2016 Volkswagen Golf vs 2018 Volkswagen Golf
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Volkswagen Golf | 2018 Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 85 | 29 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 855 | 616 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 0 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29 | 28–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 30,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Golf | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 29 | 10 |
| Engine | 18 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 8 | 2 |
| Structure | 7 | 3 |
| Power Train | 5 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1 |
2016 Volkswagen Golf
2018 Volkswagen Golf
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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.