The Lemon Index
201520171st generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 3,237 in the U.S. in 2016 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 15 complaints in its first 3 years.
Better years to buy
15 owner complaints, first 3 years 20–25 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2016 Toyota Camry 262016 Honda Accord 832016 Nissan Altima 66
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Only 9 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 19V535000 (airbags), 19V014000 (airbags) and 18V329000 (unknown or other) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Volkswagen sent dealers 666 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Addressess Vibration or noise when braking may be due to brake disc corrosion protection which…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Volkswagen's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 15 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 28K to 49K miles (45K to 79K km) on the car (9 of all 15 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Fuel pump/push start ignition. Push start ignition not responding while turning vehicle to off mode.
2016 Volkswagen CC owner · NHTSA complaint 11057246
More owner reports
Volkswagen announced a recall of the fuel pump on august 16, 2017. Eight months later they do not have a remedy. This seem irresponsible of the manufacturer.
NHTSA complaint 11088549
When pumping gas, the pump will click off every few seconds as if the tank is full. It takes at least 15 minutes to fill the tank because it shuts off every few seconds. This is at any gas pump.
NHTSA complaint 11193013
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 19.5M views · 2009–2017 Volkswagen CC
Most-watched topics
- Gauges, lights & wiring488K views
How to fix the "Adaptive front lighting system (AFS) failure" error message on a 2013+ VW CCChris Miller · 385K views · 4 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical372K views
Radio install VW CC 2009-2015Enfig · 153K views · 5 videos - Cooling system174K views
2012 Volkswagen CC 2.0 TSI Engine: Thermostat ReplacementBryan Fagerstrom · 141K views · 4 videos - Oil changes & service147K views
2012 Volkswagen CC Sport Oil ChangeDude's Do It Yourself · 64K views · 4 videos
Show 2 more
- Brakes & ABS111K views
VW Passat CC 2010 EPB reset. Parking brake error see owner's manual.Alec Ovchinnikov · 111K views - Intake, EGR & engine sensors41K views
2010 vw cc/passat code p0070 ambient temp sensor fault fixed!!Kwame1 · 41K views
Before you buy, watch
Should You Buy a VW PASSAT CC? (Test Drive & Review 2013 CC 2.0TDI)High Peak Autos · 242K views
2009 Volkswagen Passat CC Review by Ron Doronthedriversseat · 647K views
VW CC 2013 review - Car KeysCar Keys UK · 314K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2016 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 666 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Addressess Vibration or noise when braking may be due to brake disc corrosion protection which…
- Technical Bulletin informing that When applying brakes at highway speeds the following…
- Technical Bulletin on how to service Vibration or noise when braking may be due to brake disc…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 6
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
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.
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Unknown or other · recall issued 2018
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.
Show all 6 recalls
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2017
Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
- Seats · recall issued 2017
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.
- Latches/locks/linkages · recall issued 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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Volkswagen CC recall, all years · All Volkswagen recalls
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen CC 4 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen CC 4 DR AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,000 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
Every Volkswagen CC year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 1 older years (2009–2009, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 3 Volkswagen CC years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2016 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/volkswagen-cc/?y=2016" title="Volkswagen CC reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="261" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/volkswagen-cc/2016/">Lemon Index</a> (2016 Volkswagen CC reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2016 Volkswagen CC reliable?
We can't score it: only 3,237 were sold in the U.S. in 2016 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2016 Volkswagen CC problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system (40%), airbags (33%) and brakes (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen CC have?
6 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Volkswagen CC get?
20 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2016 Volkswagen CC have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2016 Volkswagen CC cost in fuel a year?
About $3,000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Volkswagen CC have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Volkswagen CC year is better than the 2016?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2011 drew the fewest (about a quarter as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works