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Volkswagen Golf RModel year report

2016 Volkswagen Golf R Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
18,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl AWD · 23 city / 30 hwy

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

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R. The part named most often is electrical system, with 2 complaints (17% of the total), followed by engine (2) and fuel system (2). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 80% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 18,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 562 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the software and 119 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 72 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: “- vehicle is getting 19mpg (mostly highway). Mpg on car is well below published range of 22-31. Vw tell me that I will only get the published mpg after 9000 miles!! - carplay system is not connecting to *any* apple iphone. - infotainment system is sometimes not turning on - keyless start is intermitently functioning. Cannot get car to start despite the key being placed next to steering column. - reversing camera fails to engage often. - locking (beep) confirmation is not working consistently. …”

NHTSA complaint #10821238, filed 2016-01, 200 miles

Engine: “During normal driving conditions the cel turned on and the car indicated it was low on coolant. I topped of the reservoir and a couple of weeks later it had gone back down.”

NHTSA complaint #11349286, filed 2020-08, 27,244 miles

Fuel system: “I'm not entirely sure what is wrong with the car but I was sitting in my car waiting for an appointment for about an hour. I backed out of my parking space and found that there was a large puddle of gas where I was parked. I moved back into the parking space and stopped the car. I found that there was a leak coming out of the rear passanger wheel well. I have pictures of the leak. This happened while sitting stationary in the car. No warning signals popped up but if the gas caught on fire my car would have been at risk. My little sister was in the car with me. it is available for inspection. …”

NHTSA complaint #11579504, filed 2024-03

Other or unknown: “The shifter surround started peeling near the cubby storage hole below the climate control. The part that peeled up is so sharp that it sliced my hand open when grabbing for my phone. Apparently this is a super common problem causing some people to need to get stitches. I had to try to stop the bleeding while still keeping my hands on the steering wheel and shifting the shifter (my car is manual) as well. Not safe!”

NHTSA complaint #11466651, filed 2022-05

Mileage when problems were reported

80% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,400 and 27,244 miles.

40%0–1020%10–2520%25–5020%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 18,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

201620172201920202021220222202422026
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Golf R · sedan AWD★★★★★5 / 4554 · 13.4% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2016 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Volkswagen Golf R version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Golf R AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic233025$3,300
Golf R AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual223125$3,300

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 Golf R → · 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. 562 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 562 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volkswagen Golf R

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202659000—25—Too new
202412—1—25—Too new
20236203—26—Too new
202210—5—26—Not enough data
201968,9502526—Not enough data
201898,5004525—Not enough data
20171520,5000525—Falling
20161218,0004525—Not enough data

All Volkswagen Golf R model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Electrical system is named most often, in 2 complaints (17% of the total), followed by engine with 2.

Has the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R (Golf R, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 23 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 18,000 miles and the middle half falls between 1,400 and 27,244 miles; 80% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.