2016 Volkswagen Golf R Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R, and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Software (electrical system) and visibility/wiper
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Golf R vehicles. Incorrect front windshield wiper software was installed which may prevent the wipers from activating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing…
Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number…
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Inflator module (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's customer…
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Latches/locks/linkages
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
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Labels (equipment)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Golf R vehicles manufactured March 17, 2016 to March 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a Federal Certification Label that lists an incorrect rear axle weight limit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began July 2016. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01B5.
12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 20,592 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“On 04/24, I purchased 4 P235/40ZR18 Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires from Tire Rack. The tires have approx 15000 miles on them. I discovered the tires started to show approx 1/2 in cracks all around th”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 18, 2026 · Tires
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - fuel system/gas tank - yes How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - smell of fuel”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 2, 2024 · Fuel/propulsion system
Compare Volkswagen Golf R model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Golf R model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Volkswagen Golf R | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 Volkswagen Golf R | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 Volkswagen Golf R | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 Volkswagen Golf R | 4 | 12 |
| 2017 Volkswagen Golf R | 0 | 15 |
| 2018 Volkswagen Golf R | 4 | 9 |
| 2019 Volkswagen Golf R | 2 | 6 |
| 2022 Volkswagen Golf R | 5 | 10 |
| 2023 Volkswagen Golf R | 3 | 6 |
| 2024 Volkswagen Golf R | 1 | 12 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | 1 | 0 |
| 2026 Volkswagen Golf R | 0 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2016 Volkswagen Golf R
How do I know if my 2016 Volkswagen Golf R has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 16V337000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Jetta10,000 complaints
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.