2016 Volkswagen GOLF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Volkswagen GOLF has 115 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: safety issue - 2016 egolf would not move after a routine traffic stop with "main charging failed" error. during a normal commute after 3, 4 miles of driving 30 - 40 mph, car wouldn't move after a routine traffic stop right after a traffic light. this is evening 6pm rush hour traffic, car just stoppe.

1 crash report 2 injuries

115

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

32 complaints

28%

• SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPE
• SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS, SECOND TIME HAPPENED A MONTH LATER. SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY CANNOT FIX. MILES JUST UNDER 2000 ON SECOND OCCURRENCE.
• FUEL ODOR IN CAR CABIN USUALLY AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED AFTER BEING RUN AND SITTING BRIEFLY OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AFTER SUCTION PUMP RECALL WORK WAS DONE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

19 complaints

17%

• SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPE
• SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS, SECOND TIME HAPPENED A MONTH LATER. SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY CANNOT FIX. MILES JUST UNDER 2000 ON SECOND OCCURRENCE.
• ENGINE MISFIRED AND CAUSE THE CAR TO STUTTER WITH LOSS OF PERFORMANCE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AT THE NORMAL SPEED DUE TO LOSS OF PERFORMANCE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THE ENGINE HAS MISFIRED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

14 complaints

12%

• TWO PRIMARY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AT THIS TIME: 1. EPC (ENGINE POWER CONTROL) LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT STREET AND FREEWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AND RIDES ROUGH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR AND IT NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE CAR MA
• SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS, SECOND TIME HAPPENED A MONTH LATER. SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY CANNOT FIX. MILES JUST UNDER 2000 ON SECOND OCCURRENCE.
• I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POP LIKE A GUN SHOT. I LOOKED UP AND IT WAS MY MOON ROOF. IT WAS AS IF IT HAD BLOWN OUT. I WAS NOT UNDER AN UNDERPASS OR NEAR ANY VEHICLES THAT COULD HAVE THROWN A ROCK. IT HAPPENED LIKE COMBUSTION. SO RANDOM AND SCARY! IF I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TWO PRIMARY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AT THIS TIME: 1. EPC (ENGINE POWER CONTROL) LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT STREET AND FREEWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AND RIDES ROUGH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR AND IT NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE CAR MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

• DESPITE A 2015 RECALL, 2016 GOLFS ARE STILL BEING AFFECTED BY FAULTY CLOCK SPRING SETUPS AND A LACK OF SOME TYPE OF COVER THAT IS PREVENTING DEBRIS FROM GETTING INSIDE AND BREAKING THEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I THEN NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE CONTROL FEATURES
• THE CLOCK SPRING ON MY CAR WENT BAD AFTER 46,000 MILES. MAKES AIRBAG UNUSEABLE AND STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS DO NOT WORK EITHER
• THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN FALSE WARNINGS OF AIR BAG, STABILIZATION CONTROL, ABS SYSTEM, AND TIRE PRESSURE FAILURES. A REPLACEMENT PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND/OR UNAVAILABLE. THIS WILL RESULT IN DISREGARD OF ANY OF THE ABOVE WARNINGS IN THE FUTURE EVEN IF THEY ARE GENU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“DESPITE A 2015 RECALL, 2016 GOLFS ARE STILL BEING AFFECTED BY FAULTY CLOCK SPRING SETUPS AND A LACK OF SOME TYPE OF COVER THAT IS PREVENTING DEBRIS FROM GETTING INSIDE AND BREAKING THEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I THEN NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE CONTROL FEATURES ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

• SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPE
• DESPITE A 2015 RECALL, 2016 GOLFS ARE STILL BEING AFFECTED BY FAULTY CLOCK SPRING SETUPS AND A LACK OF SOME TYPE OF COVER THAT IS PREVENTING DEBRIS FROM GETTING INSIDE AND BREAKING THEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I THEN NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE CONTROL FEATURES
• SUNROOF DRAIN REINFORCEMENT STEEL HAS DEVELOPED STRESS CRACKS. WHICH HAS LET WATER LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE, ONTO HEADLINER AND DOWN A-PILLARS SATURATING FRONT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS MAKING THEM DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR OPERATED, IT WILL LEAK EITHER WAY. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ADDRESS ISSUE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 115 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TWO PRIMARY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AT THIS TIME: 1. EPC (ENGINE POWER CONTROL) LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT STREET AND FREEWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AND RIDES ROUGH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR AND IT NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE CAR MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: DESPITE A 2015 RECALL, 2016 GOLFS ARE STILL BEING AFFECTED BY FAULTY CLOCK SPRING SETUPS AND A LACK OF SOME TYPE OF COVER THAT IS PREVENTING DEBRIS FROM GETTING INSIDE AND BREAKING THEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I THEN NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE CONTROL FEATURES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)