2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#3 most-complained of 6 Golf SportWagen years
The 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen has a complaint index of 60, ranking 3rd worst out of 6 model years, with a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 51 complaints, 3 recalls, and 2 crashes, with Airbags as the top problem area at 33% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 51
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 25 city / 34.5 hwy
Top 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags17 (33%)
- Engine13 (25%)
- Other10 (20%)
- Fuel System9 (18%)
- Electrical System6 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (8%)
- Structure & Body3 (6%)
- Steering2 (4%)
- Brakes1 (2%)
What owners report
- Airbags deploy unexpectedly during minor low-speed collisions, sometimes accompanied by the windshield shattering.
- Clock spring failure triggers airbag warning lights along with loss of cruise control and steering wheel controls, occurring in under two years or well under 20,000 miles for some owners.
- Airbag warning light comes on after routine driving, later traced to clock spring mechanism failure just outside the warranty mileage limit.
- Blocked roof drains let rainwater into the cabin, soaking carpets and triggering a dashboard alert to stop driving immediately.
- Panoramic sunroof leaks let water into the passenger cabin and spare tire compartment during rain or snow.
- Engine EPC warning light appears with reduced engine power and sometimes overheating warnings, requiring the engine to be shut off and restarted.
2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V110000Feb 14, 2024Fuel System261,257 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
- NHTSA 22V543000Jul 27, 2022Airbags1,216 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
- NHTSA 18V464000Jul 11, 2018Electrical System33,168 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
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 March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37L5.
2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 25 MPG
- Highway
- 34.5 MPG
- Combined
- 28.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,275
- 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 Golf SportWagen years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Golf SportWagen ranks 3rd worst out of 6 model years with a Caution verdict and a complaint index of 60.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Golf SportWagen?
- NHTSA data shows Airbags as the top problem area, making up 33% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 25% and Fuel System issues at 18%.
- Does the 2016 Golf SportWagen have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Golf SportWagen covering the fuel system, airbags, and electrical system, none of them do-not-drive recalls.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically occur on the 2016 Golf SportWagen?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 40,834.5 miles at failure for Airbag-related complaints on this model year.
- How does the 2016 Golf SportWagen compare to other years?
- The 2015 model has the highest complaint index at 100 and an Avoid verdict, while 2019 has the lowest at 20 with a Best verdict; the 2016 sits in between with a complaint index of 60.