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2016 Volkswagen Passat problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
43% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Volkswagen Passat are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 29 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).
Does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 77 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%), and the largest group is filed under engine (17). For comparison, the 2015 scores 48% and the 2017 scores 20%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Volkswagen Passat years
Of the 8 Volkswagen Passat years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (43%). The worst is the 2010 (77%), the best the 2017 (20%). By volume, the 2016 drew 106 complaints (33 drivetrain), against 244 for the 2015 and 110 for the 2017.
Volkswagen Passat years to avoid and best years →
2010 Passat problems · 2012 Passat problems · 2013 Passat problems · 2014 Passat problems · 2015 Passat problems · 2016 · 2017 Passat problems · 2018 Passat problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Volkswagen Passat
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 33 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Volkswagen Passat engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Volkswagen Passat involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a…
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Risk: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Volkswagen Passat? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 77 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Volkswagen Passat is air bags: 25 of 106 complaints (24%) name it, followed by electrical system (22) and steering (19). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 43% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 43% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Volkswagen Passat years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Volkswagen Passat involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 16V403000 (fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail), 15V705000 (engine and engine cooling: engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Volkswagen Passat years are better?
Among the Volkswagen Passat years we track, the 2017 (20%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (43%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/volkswagen-passat
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.