10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,139 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Volkswagen Jetta engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments

problem #12

Jan 262024

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving above 45 mph, at time the EPC light will pop up on the dash and power will be slightly lost to the vehicle. Almost immediately after this happens, the oil light will pop on despite the oil being changed and done on a beyond routine basis. we have brought the vehicle into be serviced at the Volkswagen dealership numerous times and the same thing continues to happen. Recently, when driving on the interstate the EPC light came on and the vehicle stalled in the middle of the interstate. Luckily, no accident was caused but it was a near miss. This has been an issue since purchasing the vehicle and the oil is required to be changed much sooner than necessary. Volkswagen keeps "fixing" it but it continues to happen but we have paid over $3500 in getting it "fixed." The problem seems to occur at random times but most notably when going over 45mph.

- Ocean Springs, MS, USA

problem #11

May 142023

Jetta

  • miles
UNKNOWN; once the car started, it would not accelerate, the EPC and Engine warning lights came on; car still starts up The Tire Pressure sensor light has been going off/on, regardless of the tire pressure being correctly set

- Warner Robins , GA, USA

problem #10

Jun 122022

Jetta

  • miles
The problem happens when the car is on, and when attempting to accelerate the car will feel like it was put into neutral and you cannot do anything other than coast. The car has done this a few times while driving. Also, when trying to accelerate from a stop at a signal light, the car can suddenly stall, and you won't be able to do anything. From a safety standpoint, this is very bad since if you had to quickly accelerate to avoid a collision or other possible scenario and the car won't move, or accelerate, to reach speeds on a freeway or highway. Problem occurred last night when attempting to accelerate and merge onto the highway, felt like the car was in neutral ('D' light was blinking as well as the 'Hybrid' light). What is concerning is that VW did know about this problem and they only did a recall for very small number of vehicles. We called VW and they said no recalls on our 2016 Jetta Hybrid for this problem. I'm reporting the problem here because we have experienced the same problem multiple times and the dealer said to replace the Mechatronic J743 unit, this was very cost prohibited for us at the time.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #9

Jun 012020

Jetta

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated the eps, brakes, check engine, TPMS, and front adaptive headlight system warning lights were illuminated. The cruise control was also inoperable. The contact stated while driving 20 mph with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle decelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the two unknown sensors needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Walker, LA, USA

problem #8

Sep 142019

Jetta

  • 29,500 miles
My vehicle has started to hesitate when I try to accelerate randomly. It doesn't happen every time I drive but it happens multiple times per week. I will press my gas, and my car will hesitate, I hear it revving but my rpms go nowhere. It's almost like it's not catching. This will occur for around 5 seconds, leaving me incapable of moving. It has left me stuck in the middle of intersections, taking unsafe turns out of parking lots, etc. It is a very scary issue. However, no check engine or other lights illuminate at that moment, and no codes are found when the car is scanned. I have a sprint drive device that is constantly plugged in to the oem port and it has never picked up on an issue which makes diagnosis very difficult. This leaves me in serious fear of driving my car that I just purchased certified used 3 months ago, with less than 30,000 miles on it. I also have another issue where the same set of lights come on every time I drive- ABS, tire pressure, airbag, traction/anti-skid, and steering wheel light all come on at the same time... but not sure if they're related because they don't initiate simultaneously with the delay in acceleration.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #7

Oct 102018

Jetta

  • 24,398 miles
When pulling into a parking space in a large parking lot, as soon as I started the turn, my car accelerated dramatically causing the car to jump the curb and hit the concrete base of a light pole head on. Airbags were not deployed. Insurance declared the vehicle a total loss. I did contact VW customer care who has told me my issue has been well documented, however, neither VW or my insurance company looked any further at the vehicle for issues.

- St. Louis Park, MN, USA

problem #6

Jul 122018

Jetta

  • 38,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owned a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 25 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and heard a loud boom sound. The contact's vehicle suddenly accelerated to approximately 45 mph and rear ended the preceding vehicle. The vehicle was towed and the insurance company declared it a total loss. The driver was slightly injured along with the driver of the other vehicle, but neither motorist received medical attention. A police report was not filed. The contact's vehicle was kept by the insurance company from July to October 2018 because they could not locate the vehicle in the salvage yard. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they could not assist until they heard from the insurance company. The dealer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was 38,000.

- Richmond, CA, USA

problem #5

Jul 122018

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 3,999 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving at a slow speed with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated from 3 mph to 40 mph and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact was not injured; however, the driver of the other vehicle sustained a whiplash. Medical attention was not received. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was deemed destroyed. The dealer was not contacted to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,999.

- Richmond, CA, USA

problem #4

May 272017

Jetta

  • 11,400 miles
This car continues to sporadically go in reverse while I am in drive. This has happened while waiting in like at a drive through, foot on break while in drive while waiting for food, then told to pull up only to nearly back into the car in line behind me. Had to put car in park and shut off engine- restart to correct problem. Has happened while foot on break at red light while in drive, took foot off break when light turned green - car went into reverse while drive shaft "D" still lit up almost backing into car behind me. And again this happened while backing up in my apartment parking lot, put car into reverse to back out, break, when to put car into drive and car went into reverse. Each time the car has went into reverse while in drive I have had to turn off the car completely and restart to correct the problem. This is a huge safety hazard and threatening to my car, my safety, and other drivers. Dealership cannot recreate problem and says therefore there is no problem, VW customer care is no help either as they simply keep telling me to take it back to the dealership.

- Maumee, OH, USA

problem #3

Mar 272017

Jetta

  • 12,200 miles
I drove into a parking lot 27march 2017 and proceeded to park my Jetta in a parking spot however, as I was doing so the car accelerated forward and leaped the curb. I stepped on the brake but the car would not stop until it hit 2 vehicles with my foot pressing the brake pedal and as the car impacted the other cars.

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #2

Jan 212016

Jetta

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. The vehicle was slot to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was applied. The brakes were also slow to respond when applied, which caused the contact to apply force to the brake pedal. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure after checking the brake system. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available.

- New Rochelle, NY, USA

problem #1

Apr 092016

Jetta

  • 4,170 miles
The contact rented a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the contact violently depressed the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. The rental Agency was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,170.

- Vinton, VA, USA

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