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2016 Volkswagen Jetta Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 5 NHTSA recalls and 161 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
30/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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5
NHTSA Recalls
5 recalls on record
161
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
18
Crash Reports
5 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Volkswagen Jetta (5)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Volkswagen dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System: Fuel Rail
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…
NHTSA #20V648000
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Master Cylinder
If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new…
NHTSA #20E064000
🔧 Electrical System: Ignition: Anti-Theft: Control Module
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…
NHTSA #19V615000
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System: Fuel Rail
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…
NHTSA #16V403000
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine
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.
NHTSA #15V705000
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Based on 161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
33
Unknown Or Other
23
Power Train
20
Engine
15
Service Brakes
14
Fuel/propulsion System
14
Steering
11
Air Bags
7
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Volkswagen Jetta — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

2011 640 complaints 2012 527 complaints 2013 518 complaints 2014 387 complaints 2015 194 complaints 2016 161 complaints 2017 160 complaints 2018 31 complaints 2019 549 complaints 2020 54 complaints 2010 875 complaints

→ Recently checked Volkswagen Jetta VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2010 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2016, 2017, 2018 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Is the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta has 5 recall campaigns and 161 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta have?
The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta has 5 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta are: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta safe to buy?
The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 5 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Volkswagen Jetta should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Volkswagen Jetta are: 2016, 2017, 2018. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2010.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.