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EnginePart report

2016 Volkswagen Golf Engine Problems

Complaints
18about this part
Share
21%of 85 total for the year
Median mileage
9,829miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the engine of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf, 21% of the 85 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 9,829 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Engine misfired and cause the car to stutter with loss of performance. This happened to me when making a left hand turn nearly causing an accident because the car was not moving at the normal speed due to loss of performance. This is the 3rd time the engine has misfired since I bought the car. It has less than 2,800 miles on it.”

NHTSA complaint #10897865, filed 2016-08, 2,658 miles

“2016 vw GOLF gti mk7 engine coolant began to slowly leak from thermostat housing seal at 25,000 miles. Dealer replaced housing with rev m part just before my warranty expired. Has this every 25k mile problem been resolved yet?”

NHTSA complaint #11416209, filed 2021-05, 24,000 miles

“Sudden violent shaking while driving. They replaced all four fuel injectors, second time happened a month later. Shaking while driving. They cannot fix. Miles just under 2000 on second occurrence.”

NHTSA complaint #10888512, filed 2016-07, 800 miles

“Safety issue - 2016 egolf would not move after a routine traffic stop with main charging failed error. During a normal commute after 3, 4 miles of driving 30 - 40 MPH, car wouldn't move after a routine traffic stop right after a traffic light. This is evening 6pm rush hour traffic, car just stopped in the middle of the road. While rest of the systems seem to be functioning, the car ignition is on, pressing accelerator pedal doesn't do anything with electrical error , stop message on the dash. After getting stuck in a lane for an hour in rush hour traffic, got the car towed to nearby vw dealer. …”

NHTSA complaint #10816865, filed 2015-12, 975 miles

“I have had this car since 2021, when I first bought it they had to keep it for another week due to a coolant break error? Had to fix it but later on I had to put tons of money into the car almost more money than it’s worth. And I’ve had a engine light on religiously for the entirety of the car, however my cars engine lights flash at times when I am driving and it gets hard to accelerate and reeks of gas- I’ve given up on dealerships because they have done everything else but what I have asked them to do and I still leave and the engine light turns on after. …”

NHTSA complaint #11581003, filed 2024-04

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2023218%
20221012%
2021114%
2020117%
20193454%
2018310%
20171815%
20161821%
20152620%
2014217%
20131433%
20121123%
20111514%
2010710%
200515%
200211%

Other parts of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf

Fuel system
32 complaints
Other or unknown
14 complaints
Air bags
10 complaints
Electrical system
8 complaints
Body and structure
7 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaints
Brakes
4 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
3 complaints
Vehicle speed control
3 complaints
Steering
2 complaints
Suspension
2 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Volkswagen Golf

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology