14 complaints reported

2016 Volkswagen Jetta Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
14
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2025

My camshaft sensors went bad at 77k miles had it towed to auto repair. Auto shop said my timing tensioner and chain were worn and needed replacement. Cost was 6200.00. A month later the engine blew at 81k miles. This was a lease for the first 3 years so all maintenance was done by Volkswagen. I had it serviced three times after that. Sits in my garage half the year as I travel by airplane or tour bus for work so no need to drive all the time. This shouldn’t be happening.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2025
Jan 2025

I bought the car brand new in 2016 had the oil changed on its scheduled maintenance and at 77000 mile my timing chain made my car go into limp mode. Now I am looking at a 4700$ in mechanic and engine work.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2025
May 2024

There is an issue with the amount of engine oil used. It is burned up at a rapid pace. This has caused my car to malfunction (EPC light turns on). This happened to me driving on the highway it put myself and my passengers in danger as the car would slow down and jerk abruptly. My car has been inspected by a VW dealership. They found no issue on it. However, when taking it to an independent VW mechanic shop, I was informed this is a common issue in this car. They engine oil burns drastically. This has caused me to spend a significant amount of money to replenish the oil level every week. My current situation is using about 3 quartz of oil every 1500 miles! Otherwise, my car will run with no oil which could lead to permanent engine problems and dangerous driving conditions. The low oil warning goes off almost all the time. I was quoted a repair cost from an independent shop of more than $3,000 to fix this well known issue by reconstructing parts of the car to mirror newer models for which VW fixed this problem. This indicates to me VW is aware of this factory defect. Moreover, tons of people are reporting this issue online. I recall is in order.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2023
Jul 2022

Water pump and thermostat housing inspected and needing to be replaced according to inspection by Volkswagen Welsey Chapel on this 2016 Jetta. The quoted repair needs immediate attention and costs $1025.46. A leaking water pump could also cause the engine to stop functioning while the car is in motion. Even if the driver pulled over, being stranded on the side of a highway waiting for a tow could be dangerous. I notified VW customer care and was directed NHTSA as there is no recall for this cars year. There were not warnings of this issue until noticed at inspection. Volkswagen has yet to issue a recall for this severe problem.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2022
Nov 2021 Crash

I got this vehicle at 36,000 miles and I have put 23,000 on it in one year. There have been no warning messages. I was in idle and my RPMs started jumping I put it in reverse ( jumping stopped) , then drive to have the vehicle get a mile or two down the road and completely die. I was rear ended . Got it into a repair shop to be told by a certified mechanic it was throwing codes for the camshaft as well as needing an evap purge at just under 60,000 miles.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2021
Apr 2021

BEGINNING AT 60K MILES I REALIZED THAT MY JETTA SPORT 1.8L BEGAN TO CONSUME OIL AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN USUAL SO MUCH SO THAT I TOOK IT TO MY NEARBY DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND THAT THE OLDER VW'S GET THE MORE THEY BURN OIL. HOWEVER, THEY REFERRED TO THE OIL BURNING AT AROUND A QUART EVERY 5,000 MILES BUT MY CAR IS BURNING OIL AT 5 TIMES THAT SPEED OF A QUART EVERY 1,000 MILES. I HAVE TO KEEP A QUART OF OIL IN MY CAR AT ALL TIMES AND IT IS BEGINNIGN TO BECOME EXPENSIVE. I TRAVEL BETWEEN STATES OFTEN AND DO THE ARIZONA-INDIANA AND BACK TRIP ONCE A YEAR SO IT DOES HAVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES ON IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2019
Mar 2021

Excessive oil consumption over a short period of time - inspected by auto mechanic and VW dealer - no leaks and no buring of oil noted. Loosing a quart over the period of one month after an oil change - warning light comes on but when you are alone on the highway at night you cant always pull over.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Jan 2021

VOLKSWAGON RELEASED RECALL NUMBER 24GI ON OCTOBER 14, 2020, THE SUMMARY OF WHICH STATES, "THE FUEL RAIL BOLTS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY BECOME LOOSE OVER TIME. THIS CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK. SAFETY RISK: LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE." AS OF THE DATE JANUARY 19,2021, A REMEDY FOR THIS ISSUE IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE FROM EITHER THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2020
Nov 2020

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (USED AT AROUND 73K MILES) THE TURBO FAILED. I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD AT THE MILEAGE SO I ATTEMPTED TO SUBMIT A CLAIM TO VOLKSWAGEN. I WAS DENIED. MY HUSBAND WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TURBO FAILED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW AND LAG WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. HE PULLED OVER AND CALLED TGE TOW TRUCK AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO VOLKWAGEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT I REACH OUT TO VOLKSWAGEN TO SUBMIT A CLAIM BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS TOO EARLY FOR THAT KIND OF FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Oct 2020

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE ACTIVE GRILL SHUTTERS ARE STUCK IN THE OPEN OR CLOSE POSITION. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2020
Sep 2020

I DRIVE A 2016 VW JETTA ,MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON.WHEN I MADE AN APPT WITH THE VW DEALER, THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON MY CAR WITH THE CODE P22630,WHICH IS THE TURBOCHARGER /BOOST. THE COST FOR THE PART IS ABOUT $ 2500. FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD AND HAVING A MAJOR REPAIR ISSUE ,IAM SO DISAPPOINTED AND FEEL NOT SAFE AT ALL. HOW CAN A TURBO CHARGER BOOST BREAK ALREADY!!!! THATS MY COMPLAINT. ANYONE ELSE HAS A PROBLEM LIKE THAT?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2020
Mar 2019 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAULT UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE RESIDENCE. THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL INSPECTION DONE ON THE VEHICLE. SERRA VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 1490 CENTER POINT PKWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35215, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AT 205-286-9924, AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. AT PRESENT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED TO BE DESTROYED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2019
Jul 2018

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 16V4030000.VOLKSWAGON IA WARE OF RECALL

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2016
Feb 2018

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND SLOWS TO A STOP. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOT WORK. THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR 10-15 MINUTES IT WILL USUALLY RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta has 14 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.