2016 Volkswagen Jetta problems and complaints
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. The most-reported areas: Engine (43), Electrical System (36), Unknown Or Other (35).
Key takeaways
- 161 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 18 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 14 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 43 | 27% |
| Electrical System | 36 | 22% |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 | 22% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 28 | 17% |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 14% |
| Power Train | 22 | 14% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 7% |
| Steering | 11 | 7% |
| Fuel System | 7 | 4% |
| Gasoline | 7 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 7 | 4% |
| Structure | 4 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-08-28
Ignition not turning all the time leading the steering wheel to lock up.
Service Brakes - filed 2026-04-02
I tried to stop my car and the brake pedal went completely to the floor and did not stop at all. There were no warning lights on, I keep my brakes and car well maintained. My car hit the rear of another car because the brakes failed to engage when I pushed the pedal down. My car which is the vw jetta was totaled in the...
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-01-20
In the past I owned a 2017 jetta, which I sold approximately one year ago. It had a 1.4 liter turbo engine. At some point around 18 to 20 years ago, I started smelling gasoline fumes in the cabin. It was rare and intermittent. I did not check it out as it did not seem like an urgent issue. I sold the vehicle about a y...
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More for the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.