No car is perfect, but some Volkswagens come pretty close. With a fairly low rate of breakdown and modest annual repair costs, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta carries the VW banner with pride.
Key Points
- The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta currently holds five recalls, zero investigations, and just 117 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Rollaway concerns led to a major recall for the car in 2019, with more than half-a-million VW units suffering from an issue where the key could be removed with the car not in “park.”
- The longstanding VW model has been hit with recurring fuel rail issues, with the fuel injection lines rattling loose over time and possibly stalling the engine.
- Though complaints are few, drivers have reported electrical issues with the 2016 Jetta, with one even claiming that their infotainment system was hacked.
- A number of Volkswagens, including some 2016 Jettas, were recalled over an issue where power braking would kick in slowly, doubling the distance required to stop.
2016 VW Jetta’s Key May Be Removed When Shifter is Not in ‘Park,’ Leading to Possible Rollaway
The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta was included in a recall for over half-a-million VW units in 2019 for an issue in which the key may be removed when not in “Park,” increasing the risk of rollaway.
The recall was issued for 2011-2018 Jettas equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake, and keyless entry.
Thus far, there have been no complaints regarding the problem since the recall was issued. Of course, given the numbers, it may simply be that relatively few Jettas were affected in the first place.
The root cause of this issue was pinned down to a build-up of silicate on a component of the ignition. The fix involved adding a new switch and circuit board.
Fuel Rail May Have a Tendency to Come Loose, Leading to Two Related Recalls
The 2016 Jetta was recalled for fuel rail issues twice. First in just 55 units, in 2016, then as part of a 2020 recall for more than 200,000 units. In the first instance, Passats were included in the recall. In the second, only 2016-2018 model Jettas.
The first recall concerns a fuel rail that could come loose from the cylinder head, leaking fuel. At the very least, this would result in a loss of engine power. At worst, it could result in an engine fire.
The second recall saw fuel rail bolts coming loose over time. With the rattle and shake of the engine, the bolts could simply unscrew themselves, allowing the fuel rails to detach and fuel to leak.
The first repairs for the latter recall went into effect in 2021. Since then, there have been no complaints for vehicle speed control, but, there was a complaint for a gasoline odor in the vehicle, so it’s unclear if the matter has been completely settled as yet.
A Variety of Electrical Issues Have Been Reported for the 2016 VW Jetta, Including Hacking of Infotainment System
Out of 117 registered NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta reports 28 filed for electrical systems, putting it in the lead.
The issues are all over the place, with some drivers reporting the headlights not working correctly, some mentioning that the horn won’t beep, and at least one driver reportedly having had their radio compromised by hackers.
Some drivers have had issues with removing the key, or moving the key into the off position to shut the engine off, leaving the car to burn precious fuel.
At present, the only recall issued for the car’s electrical issues has been the August 2019 recall for keys being removed when not in park. The other issues remain unaddressed.
Potential Loss of Power Braking Makes for 2016 Jetta’s Most Serious Recall Yet
In October of 2015, over 90,000 Volkswagens, including 2015 and 2016 model year Beetles, Passats, Golfs, and Jettas, were recalled for potential loss of power braking.
The problem stemmed from a potential camshaft lobe fracture, which ultimately came down to issues with the car’s software and how it was managing the braking system. So, the first step for Volkswagen was to simply update the engine control module software, starting in March of 2016.
Volkswagen seem to have nipped this problem in the bud, as there is only one complaint on file for service brakes. The incident date listed is June, 2019, the mileage was noted to be 69,000, and the problem related to the ABS lights blinking on, not to the power brakes failing to kick in.
Issues are Scarce, and Maintenance Costs are Low, Making the 2016 Edition a Safe, Reliable Model Year for the VW Jetta
As with any vehicle, the 2016 Jetta Volkswagen has its share of issues, but they’re few and far between. Plus, the car’s worst issues have already been addressed in recalls, with no open investigations currently on the books.
Your biggest concern when buying a used 2016 Jetta is simply going to be whether or not the previous owner took good care of the car. And, given that it’s a Volkswagen, chances are that they did. You don’t buy a VW just to run it into the ground.
Volkswagens are among the better cars on the used market today, with the 2016 Jetta averaging under $500 a year in maintenance costs. But condition and mileage are everything. So, make sure you’re getting the best 2016 Jetta you can get for your dollar.
Photos: Volkswagen
