P0196 on Volkswagen vehicles
P0196 is named on 17 Volkswagen model years (2016–2018): 72 manufacturer filings and 0 owner reports in NHTSA’s files, across Golf / GTI, Beetle, Atlas, Jetta, Passat and 2 more.
Which Volkswagen model years name P0196
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints| Model year | Filed under | Bulletins | Owner reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Electrical System | 10 | — |
| 2018 Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Engine | 8 | — |
| 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Structure | 8 | — |
| 2018 Volkswagen Beetle | Visibility/Wiper | 5 | — |
| 2017 Volkswagen Beetle | Engine | 5 | — |
| 2016 Volkswagen Beetle | Visibility/Wiper | 5 | — |
| 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | Equipment | 3 | — |
| 2018 Volkswagen Jetta | Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — |
| 2018 Volkswagen Passat | Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan | Power Train | 3 | — |
| 2017 Volkswagen Jetta | Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — |
| 2017 Volkswagen Passat | Equipment | 3 | — |
| 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan | Engine | 3 | — |
| 2016 Volkswagen Jetta | Power Train | 3 | — |
| 2016 Volkswagen Passat | Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — |
| 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan | Power Train | 3 | — |
| 2017 Volkswagen Touareg | Engine | 1 | — |
A model year is listed because the code is named in its own record — a bulletin filed against it, or an owner’s complaint about it — not because every one of these vehicles sets it. Counts are documents in NHTSA’s files, not failure rates.
Volkswagen filings that name P0196
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsBulletins and campaigns Volkswagen filed with NHTSA whose summary names P0196. Quote the document number at the service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
- VIN 4 A PIN-2018 Service bulletin2018-08-07 · Equipment
- Water leaks from the sunroof/overhead light console area, sunshade is to blinding, MIL-on P0441 in the ECM, coolant leak at the coolant pump, Yellow oil warning light on with any of the following faults P0196 P0198 B104129 B104135, Side mirror glass cracked, cluctch pedal makes noise during operation, damed strut boots, remote key inopperative, car speaker is distorted.
- VIN-4-A-PIN-2018 Service bulletin2018-09-06 · Electrical System — Software
- Coolant leak at the coolant pump, Yellow oil warning light on with any of the following faults P0196 P0198 B104129 B104135, Customer states the sunroof is making noise, squeak & rattle, MIL-on with P0300-P0304 in the ECM AFTER software level 0003, Damaged strut boots at PDI, Customer states sunshade is binding, Wind noise from front door, Customer says rear speaker is distorted, Customer states re
- VIN-4-A-PIN-2018 Service bulletin2018-09-25 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- Coolant leak at the coolant pump, Yellow oil warning light on with any of the following faults P0196 P0198 B104129 B104135, Customer states the sunroof is making noise, squeak & rattle, MIL-on with P0300-P0304 in the ECM AFTER software level 0003, Damaged strut boots at PDI, Customer states sunshade is binding, Wind noise from front door, Customer says rear speaker is distorted, Customer states re
What P0196 means
Source: SAE J2012 / OBD-IIP0196 sits in the generic range of the OBD-II standard, so it means the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States — but WhichTrim does not carry a definition for it and will not invent one. What is on this page is the record: who named it and on what.
A stored code names the test that failed, never the part that caused it. The record above is what Volkswagen and its owners have filed about it; the code’s page across every make has the whole file.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA files and the OBD-II standardIs P0196 a known problem on Volkswagen vehicles?
It is a documented one: NHTSA's files hold 72 manufacturer filings and 0 owner reports naming P0196 on 17 Volkswagen model years (2016–2018). Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count — but a bulletin that names the code on your model year is the place to start.
Which Volkswagen models does P0196 appear on most?
2017 Golf / GTI (10 documents), 2018 Golf / GTI (8 documents), 2016 Golf / GTI (8 documents).
Does P0196 on a Volkswagen mean it is recalled?
No. Recalls are filed by campaign and matched by VIN; no recall is triggered by a scan tool. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or open the model year's page here for the campaigns filed against it.