2016 Volkswagen Golf R Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Golf R years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R. That ranks 2nd out of 13 Golf R model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 17%), typically at around 800 miles. Complaints mention 2 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 12owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Volkswagen Golf R problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 17% | 800 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 17% | 13,722 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 17% | 28,159 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 8% | 18,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Volkswagen Golf R recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:body control module:software; visibility/wiper
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Golf R vehicles. Incorrect front windshield wiper software was installed which may prevent the wipers from activating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
Risk: Windshield wipers that cannot be activated may lead to reduced visibility for the driver and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91EN.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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. Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
Latches/locks/linkages
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
Risk: If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Golf R vehicles manufactured March 17, 2016 to March 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a Federal Certification Label that lists an incorrect rear axle weight limit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: The listed weight limit is low enough that the vehicle owner may ignore the weight limits and overload the vehicle and exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began July 2016. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01B5.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) (RQ23007) — opened Dec 12, 2023, closed Jul 1, 2024, led to recall 24V110.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
On 04/24, I purchased 4 P235/40ZR18 Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires from Tire Rack. The tires have approx 15000 miles on them. I discovered the tires started to show approx 1/2 in cracks all around the tire where the tread transitions to the sidewall. This appears to be a safety issue because if…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - fuel system/gas tank - yes How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - smell of fuel in the car, can't fill up the tank without auto shut off Has the problem been reproduced or…
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…
Chrome trim around the shifter began peeling and exposed sharp edges. Sharp edges of raised trim are close to a storage cubby so there is a risk of touching them and being cut, something which has happened to me (driver). Issue has not been inspected by a dealer or manufacturer etc. No warning…
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…
Other Volkswagen Golf R years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Golf R | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 Golf R | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 Golf R | 12 | 1 |
| 2023 Golf R | 6 | 3 |
| 2022 Golf R | 10 | 5 |
| 2020 Golf R | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 Golf R | 6 | 2 |
| 2018 Golf R | 9 | 4 |
| 2017 Golf R | 15 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 4 |
| 2015 Golf R | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Golf R | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 Golf R | 1 | 0 |
See all Volkswagen Golf R problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Golf R model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.