| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| e-Golf 100% Electric | Electric Motor | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 126 MPGe | 105 MPGe | 116 MPGe | 83 mi | $650 / yr |
| Golf | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 MPG | 35 MPG | 29 MPG | — | $2,100 / yr |
| Golf | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 5-spd | 25 MPG | 36 MPG | 29 MPG | — | $2,100 / yr |
| Golf SportWagen | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 MPG | 34 MPG | 29 MPG | — | $2,100 / yr |
| Golf SportWagen | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 5-spd | 25 MPG | 35 MPG | 28 MPG | — | $2,200 / yr |
| Golf R | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S6) | 23 MPG | 30 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $3,050 / yr |
| Golf R | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 22 MPG | 31 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $3,050 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2016 Volkswagen Golf provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 83 miles on a single battery charge.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 4 DR FWD | | | | | 13.4% |
| 2 DR FWD | | | | | 11.1% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Volkswagen Golf models.
View complete 2016 Volkswagen Golf crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Volkswagen Golf problems & component breakdown (42 categories) →
Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Defect Summary: 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 jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Free Manufacturer 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 Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
Affected Component: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Defect Summary: 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 Systems."
Free Manufacturer 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 for this recall is 91EN.
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer 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 service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
View all 2016 Volkswagen Golf recalls & campaign history (12 campaigns) →
