2016 Volkswagen E-golf: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Volkswagen E-golf: 5 recalls, 18 owner complaints and up to 116 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical, Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #16V138000 · 2016 · 5,561 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 e-golf vehicles manufactured May 21, 2014, to March 1, 2016. Oversensitive diagnostics for the high-voltage battery management system May falsely detect an electrical surge resulting in the vehicle's electric drive motor shutting down unexpectedly.
Why it matters: An unexpected vehicle shutdown can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will update the battery management software, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2016.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #16V464000 · 2016 · 5,658 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 closing a vehicle door, May cause the rear child door locks to disengage,…
Why it matters: If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they May fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V955000 · 2016 · 5,947 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi a7, a4, a6, Volkswagen golf and tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that May not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi q7, a4 sedan, a4 allroad, and 2018 Audi q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners May…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017.
Other / unknown Vehicle recall #18V329000 · 2018 · 252 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 eos, 2012 passat, 2012-2016 cc, 2015-2016 e-golf, 2011-2015 touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 tiguan, and 2011-2016 golf and 2011-2013 gti vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period May cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Why it matters: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #22V543000 · 2022 · 1,216 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment May not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (11): the most common themes are electrical failure (7), stalls / loses power (2), noise or vibration (2).
- Engine (5): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (3), electrical failure (3), noise or vibration (2).
- Other / unknown (5): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Speed control / throttle (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2016 Volkswagen E-golf has 18 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 4 E-golf model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 14). Complaints peaked in 2016 (5 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 2 years old, at a median of 1,874 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (29 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (85 kW AC PMSM) | Automatic (A1) | Front-Wheel Drive | 126e | 105e | 116e | Electricity |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Volkswagen E-golf.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2016 Volkswagen E-golf have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen E-golf. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Volkswagen E-golf problems?
Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (11), engine (5), other / unknown (5).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Volkswagen E-golf get?
EPA ratings run up to 116 mpg combined, across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Volkswagen E-golf repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.