Total Complaints
3 filings
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI · model year
2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2016VOLKSWAGENJETTA GLI carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 JETTA GLI is engine with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and steering (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2016 JETTA GLI, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20190306ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE KEY PERIODICALLY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION OR THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. SOME TIMES WIGGLING THE IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL, SHIFT SELECTOR, PRESSING ON THE BREAK OR ROCKING THE CAR IS NECESSARY.
Mileage: 35,000
20190306STEERING
THE KEY PERIODICALLY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION OR THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. SOME TIMES WIGGLING THE IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL, SHIFT SELECTOR, PRESSING ON THE BREAK OR ROCKING THE CAR IS NECESSARY.
Mileage: 35,000
20171128ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LASH VOLKSWAGEN OF WHITE PLAINS, 376 TARRYTOWN RD, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE TIMING BELT CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-822-8987 AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REVIEW ALL THE INVOICES. AFTER THE INVOICE REVIEW WAS COMPLETED, THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE REQUEST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO VIN IN ANY OF THE INVOICES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. CASE NUMBER: 171734952 WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Mileage: 41,000
Compare 2016VOLKSWAGENJETTA GLI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA24004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
RQ24010Recall QueryClosed
Inadvertent Door Opening
RQ23007Recall QueryClosed
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
PE23017Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
EQ22001EQClosed
LGES High Voltage Battery Failures
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI have?▼
The 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI?▼
The most-complained component for the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and STEERING.
Is the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.