2016 Volkswagen Jetta
Hybrid Gas Compact car
The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact car with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta Hybrid, is EPA-rated at 44 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 164 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta Hybrid | Hybrid | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo + 220V Li-Ion | 42 | 48 | 44 | $1,750 |
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 40 | 33 | $1,900 |
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 39 | 32 | $1,950 |
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 35 | 29 | $2,150 |
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 36 | 29 | $2,150 |
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 33 | 27 | $2,300 |
| Jetta | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 33 | 27 | $2,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline
criticalProblem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.
Steering
highProblem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Fuel System, Gasoline
criticalProblem: 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.
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
highProblem: 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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds (closed)
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005
Owner complaints
164 complaints filed
18 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 14 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2015: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2017: 15 · 2018: 18 · 2019: 32 · 2020: 24 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 4
Most-cited components
- Engine — 44
- Electrical System — 38
- Unknown Or Other — 35
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 28
- Power Train — 22
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Compare the 2016 Jetta with
Other Jetta model years
2027 Jetta
0 recalls · 0 complaints
B2026 Jetta
1 recalls · 5 complaints
C2025 Jetta
2 recalls · 28 complaints
A2024 Jetta
0 recalls · 43 complaints
A2023 Jetta
0 recalls · 43 complaints
A2022 Jetta
1 recalls · 42 complaints
C2021 Jetta
4 recalls · 67 complaints
F2020 Jetta
6 recalls · 51 complaints
F2019 Jetta
11 recalls · 545 complaints
C2018 Jetta
2 recalls · 31 complaints
F2017 Jetta
6 recalls · 159 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 36821, 37074, 36822, 36674, 36741, 36677, 36678). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.