VehicleVerdict

2016 Volkswagen CC problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2016 Volkswagen CC is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 6 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 38 owner complaints run below the CC median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

Airbags leads the complaint categories with 11 reports (29% of the total).

38

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

0

Investigations

2

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2016 compare to other CC years?

CC NHTSA complaints by model year, 2016 highlighted337 complaints2008: 3 complaints2009: 185 complaints2010: 330 complaints2011: 120 complaints2012: 337 complaints2013: 188 complaints2014: 102 complaints2015: 49 complaints2016: 38 complaints2017: 7 complaints
CC NHTSA complaints by model year, 2016 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all CC years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Volkswagen CC problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags1129%
Fuel System821%
Electrical System411%
Other38%
Lighting25%
Brakes25%
Body & Structure25%
Suspension13%
Transmission13%
Engine13%
Visibility & Wipers13%
Speed Control13%
Steering13%

Does the 2016 Volkswagen CC have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V535000AirbagsJuly 17, 2019 · 27,822 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

Consequence

Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.

19V014000AirbagsJanuary 11, 2019 · 119,394 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).

18V329000OtherMay 16, 2018 · 252 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

17V509000Fuel SystemAugust 16, 2017 · 280,915 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.

Consequence

If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.

17V287000SeatsApril 28, 2017 · 23 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 CC vehicles. Incorrect front seat head restraints (rests) may have been installed, possibly resulting in the seat occupant's head being inadequately restrained in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."

Consequence

If the seat occupant's head is inadequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72G5.

16V464000Latches & LocksJune 24, 2016 · 5,658 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.

Consequence

If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“Clock spring broke, now NO airbag and nothing on the steering panel works including the horn and airbag. First I was told by the dealship that it was a California car so they would fix it, today I was told they would not. So we are driving a car with NO airbag. They want $700 to replace this part…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 3, 2022

“SEVERAL TIMES NOW WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OUT INTO TRAFFIC MY CAR STUTTERS AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET HIT. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC MY CAR STOPPED RECEIVING GAS AND STARTED COASTING. IT LITERALLY STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH MYSELF AND CHILD IN…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 28, 2020

“THE CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED ON MY CC CAUSING ALL AIRBAGS TO BE DISABLED. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO FIX THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I'M FILING THIS IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS I WILL HAVE FULL RECOURSE AGAINST THEM FOR NEGLIGENCE OVER PROFIT.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 22, 2020

“LOCK FOR DOOR REAR PASSENGER FELL INTO DOOR WITH NO FORCE. BROKE NO CLIPS. CAUSED $350 REPAIR AND SHORTED OUT A CORD WAS NOT COVERED BY CERTIFIED CAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. BLAMED AS NEGLIGENCE TO OWNER. AGAIN LOCK PUSH BUTTON FELL INTO DOOR BROKE NO CLIPS AND LITTLE TO NO FORCE USED. LOOSENED THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · April 23, 2021

“CONSTANTLY RECEIVING MESSAGE, ' ADAPTIVE FRONT LIGHTING SYSTEM.' AFTER RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE ON OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS CONNECTED BEING THAT IT'S THE SAME MESSAGE RECEIVED AS THE OTHER MODELS. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND I RECEIVE THE MESSAGE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · November 2, 2019

2016 Volkswagen CC — common questions

Is the 2016 Volkswagen CC reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 38 NHTSA complaints, below the typical CC year, with 6 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2016 CC problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (11 complaints), fuel system (8 complaints), electrical system (4 complaints).

Does the 2016 Volkswagen CC have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Volkswagen CC. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Volkswagen CC years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the CC years to avoid are 2012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 2014. The cleanest record among CC years belongs to 2008.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.