What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners filed the most complaints about the engine and the electrical system. Unknown or other and the fuel system follow. See the problems section for the full list.

Does the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?

Yes, the by-year data lists 4 recalls for this model year. They are listed in the Recalls section of this page.

How many complaints does the 2016 Jetta have?

NHTSA has 164 owner complaints on file. They are unverified reports, and one complaint can name more than one part.

What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?

See the fuel economy section of this page for EPA ratings and yearly fuel cost.

Is the 2016 Jetta a good year compared with other years?

The by-year comparison section shows complaints and recalls for each year side by side. Use it to compare.

2016 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 164 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta^[1]. The engine group is the biggest, with 45 complaints^[2].

164owner complaints^[1]

4recalls^[3]

27–44MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints under several parts of the car, and these are the groups, biggest first.

Engine. 45 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe a check engine light soon after buying, a car that pauses when they press the gas, and worry about heat with no temperature gauge to watch.
Electrical system. 38 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a charger port that shorted out, a leaking battery that ate the cables, and a key that would not come out of the ignition.
Unknown or other. 35 complaints^[7]. These reports do not fit a named part, so there is little to add here.
Fuel/propulsion system. 28 complaints^[8]. Owners describe an engine that quit on a busy road, a strong fuel smell after parking, and an emissions test that ended with a repair code.
Brakes. 24 complaints^[9]. Owners describe a pedal that sank to the floor, brakes that felt slow to respond, and shaking when stopping. These complaints mention 9 crashes^[9].
Power train. 22 complaints^[10].
Steering. 12 complaints^[11].
Speed control. 12 complaints^[12]. Owners in this group mention 5 crashes^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2016 Jetta is necessarily included.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail (20V648), October 2020. About 218,192 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire.^[13]
Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module (19V615), August 2019. About 679,027 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail (16V403), June 2016. About 55 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine (15V705), October 2015. About 91,867 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking.^[16]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Jetta, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	25 / 35 / 29	$2,300
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	24 / 33 / 27	$2,500
Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	23 / 33 / 27	$2,500
Jetta, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	25 / 36 / 29	$2,300
Jetta Hybrid, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	42 / 48 / 44	$1,850
Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	28 / 39 / 32	$2,100
Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[22]	28 / 40 / 33	$2,050

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD^[5]	5	4	5	4	11.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2016 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.4L 4-cylinder^[23]	150 hp
2016 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.8L 4-cylinder^[24]	170 hp
2016 Volkswagen Jetta with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[25]	210 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
JETTA 4DR SEDAN 1.8L TSI^[26]	183 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	3,007 lb
JETTA 4DR SEDAN 2.0 TDI^[27]	183 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	3,241 lb
JETTA 4DR SEDAN 2.0L^[28]	183 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	2,804 lb
JETTA 4DR SEDAN TURBO HYBRID^[29]	183 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	3,311 lb
JETTA GLI 4DR SEDAN 2.0L^[30]	183 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	3,124 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Jetta model year. The 2016 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	220	4
1996	31	1
1997	54	1
1998	192	2
1999	349	6
2000	439	4
2001	668	6
2002	704	5
2003	458	2
2004	233	2
2005	248	4
2006	580	4
2007	201	4
2008	190	4
2009	905	6
2010	875	5
2011	640	8
2012	527	6
2013	633	7
2014	441	7
2015	197	8
2016	164	4
2017	160	6
2018	31	2
2019	549	11
2020	54	6
2021	69	4
2022	43	1
2023	43	0
2024	46	0
2025	30	2
2026	6	1

NHTSA's counts for the Jetta show 164 complaints and 4 recalls for 2016^[3]. Among the 33 model years listed, 12 have fewer complaints than 2016 and 20 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2009 (905)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2016 Jetta?

The 2016 Jetta has a real complaint record, with 164 reports filed with NHTSA^[1]. Engine and electrical issues lead the list^[2]^[6]. Brake complaints deserve a close look too, since they mention 9 crashes and 9 injuries^[9]. The by-year section shows 4 recalls for this model year^[3], so it is worth checking the Recalls section before you buy. These are unverified owner reports, so treat them as a guide to what to ask about and inspect.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?: Owners filed the most complaints about the engine^[2] and the electrical system^[6]. Unknown or other^[7] and the fuel system^[8] follow. See the problems section for the full list.
Does the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?: Yes, the by-year data lists 4 recalls for this model year^[3]. They are listed in the Recalls section of this page.
How many complaints does the 2016 Jetta have?: NHTSA has 164 owner complaints on file^[1]. They are unverified reports, and one complaint can name more than one part.
What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?: See the fuel economy section of this page for EPA ratings and yearly fuel cost.
Is the 2016 Jetta a good year compared with other years?: The by-year comparison section shows complaints and recalls for each year side by side^[3]. Use it to compare.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Volkswagen Jetta

2012 527 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 633 complaints, 7 recalls
2014 441 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 197 complaints, 8 recalls
2016 this page
2017 160 complaints, 6 recalls
2019 549 complaints, 11 recalls

Compare all model years of the Volkswagen Jetta

Other Volkswagen models from 2016

2016 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 237 complaints, 14 recalls
2016 Volkswagen Passat 106 complaints, 5 recalls
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 97 complaints, 2 recalls

All Volkswagen models

Similar cars from 2016: compact cars

2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport 75 complaints, 1 recall
2016 Audi A3 121 complaints, 6 recalls
2016 Audi A4 26 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Cruze 250 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Ford Fiesta 178 complaints, 0 recalls
2016 Ford Focus 1,194 complaints, 11 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 164 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta (18 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 14 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
45 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Volkswagen Jetta model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Jetta Hybrid, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 42 city / 48 highway / 44 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
38 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,450). NHTSA vehicle records
35 complaints name the unknown or other component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,731). NHTSA vehicle records
28 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 34,100). NHTSA vehicle records
24 complaints name the brakes component group (9 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, median mileage at failure 35,558). NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the power train component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 32,000). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,000). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the speed control component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,299). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 20V648, filed October 21, 2020: Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V615, filed August 22, 2019: Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V403, filed June 6, 2016: Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V705, filed October 26, 2015: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Jetta, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 35 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 33 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 33 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 36 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 39 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Jetta, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 40 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.4L 4-cylinder: rated 150 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Volkswagen Jetta with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 170 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Volkswagen Jetta with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 210 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA 4DR SEDAN 1.8L TSI: length 183 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,007 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA 4DR SEDAN 2.0 TDI: length 183 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,241 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA 4DR SEDAN 2.0L: length 183 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,804 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA 4DR SEDAN TURBO HYBRID: length 183 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,311 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, JETTA GLI 4DR SEDAN 2.0L: length 183 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,124 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2016 Volkswagen Jetta: problems, recalls and fuel economy