2016 Volkswagen Beetle Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
50/100
#5 most-complained of 9 Beetle years
The 2016 Volkswagen Beetle has 48 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 5th worst of 9 model years with a "Caution" verdict. Airbags dominate complaints (73%, 35 cases), tied to a driver's side inflator recall.
- Complaints
- 48
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 24 city / 31 hwy
Top 2016 Volkswagen Beetle problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags35 (73%)
- Electrical System6 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (13%)
- Other5 (10%)
- Engine3 (6%)
- Brakes2 (4%)
- Steering2 (4%)
- Structure & Body1 (2%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (2%)
What owners report
- Front tires reportedly blew out while driving straight at 40 mph on smooth roads, with no prior damage noted.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a three-vehicle collision, leaving occupants at risk of hitting the dashboard or steering wheel.
- Owners report the ABS wiring harness rubbing through after the bracket bent, triggering multiple electrical faults.
- Some vehicles reportedly would not accelerate past 25 mph after a stop, even after the ECM recall repair was performed.
- The horn reportedly worked intermittently, with the relay clicking but no sound, raising concerns about alerting other drivers.
- Owners report the ignition key sticking in the on position, preventing the vehicle from being turned off.
2016 Volkswagen Beetle recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V945000Dec 21, 2022Airbags37,558 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed October 26, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69EM.
- NHTSA 19V615000Aug 22, 2019Electrical System679,027 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module
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."
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 15V705000Oct 26, 2015Engine91,867 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
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.
Risk: 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.
2016 Volkswagen Beetle fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24 MPG
- Highway
- 31 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Beetle years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 48 complaints and a Complaint Index of 50 for the 2016 Beetle, placing it 5th worst among the 9 model years with data, earning a "Caution" verdict relative to other Beetle years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 73% of complaints (35 of 48), with a median failure mileage of 42,000 miles. This is tied to a recall for a driver's side airbag inflator that may explode.
- Does the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Beetle: one for the driver's side airbag inflator, one for an electrical circuit board and switch, and one for an engine control module software update.
- How does the 2016 Beetle compare to other model years?
- The 2016 Beetle's Complaint Index of 50 is worse than 2010 (25, Good), 2017 (0, Best), 2018 (38, Good), and 2019 (13, Best), but better than 2012, 2013, and 2015, all rated Avoid.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?
- The 2016 Beetle gets an EPA-rated 27 mpg combined (24 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400.