Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine43
- Electrical system36
- Unknown or other35
- Fuel/propulsion system28
- Power train22
- Service brakes21
- Vehicle speed control12
- Steering11
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Air bags7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 14 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 84 2016 Jetta vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 38 people died inside them, and 6 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta failed the safety check 2.82% of the time — 43% more often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 80,625 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
9,501 new Volkswagen Jetta cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Romania (1,763), the United Kingdom (1,534), Poland (1,341).
- Average mass
- 1,387 kg
- Average power
- 92 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 58% · Petrol 42%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
28 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 100% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €36,225.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde17
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld11
- Band onvoldoende profiel9
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm8
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage4
- Band beschadigd3
- As of wielgeleidingselement ondeugdelijk2
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,057 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 21 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 800 of these cars first registered in 2016 took their annual MOT test. 76% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2016 the figure was 79%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 12.3% | 4.9% |
| Tyres | 6.1% | 6.2% |
| Brakes | 5.1% | 4.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.4% | 6.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.1% | 1.7% |
| Visibility | 2.0% | 3.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
331 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 134,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 11.1 % |
| 2016 Volkswagen Jetta HEV 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 11.1 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 7.2–8.8 L/100 km (about 27–33 mpg US), CO₂ 168–207 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.3 | 5.9 | 7.2 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.5 | 6.0 | 7.3 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.2 | 6.4 | 8.0 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.4 | 6.4 | 8.1 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.8 | 7.0 | 8.6 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.1 | 7.2 | 8.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta.
| 2024648 30 Oct 2024 | Heater And Defroster Issue: Volkswagen Group Canada is conducting a parts recovery campaign targeting 2012-2016 Volkswagen vehicles equipped with a TDI (diesel) engine built betwe… |
| 2020502 21 Oct 2020 | Fuel System Issue: On certain vehicles, the fuel rail bolts could become loose over time. If this happens, there could be a fuel odour or fuel leak in the engine compartm… |
| 2020353 4 Aug 2020 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the warning label for the engine block heater cable is written in English only. As a result, a French user may not receive importa… |
| 2019423 22 Aug 2019 | Powertrain Issue: On certain vehicles, a build-up of silicate on the shift lever switch could cause the transmission to detect that it is in the Park position when it is… |
| 2015504 23 Oct 2015 | Engine On certain vehicles, the camshaft lobe which actuates the vacuum pump may fail, causing the pump to fail to deliver further vacuum supply to the brake booster, … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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."
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11010024 | Lack of paint under roof |
| 11010022 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11010021 | Additional reporting |
| 11010011 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11008861 | Fluid requirements |
| 11008860 | Manual transmission noise diagnosing |
| 11008858 | A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards |
| 11008857 | How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement |
| 11008856 | Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick |
| 11008853 | How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool |
| 11008852 | Recommended Gasoline Quality |
| 11008851 | Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid |
| 11008850 | Fuel additive to help with misfire faults |
| 11008846 | Wind & Water Leak Checking |
| 11007398 | Battery testing |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005825 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11005820 | Engine Assembly Tip |
| 11005819 | Engine Replacement Tip |
| 11002875 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11001522 | These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement |
| 11001508 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11001503 | Forigen objects inside seat belt buckle |
| 11001494 | These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement |
| 10253481 | Carefree Maintenance and VW Care Maintenance Plans Interim AdBlue Refills -? Diesel Engines Model Year 2015 and Newer |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)