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2016 Volkswagen GTI Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2016 Volkswagen GTI, and owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
66
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

4 safety recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen GTI

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 24V110000 Reported 261,257 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 22V543000 Reported 1,216 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

  3. Anti-theft device (steering) and electrical system: control module

    NHTSA 19V615000 Reported 679,027 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

    Remedy: 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.…

  4. Fuel system, gasoline and emission control (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 16V647000 Reported 110,042 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298, Audi owners may…

66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2016 Volkswagen GTI have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 35,299 miles. Complaints peaked in 2020 with 14 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“While driving my 2016 Volkswagen GTI MK7 Autobahn Edition with approximately 37,000 miles, the power steering suddenly and without warning failed completely. The steering wheel became extremely diffic”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 2, 2026 · Steering

“NHTSA Recall 24V-110 (VW 20UF). The vehicle is in Limp Mode and experiencing low oil pressure symptoms. It is also subject to Recall 24V-110, which identifies a fire risk due to fuel leakage. Despite”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 21, 2026 · Engine

Compare Volkswagen GTI model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen GTI model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1985 Volkswagen GTI22
1986 Volkswagen GTI32
1987 Volkswagen GTI22
1988 Volkswagen GTI10
1989 Volkswagen GTI10
1990 Volkswagen GTI20
1991 Volkswagen GTI11
1992 Volkswagen GTI10
1993 Volkswagen GTI20
1994 Volkswagen GTI20
1995 Volkswagen GTI218
1996 Volkswagen GTI19
1997 Volkswagen GTI010
1998 Volkswagen GTI010
1999 Volkswagen GTI28
2000 Volkswagen GTI345
2001 Volkswagen GTI274
2002 Volkswagen GTI2124
2003 Volkswagen GTI153
2004 Volkswagen GTI17
2005 Volkswagen GTI18
2006 Volkswagen GTI243
2007 Volkswagen GTI177
2008 Volkswagen GTI167
2009 Volkswagen GTI2167
2010 Volkswagen GTI153
2011 Volkswagen GTI255
2012 Volkswagen GTI240
2013 Volkswagen GTI234
2014 Volkswagen GTI110
2015 Volkswagen GTI697
2016 Volkswagen GTI466
2017 Volkswagen GTI252
2018 Volkswagen GTI317
2019 Volkswagen GTI4179
2020 Volkswagen GTI38
2021 Volkswagen GTI14
2022 Volkswagen GTI628
2023 Volkswagen GTI56
2024 Volkswagen GTI229
2025 Volkswagen GTI10

Checking a specific 2016 Volkswagen GTI

How do I know if my 2016 Volkswagen GTI 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 GTI; 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 16V647000).

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

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.