YearToAvoid

2016 Volkswagen CC Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

29/100

#6 most-complained of 8 CC years

The 2016 Volkswagen CC ranks 6th out of 8 model years with a complaint index of 29 and a Good verdict. It has 26 complaints, 6 recalls, and the top problem area is airbags at 42% of complaints.

Complaints
26
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
21 city / 31 hwy

Top 2016 Volkswagen CC problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags11 (42%)
  2. Fuel System8 (31%)
  3. Electrical System6 (23%)
  4. Other3 (12%)
  5. Brakes2 (8%)
  6. Engine2 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (8%)
  8. Steering1 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbag warning lights and sensor faults appear along with reports of steering power loss linked to a failing clockspring.
  • Owners describe the vehicle suddenly losing all power while driving on the highway around 30 mph, then requiring several minutes before it will restart.
  • Some owners report the push-start ignition fails to respond when trying to turn the vehicle off.
  • Airbag ECU replacement parts under the Takata-related recall were reported as unavailable for extended periods, with dealers unable to give a timeline.
  • An adaptive front lighting system warning message appears every time the car is started, even while stationary.
  • One owner reported applying excessive brake force while parking, resulting in a crash into a wall and injuries.
2016 Volkswagen CC complaints: complaints filed per month5Nov 2017Jul 2018Apr 2019Jun 2020Nov 2021Oct 2022May 2023
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2017 to May 2023; peak Feb 2019 (5).

2016 Volkswagen CC recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V535000Jul 17, 2019Airbags27,822 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

    Risk: Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.

  2. NHTSA 19V014000Jan 11, 2019Airbags119,394 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).

  3. NHTSA 18V329000May 16, 2018Other252 vehicles

    Unknown or other

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

    Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

See all 6 recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen CC →

2016 Volkswagen CC fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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 CC years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Good4380525
2015Best1430425
2016Good2926625
2017No verdict04322.5

All Volkswagen CC years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Volkswagen CC reliable?
Among CC model years, 2016 ranks 6th out of 8 with a complaint index of 29 and a Good verdict, meaning it has fewer reported problems than most other CC years, such as 2010 and 2012, which carry indexes of 86 and 100.
What are the main problems with the 2016 Volkswagen CC?
NHTSA complaints show airbags as the top problem area at 42% of complaints, followed by fuel system issues at 31% and electrical system issues at 23%. Median mileage at failure across the model is 40,500 miles.
Does the 2016 Volkswagen CC have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2016 CC, covering airbags, fuel system, and structure and body issues, including a fuel pump control module recall and an airbag ECU recall.
How does the 2016 CC compare to the best CC model year?
The 2015 CC has the lowest complaint index at 14 and a Best verdict, while the 2016 CC has an index of 29, placing it behind 2015 and 2014 but ahead of years like 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.