2016 Volkswagen Jetta: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 248 complaints
248
Total Complaints
38,937mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
32
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

12,000 25th Percentile
38,937 Median Mileage
69,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
43
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
34
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
30
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
28
POWER TRAIN
22
SERVICE BRAKES
20
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
STEERING
11
AIR BAGS
7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
6

Severity Assessment

32
Crashes
8
Fires
21
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND EMITTED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IND..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND EMITTED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IND..."
"THIS IS THE BASE MODEL S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1.4 TSI. THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A GAUGE FOR MEASURING THE TEMPERATURE. UNABLE TO MAKE A DECISION PROMPTLY IF THE CAR STARTS TO HEAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR APPARENTLY HAS A MECHANISM TO LOWER THE RPMS IF THE CAR STARTS HEATING AND HAS A LIGHT I..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28