Most common 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen problems
Share of the 51 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen complaints by model year
Best Golf Sportwagen years: 2019, 2018, 2017. Compare all years →
2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen:
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle.
What 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen owners say
Air bags
SRS/airbag warning light illuminated. A diagnostic scan (VCDS) confirmed stored fault codes for both front airbag crash sensors: driver's side 'short to ground' and passenger's side 'open or short to plus.' Upon further inspection, water was found pooled at the airbag control module connector, located under the center dash. The AC condensate drain line is routed directly above this module, and appears to be the source of the water intrusion - water drained from the connector itself when disconnected, and dampness was present at both the upper and lower AC drain hose connections near the module. After drying and reconnecting all components, an attempt was made to clear the fault codes via VCDS. The airbag module returned a 'not acknowledged' response to the clear command, indicating the fault condition and/or internal component damage may still be present. …
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V543000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer advised the contact to avoid using the front passenger's side seat. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact stated that there was an odor of gasoline in the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle was stalling while driving. The contact stated she stopped at a gas station and attempted to add gasoline; however, the tank was already full. The contact was able to drive home safely. After the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that gasoline was leaking underneath the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V647000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the vehicle was previously repaired under the recall. The contact was informed that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,400.
The fuel pump on my 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen failed approximately three months after a safety recall repair for the suction jet pump (recall 20Y6). My independent mechanic explained that failure of the suction jet pump can cause fuel leakage or vapor transfer into the EVAP system, which may create pressure or vacuum imbalance inside the fuel tank. This can potentially damage other fuel-system components, including the fuel pump. My vehicle had no prior fuel-system issues. After the recall repair, the vehicle began experiencing symptoms consistent with fuel delivery problems, and the fuel pump ultimately failed. The mechanic who performed the repair noted that the failure was "highly likely related" to the suction-jet-pump defect because of the short time between the recall repair and the component failure. …
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact stated that there was an odor of gasoline in the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle was stalling while driving. The contact stated she stopped at a gas station and attempted to add gasoline; however, the tank was already full. The contact was able to drive home safely. After the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that gasoline was leaking underneath the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V647000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the vehicle was previously repaired under the recall. The contact was informed that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,400.
May 27 and May 28: The car turned on the EPC and check engine lights while on parking mode and on. Started to loose power and didnt want to start again. Later on, the lights turned off and it started again. While trying to fill the fuel tank at the gasoline station it stopped and it was only half tank.(The system didnt allowed to continue). While driving in the highway, started to loose power and a strong smell of fuel was inside the car so the driver had to open all the windows to avoid an intoxication with emissions(as it seemed to be). When the driver got to the destination in the highway, near San Juan, the smell of fuel was so strong that had to turn off the car and call a tow truck because the return travel would be long and the smell of fuel was stronger... it seemed to be spilling fuel and it was not safe to drive the car back home. …
2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 34 / 29 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 35 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen a good car?
Based on 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Golf Sportwagen rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Golf Sportwagen at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen?
The air bags — 17 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and fuel & propulsion system (9).
How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen, the most recent from February 14, 2024 (fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2017. See the full Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 44,000 miles; 64% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.