2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen Problems

SRS/airbag warning light illuminated. A diagnostic scan (VCDS) confirmed stored fault codes for both front airbag crash sensors: driver's side 'short to ground' and passenger's side 'open or short to plus.' Upon further inspection, water was found pooled at the airbag control module connector, located under the center dash. The AC condensate drain line is routed directly above this module, and appears to be the source of the water intrusion — water drained from the connector itself when disconnected, and dampness was present at both the upper and lower AC drain hose connections near the module. After drying and reconnecting all components, an attempt was made to clear the fault codes via VCDS. The airbag module returned a 'not acknowledged' response to the clear command, indicating the fault condition and/or internal component damage may still be present. This vehicle's VIN was checked against active airbag recalls for this model year and found not to be included. However, given the safety-critical nature of the SRS system and the apparent design proximity of the AC drain to the airbag module connector, this may represent a broader risk for this chassis. Multiple independent repair shops declined to service this issue, citing liability concerns related to airbag system water intrusion. Volkswagen customer service denied a goodwill repair request, citing vehicle age/mileage without reviewing supporting documentation (VCDS diagnostic report and photos).

Clockspring failure. VW does not cover this critical safety part under warranty. Air bag is non functional (air bag light on) horn is non functional. Other controls on steering wheel not functional.

Junction between thermostat and water pump failed leading to total loss of coolant. At the time I was driving north on I-75 in heavy morning traffic at 65 MPH. I was able to steer the vehicle off the road without hitting anyone or coming to a complete stop. Had the vehicle towed to Jim Ellis VW of Kennesaw where they diagnosed the problem and replaced the water pump. The car had 18,762 miles on it at the time. Mechanic stated that the problem was oil from cam covers leaking onto water pump and was frequently seen. Vehicle had low coolant warning lights twice and I added several ounces of distilled water each time. Car had an engine warning light and was being taken to dealer for service that day. When the incident happened, there was an audible alarm for loss of coolant and a flashing yellow light on the dashboard. The car had been serviced and inspected at the dealership annually, there had been no reports of leaking oil from cam covers. There was no indication the water pump would catastrophically fail. The waterpump should not fail with this few miles on it. .

The fuel pump on my 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen failed approximately three months after a safety recall repair for the suction jet pump (recall 20Y6). My independent mechanic explained that failure of the suction jet pump can cause fuel leakage or vapor transfer into the EVAP system, which may create pressure or vacuum imbalance inside the fuel tank. This can potentially damage other fuel-system components, including the fuel pump. My vehicle had no prior fuel-system issues. After the recall repair, the vehicle began experiencing symptoms consistent with fuel delivery problems, and the fuel pump ultimately failed. The mechanic who performed the repair noted that the failure was “highly likely related” to the suction-jet-pump defect because of the short time between the recall repair and the component failure. Volkswagen’s customer-service team stated that the fuel pump and suction jet pump are “unrelated,” but did not provide a technical explanation for that conclusion. Because both components interact within the sealed fuel/EVAP system, I am concerned that the recall defect or repair may have contributed to the fuel-pump failure. This problem may indicate a pattern of post-recall fuel-system failures involving suction-jet-pump malfunction, tank pressure changes, or collateral damage to in-tank components. I am submitting this report so NHTSA can review whether similar issues are occurring in other vehicles.

The fuel pump on my 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen failed approximately three months after a safety recall repair for the suction jet pump (recall 20Y6). My independent mechanic explained that failure of the suction jet pump can cause fuel leakage or vapor transfer into the EVAP system, which may create pressure or vacuum imbalance inside the fuel tank. This can potentially damage other fuel-system components, including the fuel pump. My vehicle had no prior fuel-system issues. After the recall repair, the vehicle began experiencing symptoms consistent with fuel delivery problems, and the fuel pump ultimately failed. The mechanic who performed the repair noted that the failure was “highly likely related” to the suction-jet-pump defect because of the short time between the recall repair and the component failure. Volkswagen’s customer-service team stated that the fuel pump and suction jet pump are “unrelated,” but did not provide a technical explanation for that conclusion. Because both components interact within the sealed fuel/EVAP system, I am concerned that the recall defect or repair may have contributed to the fuel-pump failure. This problem may indicate a pattern of post-recall fuel-system failures involving suction-jet-pump malfunction, tank pressure changes, or collateral damage to in-tank components. I am submitting this report so NHTSA can review whether similar issues are occurring in other vehicles.

My car started smelling like gas 10 days ago. There was no visible leak. We took it to the shop still can’t figure out the issues. Took it to pick up my son from school, it started leaking fuel (I had 1/4 of a tank left). I turned off the car and it stopped leaking fuel. Needing a fix quick, I then drove 4 miles to get to the shop. Before I started driving I checked and it said I had enough gas to drive 15 miles. However, while at a stop light, the car shuddered and completely died. We then had it towed to the shop and hour away. The dealership had had it since then and found that it was related to the fuel pump suction recall. However, because the problem has gotten so bad, I now need a new fuel tank. Because it will in fact continue to keep leaking fuel and no matter how much gas you put it will just leak out. This is a safety hazard not only for me as a driver but also to other drivers. After diagnosing the problem, the dealership called VW corporate to inquire whether they will cover the fix since the recall was what caused the issue. 10 days later, VW is still looking into it, and I’ve now spent over $1500 on a rental car and towing fees. This car was completely unsafe to drive. And it is completely irresponsible for VW to allow customers to drive an unsafe vehicle and make us pay for repairs for issues that we didn’t cause.

Despite settling a class action lawsuit re: moonroof leakage, VW refuses to cover the same repair for my VW Golf Sportwagen. I have the same issue but could not participate in the class action suit due to mileage. I routinely have to bail 1/2 - 1 gallon of water out the spare tire area if its been raining. Water now also collects in the footwell behind the driver's seat/in front of my child's seat. The bolts affixing the seatbelts to the floor are rusted and there is mold under the carpet. The car now has electrical issues, including the alarm no longer sounding when I am reversing and someone is approaching in my blind spot. In addition, when the weather has been wet, the back up camera does not work and, mid trip, the car alarms sound, indicating the car must be serviced and the brakes and airbags are not working. These problems disappear after a few days of dry weather.

Clockspring failure. VW does not cover this critical safety part under warranty. Air bag is non functional (air bag light on) horn is non functional. Other controls on steering wheel not functional.

Performed NH Safety Inspection. Found upon Inspection Left Rear, Driver Side, Coil Spring has failed. Broken. This will make over Ten VW or Audi vehicles we have seen in the last year with this problem.

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving at high speeds, the vehicle started to shake abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear axle coil springs had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

Despite settling a class action lawsuit re: moonroof leakage, VW refuses to cover the same repair for my VW Golf Sportwagen. I have the same issue but could not participate in the class action suit due to mileage. I routinely have to bail 1/2 - 1 gallon of water out the spare tire area if its been raining. Water now also collects in the footwell behind the driver's seat/in front of my child's seat. The bolts affixing the seatbelts to the floor are rusted and there is mold under the carpet. The car now has electrical issues, including the alarm no longer sounding when I am reversing and someone is approaching in my blind spot. In addition, when the weather has been wet, the back up camera does not work and, mid trip, the car alarms sound, indicating the car must be serviced and the brakes and airbags are not working. These problems disappear after a few days of dry weather.

MY FIANCE'S VEHICLE HAS THE COMMON CLOCKSPRING ISSUE WHICH RENDERED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL INACTIVE (HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AIR BAG, AND RADIO CONTROLS). ONE DAY SHE STARTED THE CAR AND SAW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. I SCANNED THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD THE KNOWN "B10001 DRIVER AIRBAG IGNITER: RESISTANCE TOO HIGH" CODE. THE DEALER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COVERED SO LONG AS IT HAD THE CORRECT CODE BUT VWOA DENIED IT. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND HER VEHICLE SHOULD QUALIFY UNDER THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. SHE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HER VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST EVEN THOUGH HER VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT SAME PARTS AS OTHERS WHICH DO QUALIFY. HER VEHICLE HAD THE SAME CODES REQUIRED ON NHTSA PDF HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/URL?SA=T&SOURCE=WEB&RCT=J&URL=HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2018/MC-10149942-9999.PDF&VED=2AHUKEWIZWQZOK_ROAHXJGJQIHU3CBWAQFJABEGQICXAH&USG=AOVVAW3QKZUFKSVTKALROKUEK92M I RECIEVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR MY 2017 GTI BUT FOR SOME REASON THE GOLF SPORTWAGEN IS NOT COVERED. SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ONLY COVER SOME MODELS THAT HAVE SAME HARDWARE WHEN ALL SHOULD BE COVERED.

In late summer (August 2022) I started seeing a warning but it would disappear so fast. Now it's popping up more: Yellow triangle appears. Engine is giving code# B116229 - "Selector lever park position lock switch Implausible signal" (mileage 104814 km). I originally received a recall notice like this and brought the car into the dealer. He said there was a VIN "Mix up" - something about the last two digits being reversed with another customer. Reading off my dash, this is my VIN [XXX] This sounds a lot like the "Shift Lever Micro Switch" recall which is a safety issue. Thank you INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

2016 VW GOLF SPORTWAGEN EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK AT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING/WATER PUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 76,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 1.8 ENGINE. DIAGNOSED BY THE VW DEALER AS WELL AS A SEPARATE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. BOTH RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING/WATER PUMP.

Despite settling a class action lawsuit re: moonroof leakage, VW refuses to cover the same repair for my VW Golf Sportwagen. I have the same issue but could not participate in the class action suit due to mileage. I routinely have to bail 1/2 - 1 gallon of water out the spare tire area if its been raining. Water now also collects in the footwell behind the driver's seat/in front of my child's seat. The bolts affixing the seatbelts to the floor are rusted and there is mold under the carpet. The car now has electrical issues, including the alarm no longer sounding when I am reversing and someone is approaching in my blind spot. In addition, when the weather has been wet, the back up camera does not work and, mid trip, the car alarms sound, indicating the car must be serviced and the brakes and airbags are not working. These problems disappear after a few days of dry weather.

I PURCHASED MY 2016 VW GOLF SPORTWAGEN IN 2019. SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A RAINSTORM, AND I REALIZED THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF WAS LEAKING HEAVILY ALONG THE BACK PANEL OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AS WELL AS REPLACE THE HEADLINER. VW ISSUED A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUNROOF DRAINS IN 2020, IN WHICH THEY MODIFIED THE DRAINS. ONCE THIS WAS PERFORMED, THE SUNROOF BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SENSORS, WHICH WERE DAMAGED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THIS REPAIR WAS EXTREMELY COSTLY, BUT I WAS TOLD I COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE VW WON'T COVER COSTS FROM FAULTY PARTS. I AM NOW LOOKING AT ANOTHER COSTLY REPAIR OF THE SUNROOF, AND A SECOND HEADLINER REPLACEMENT, WITHIN 2 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE.

MY STEERING CLOCK SPRING FAILED AT 37K MILES, THERE'S A RECALL BUT VW SAID MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED, HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE ON THE FORUMS AND CAR GROUPS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE MORE THAN ONCE, SOME COVERED SOME NOT.

MY FIANCE'S VEHICLE HAS THE COMMON CLOCKSPRING ISSUE WHICH RENDERED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL INACTIVE (HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AIR BAG, AND RADIO CONTROLS). ONE DAY SHE STARTED THE CAR AND SAW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. I SCANNED THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD THE KNOWN "B10001 DRIVER AIRBAG IGNITER: RESISTANCE TOO HIGH" CODE. THE DEALER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COVERED SO LONG AS IT HAD THE CORRECT CODE BUT VWOA DENIED IT. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND HER VEHICLE SHOULD QUALIFY UNDER THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. SHE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HER VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST EVEN THOUGH HER VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT SAME PARTS AS OTHERS WHICH DO QUALIFY. HER VEHICLE HAD THE SAME CODES REQUIRED ON NHTSA PDF HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/URL?SA=T&SOURCE=WEB&RCT=J&URL=HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2018/MC-10149942-9999.PDF&VED=2AHUKEWIZWQZOK_ROAHXJGJQIHU3CBWAQFJABEGQICXAH&USG=AOVVAW3QKZUFKSVTKALROKUEK92M I RECIEVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR MY 2017 GTI BUT FOR SOME REASON THE GOLF SPORTWAGEN IS NOT COVERED. SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ONLY COVER SOME MODELS THAT HAVE SAME HARDWARE WHEN ALL SHOULD BE COVERED.

PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS LEAKING WATER IN MULTIPLE PLACES. WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND EXPOSED TO RAIN OR SNOW THE INSIDE OF PASSENGER CABIN GETS FILED WITH WATER, SPECIFICALY ON REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND TRUNK AREA. THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT GET FILLED UP WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS.

My driver seat belt comes unbuckled when i'm driving. It's intermittent and random, and i'm very careful to lock in the belt and i pull on it before i start driving to make sure it's locked in, and it still comes undone. I then have to relock it while i'm driving, which is distracting, as well as worrisome that i am without a seatbelt until i can lock it again, especially if i'm on the freeway. I've taken it to my mechanic who drove the car and said the same thing happened to him several times while he was driving.