2016 Volkswagen Golf Electrical Problems

My VW golf has experienced rear door lock issues where both rear dock locks no longer work (lock or unlock) when pressing the lock button on the key or inside the vehicle. The only way to get the doors to lock is by manually locking the doors via a little slot in the door sill on each side. While it can be unlocked internally by just pulling the handle one time. This is a safety issue as door locks are a necessity for a vehicle to prevent theft of vehicle or items inside. It can also cause safety concerns for passengers in the rear(which is usually children. This also poses a danger to children due to the ease of unlocking from inside the rear passenger seats. The problem was confirmed to be the rear door latches via a dealer on 2/23/2024, however after replacing both latches with new parts, nothing was resolved. This issue is not the first time, as it is known that VW locks and many electrical components may randomly stop working, I have experienced the issue with a previous Volkswagen vehicle as well (2009 VW Jetta). There are no warning lights on the dashboard or other signs of the failure.

NHTSA ID

11577026

Incident

Feb 2, 2023

Airbag light came on, then all electrics to steering wheel failed, including the horn. Clock spring failed. Safety issue with no airbag and no horn. Known that VWs have a problem with clock spring failure. Should be a recall.

NHTSA ID

11521624

Incident

May 10, 2023

First, the airbag warning light came on, then followed by the horn not working and cruise control was lost. I also suspecting the power steering is also gone. This is related to the clock spring failure from my research online. This should have been recall because this is a safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11503331

Incident

Dec 7, 2022

Vehicle exhibits multiple electrical and systems faults related to the airbags, TMPS, ABS, etc, as similarly described in 07/26/2019 Volkswagen Technical Tip 97-1902TT. Vehicle interior and sunroof tray is wet in various places. These issues raise concerns as they relate to safety and drivability. Upon inspection, the plastic sunroof tray is apparently cracked in multiple places as described in 12/06/2016 Volkswagen TSB 2045403 (supersedes V601608 November 22, 2016) and referenced again in Volkswagen Update 60C7. According to dealership records, the sunroof tray was claimed repaired per Volkswagen Update 60C7. This does not seem to be true.

NHTSA ID

11497479

Incident

Dec 14, 2022

ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS INOPERATIVE. THIS INCLUDES AIRBAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO CONTROLS, ETC.

NHTSA ID

11383440

Incident

Dec 14, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

SUNROOF DRAIN REINFORCEMENT STEEL HAS DEVELOPED STRESS CRACKS. WHICH HAS LET WATER LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE, ONTO HEADLINER AND DOWN A-PILLARS SATURATING FRONT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS MAKING THEM DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR OPERATED, IT WILL LEAK EITHER WAY. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ADDRESS ISSUE WITH AIRBAGS AND LEAK SAYING THERE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SO THEY WONT COVER REPAIR WHICH COULD COST GREATER THAN $2,500. VEHICLE HAS ALSO DEVELOPED BLACK MOLD BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER WHICH IS HAZARDOUS TO BREATH. TECHNICAL BULLETIN #60-17-01(V601701) IS THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEALERSHIP ONLY REPAIR BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRBAG REPLACE OR HEADLINER REPLACEMENT. I ADDRESSED ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHICH THEY DENY ANY SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

11270298

Incident

Oct 15, 2019

Mileage

92,589 mi

DESPITE A 2015 RECALL, 2016 GOLFS ARE STILL BEING AFFECTED BY FAULTY CLOCK SPRING SETUPS AND A LACK OF SOME TYPE OF COVER THAT IS PREVENTING DEBRIS FROM GETTING INSIDE AND BREAKING THEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I THEN NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE CONTROL FEATURES ON THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED.. NO CRUISE CONTROL, NOT HORN, NO SYSTEM DATA, ETC. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT SINCE 2011. ONLY AFTER AN INVESTIGATION WAS VW FORCED INTO DOING A RECALL IN 2015. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY STILL EXISTS SINCE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONTINUED COMPLAINTS STILL BEING FILED.

NHTSA ID

11099933

Incident

May 31, 2018

Mileage

54,000 mi

SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WHILE REST OF THE SYSTEMS SEEM TO BE FUNCTIONING, THE CAR IGNITION IS ON, PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOESN'T DO ANYTHING WITH "ELECTRICAL ERROR , STOP" MESSAGE ON THE DASH. AFTER GETTING STUCK IN A LANE FOR AN HOUR IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, GOT THE CAR TOWED TO NEARBY VW DEALER. DEALER INFORMED THAT THE MAIN CHARGING MODULE THAT CHARGES BATTERY FAILED, WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PART FORM GERMANY. IT COULD TAKE UP TO TWO WEEKS. SAFETY ISSUE - THE FACT THAT CAR JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY HAS PLENTY OF CHARGE LEFT POSES A SERIOUS AND SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IS JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.I WAS TOLD THAT THE DESIGN PROTECTS DRIVERS AGAINST GETTING STRANDED AFTER BATTERY IS DISCHARGED, SINCE THE CHARGING MODULE FAILED. THIS SEEMS TOTALLY ILLOGICAL THAT THE DESIGN IS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU FROM STRANDED WHEN BATTERY RUNS OUT, SO IT RATHER STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET THE MODULE FIXED BEFORE YOU CAN DRIVE IT TO A SAFE PLACE. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW INCIDENTS REPORTED LIKE THIS, SO VW HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO FIX ON 2016 EGOLF IMMEDIATELY. MAYBE IT REQUIRES A DESIGN FIX TO LET DRIVERS DRIVE TO A DEALER TO GET THE FAULTY PART TO BE FIXED, INSTEAD OF STRANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10816865

Incident

Dec 16, 2015

Mileage

975 mi