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Volkswagen E-GolfModel year report

2016 Volkswagen E-Golf Problems

Complaints
18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
1,874miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
116 MPGecombined, Electric FWD · 126 city / 105 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf. The part named most often is electrical system, with 11 complaints (61% of the total), followed by engine (5) and other or unknown (5). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 92% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 1,874 miles. Of all complaints, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 530 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the traction battery and 140 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 50 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “I was driving down the road and the car halted all of a sudden. An error appeared on the dashboard that said electric failure. Stop. Luckily no cars were behind me or it would have been an accident. The car would not start back up for 30-40 minutes.”

NHTSA complaint #11375152, filed 2020-11, 79,000 miles

Engine: “The drop down v-clamp on the exhaust system at the engine came lose. The screw that is to secure this clamp does not function properly and will not stay in place to keep the clamp tight allowing the exhaust to come into the cabin of the automobile. I drove around with the windows down for two (2) weeks prior to my husband finding the issue. He has finally replaced the screw with another screw and a lock nut in order to keep it closed. First this was a unusual noise, then a smell of exhaust and then, my eyes were burning and running water. And you could not breath. …”

NHTSA complaint #11307180, filed 2020-02, 500 miles

Other or unknown: “Metal trim around center console and steering wheel has sharp edges and can cut hands without warning. My trim was not bent until after it was caught on my hand and sliced my finger in two places.”

NHTSA complaint #11204825, filed 2019-04, 28,630 miles

Fuel system: “I pulled out of my office parking lot and as I was trying to cross into traffic going left, my car died, instrument panel light up like a christmas tree, with a car heading my way. By luck I knocked it into neutral and had enough momentum to get out of the way. Barely escaping an accident. At any moment in the future, I could see this error again: electrical system failure: stop! , which kills the motor, and means no brake or steering assistance system (power steering), airbag, safety belt pretensioner, and other vehicle safety features.”

NHTSA complaint #10838686, filed 2016-02, 2,248 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

92% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 600 and 21,000 miles.

67%0–108%10–2517%25–500%50–758%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 1,874 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

201520165201720182019202020222023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
e-Golf FWDElectricsingle-speed126105116 MPGe$650

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 530 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 530 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volkswagen E-Golf

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201964,2000—119 MPGe—Not enough data
2016181,8745—116 MPGe—Falling
20152917,6533—116 MPGeNot compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling

All Volkswagen E-Golf model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 11 complaints (61% of the total), followed by engine with 5.

Has the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How efficient is the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf according to the EPA?

The EPA rates the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf (e-Golf, Electric) at 116 MPGe combined, 126 city and 105 highway, with an estimated annual electricity cost of $650 at 15,000 miles a year. Other battery and motor versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 1,874 miles and the middle half falls between 600 and 21,000 miles; 92% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.