2016 Volkswagen Golf vs 2017 Volkswagen Golf
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Volkswagen Golf | 2017 Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 85 | 116 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 858 | 687 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29 | 29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 30,000 mi | 27,113 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Golf | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 29 | 51 |
| Engine | 18 | 18 |
| Electrical System | 8 | 10 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 7 |
| Structure | 7 | 7 |
| Power Train | 5 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 0 | 7 |
| Stalling | 0 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 6 |
| Overheating | 0 | 5 |
2016 Volkswagen Golf
2017 Volkswagen Golf
Compare all Volkswagen Golf vs Volkswagen Golf years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.