4% |
| Service brakes | 23 | 14.3% |
| Power train | 22 | 13.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 7.5% |
| Steering | 11 | 6.8% |
| Air bags | 7 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 4.3% |
How 2016 compares with other Jetta years
Best and worst Jetta years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 500 | 5 |
| 2013 | 517 | 4 |
| 2014 | 386 | 4 |
| 2015 | 194 | 7 |
| 2016 | 161 | 4 |
| 2017 | 159 | 6 |
| 2018 | 31 | 2 |
| 2019 | 549 | 11 |
| 2020 | 53 | 6 |
| 2021 | 69 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 33 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 276 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 33 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 40 / 33 | $2,050 | 276 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 39 / 32 | $2,100 | 284 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 35 / 29 | $2,300 | 307 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 36 / 29 | $2,300 | 307 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 33 / 27 | $2,500 | 327 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 33 / 27 | $2,500 | 333 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Jetta for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Volkswagen Jetta FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 20V648000 (fuel system), 19V615000 (steering), 16V403000 (fuel system), 15V705000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
Owners filed 161 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (43), Electrical system (36), Unknown or other (35) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta get?
EPA rates the 1.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 28 city, 40 highway and 33 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (11.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 Jetta compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Volkswagen Jetta model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (31) and the 2019 the most (549). The 2016 drew 161. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.