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2016 Volkswagen Passat Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the air bags (24% of complaints, typically around 46,000 miles). It is 17th of 23 Passat model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2016 Volkswagen Passat problems
Air bags
25 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
When I went to start the car the air bag warning light came on and stated "error". All the functions on the steering wheel would not work, this included the horn, cruise control, radio system and air bag. I was afraid that either the air bag could just go off or would not go off if I got into an accident. I also could…
My clock spring and switch broke and needed replacement. I was in motion making a turn when a crunching noise was made. My warning lights went off claiming air bag error, acc error. I could not use my turn signal or horn. I was able to pull into a parking lot and call the dealership. After speaking with the…
Electrical
22 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 6,000 miles.
There is issue with hmi (radio) and instrument panel cluster. The screen goes freeze. This issue is sporadic, and I am concerned about safety of myself and family. I am afraid while driving suddenly instrument panel cluster ipc screen goes freeze not able to see what my vehicle speed is currently. Suddenly if I am not…
Today, I have a big problem with my Passat, I arrived to my office this morning , and I was calling by phone with other, before close the door of my car, and I forgot to push the bottom to switch off the engine, all day I was working in my office, and after I left from my company, and back at home, the car was without…
Steering
19 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 41,500 miles.
When I went to start the car the air bag warning light came on and stated "error". All the functions on the steering wheel would not work, this included the horn, cruise control, radio system and air bag. I was afraid that either the air bag could just go off or would not go off if I got into an accident. I also could…
Issue with the lane assist feature. Seems like it is to sensitive. On 3/3/19 I was driving on the highway going about 65 MPH on a slight curved road and the with clear markings. The system seems to have picked up on some tire marks and swerved towards the center medium which easily could have caused an accident. I…
Engine
19 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 86,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
On may 21, 2018, I was driving to work. I stopped at a gas station, and when I went to leave my car died. I had the car towed to quirk vw in manchester, nh and they told me that the engine was blown. They told me that it had jumped time and valves of engine most likely have contacted pistons, etc. Needs engine and…
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while parked, the horn, cruise control, and the radio became inoperable. The message âair bag not availableâ, check clockspring, and check oil messages were displayed. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or…
Fuel system
18 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate above 35 MPH, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the vehicle and the epc warning light had illuminated briefly then the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over onto the side of the road however, the…
While the vehicle is parked the fuel pump continues to run after turning engine off; the issue disappears if the engine is started then turned off; fan like noise comes from under the right-rear wheel while the fuel pump runs with the engine off; this issue is similar to recall campaign number 17v509000, or vw recall…
Brakes
17 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
Passat brakes started squealing at around 9000 miles. When serviced at dealer they stated brakes were fine. Squealing continued to 20k miles. Again serviced at dealer and said brakes were fine. Squeeling eventually stoped but after noticing severe vibration in steering wheel during freeway driving and when applying…
I have a 2016 Volkswagen Passat se that I leased about a year and a half ago. A little over a month ago the car braked on its own with myself, my mother, sister, and my 2 year old son in the car for absolutely no reason going 45 miles per hour. The next incident the car decided it was not going to brake and we had to…
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 25,500 miles.
The air bag light illuminated and then soon after all steering wheel buttons became inoperable. Diagnosed as clock spring failure. Vehicle has less than 35,000 miles.
Same issue as NHTSA id # 11096639. Car was parked, turned off, and locked after 3 adults exited the car and entered a story. A few minutes later a concerned person ran in the store asking who owns a black vw? The car had rolled away, unattended, after being parked on a slight incline. It rolled into another car about…
Speed control
11 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
2016 Volkswagen Passat, driving in the rain and the car slowed to a near stop and could not ascend a small incline on interstate 95 southbound at or about stratford, connecticut. The car was towed to a local vw dealership in stratford ct. When put into gear the engine shook violently and there was no power. When in…
While driving the ABS light came on (constant speed, highway, dry conditions), disabling cruise control. The airbag light then came on. Then the tire sensor light and finally the steering wheel light and exclamation point icon next to the steering wheel light.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Volkswagen Passat recalls
Other: unknown or other
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed may 20, 2021. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01f1.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 touareg gp, tiguan, golf a6, e-golf gp, ccf, 2016-2017 passat gp, 2018-2019 golf r gp, and 2018 atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Other: unknown or other
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began october 6, 2020. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01e9.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 volkswagen golf r and atlas, 2017 golf alltrack and e-golf and 2016-2018 passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Lights: headlights
Risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began july 16, 2019. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94l9.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 volkswagen passat and 2018-2019 atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Fuel system: fuel rail
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15f7.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 jetta vehicles manufactured october 31, 2015, to january 21, 2016, 2016 passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8t engines manufactured november 13, 2015, to december 9, 2015, and 2016 golf vehicles manufactured november 5, 2015, to november 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.
Engine
Risk: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began march 2016. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23r1.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 jetta, beetle, beetle convertible, passat, golf and golf sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (25 complaints, typically around 46,000 miles); electrical (22 complaints, typically around 6,000 miles); steering (19 complaints, typically around 41,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 5, 2021 (other). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Volkswagen Passat?
- It is 17th of 23 Passat model years by number of complaints, with 106 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.