2016 Volkswagen Jetta Steering Problems

Key Ignition malfunction

NHTSA ID

11694222

Incident

Oct 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became stiff and started to seize, making it difficult to steer the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column and ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11600983

Incident

Jul 10, 2024

Key stuck in Ignition lock cylinder; stuck in the on position with engine running and cannot switch to the off position to remove ignition key. -ALSO, CAR DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH KEY IN IGNITION- Note: Other complaints for this same issue are listed under: UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING, ENGINE VW dealer estimated a $1100 repair

NHTSA ID

11527214

Incident

Jun 10, 2023

Unable to turn car off and remove key while ignition is in park. Cause the car to continue to run while trying to wiggle key out. Unable to remove key after moving steering wheel back and forth, placing care in neutral will not help and placing the care back in park does not fix the issue. This seems to be a known common issue and proposes a safety issue if driver is unable to turn care off. I’ve had this experience at 9pm during a time where no mechanical help is accessible. Major safety issue of leaving a care running idle for extended period of time. Issue definitely needs to be addressed

NHTSA ID

11435281

Incident

Oct 2, 2021

Driver side strut spring snapped. Car became undrivable and pulled to the left, body is very close to tire and spring could cause tire to blow out . Spring is rusted from the inside out Car is at dealership for repairs no warning at all just a rattle then a loud snap

NHTSA ID

11432506

Incident

Sep 2, 2021

THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. ROTORS AND STRUTS WENT OUT VERY FAST ON VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11373198

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

46,000 mi

ON JULY 1ST ,2020 UPON ARRIVAL TO A STORE ONCE IN PARK AND I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL MEANING THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SHUT OFF AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THINKING IT WAS LOCKED I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO SHUT OFF AFTER GOOGLING IT AND READING MANY OTHER FORUMS THAT TALKED ABOUT THE SAME CAR ISSUE I WAS HAVING IT SAID TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THEN TO TURN THE KEY SO I DID AND IT FINALLY SHUT OFF IT STAYED PARKED TILL JULY 6 TH THAT I WENT TO A FEW DIFFERENT MECHANICS IN TOWN I FOUND ONE THAT TRIED TO HELP SAME WITH HIM HE COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO SHUT THE CAR OFF HE ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BEING THAT IT WAS AN HOUR AWAY AND I WAS LOW ON GAS I HAD TO PUMP GAS WITH THE CAR RUNNING BECAUSE I AGAIN WAS NOT ABLE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF WHICH I FELT UNSAFE DOING BUT AT THIS POINT I NO LONGER KNEW WHAT TO DO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE LEAVING SHE SAID THEY WERE BACKED UP BUT TO COME DOWN AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME UNTIL FRIDAY!! WHILE THE WORKER WAS SITTING IN MY CAR AND HE HIMSELF COULD NOT SHUT OFF I TOLD HIM WHERE IN THE PARKING LOT SHOULD I LEAVE IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY THAT I COULD TAKE IT HOME AND LEAVE IT RUNNING FOR 3 DAYS THEY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND ALREADY HAD THE HOOD UP TRYING TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEY CALLED AND SAID IT WOULD BE 740.00 PLUS TAXES MIND YOU IT ALREADY HAD A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR THE 13TH FOR 2 RECALLS IT HAD ALREADY.

NHTSA ID

11340004

Incident

Jul 6, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING ISSUES . KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF THE CAR . THE CAR WAS ON AND RUNNING FOR 4 HOURS STRAIGHT WHILE I WAITED FOR AAA TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP . I HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER , BOLT AND STEER LOCK .

NHTSA ID

11270857

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. CAN NOT REMOVE IT. MY CAR WAS ON IDLE FOR 2 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES. NO ONE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY. I DROVE IT TO SEVERAL MECHANIC SHOPS

NHTSA ID

11220719

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

38,000 mi

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS STILL ON, IT CAN'T BE TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARKED POSITION.

NHTSA ID

11153431

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND EMITTED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ID

10811646

Incident

Oct 31, 2015

Mileage

500 mi