Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
3VWC17AU4GM••••••2016 Volkswagen GOLF SPORTWAGEN
This build draws 1.8× more complaints than the average 2016 Volkswagen GOLF SPORTWAGEN build (7 vs 4).
7on this build
51on the model
13builds in total
Most reportedEngine 2Steering 1Fuel System 1Gasoline 1
What owners of this build wrote
Air BagsJul 2026
SRS/airbag warning light illuminated. A diagnostic scan (VCDS) confirmed stored fault codes for both front airbag crash sensors: driver's side 'short to ground' and passenger's side 'open or short to plus.' Upon further inspection, water was found pooled at the airbag control…
Fuel/propulsion SystemAug 2023
The fuel system is completely shot, with fuel leaking from the gas tank after a ride once and pressure building up in the gas tank. Gas pumps click off after only putting one to two gallons in the tank, despite the tank being nearly empty. Mechanic replaced Evap canister and…
EngineMar 2023
Car loses power due to clogged wastegate actuator and EPC light turns on and off. This has been confirmed by 2 different service centers. I have seen several cases of people saying they had the same problem which requires you to replace the entire turbo, which my car only has…
Power TrainAug 2022
In late summer (August 2022) I started seeing a warning but it would disappear so fast. Now it's popping up more: Yellow triangle appears. Engine is giving code# B116229 - "Selector lever park position lock switch Implausible signal" (mileage 104814 km). I originally received a…
Fuel SystemAug 2020
The contact owns a 2016 volkswagen golf sportwagen. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. Also, while refueling the fuel spewed back out of the fuel filler neck soaking the person fueling the vehicle.…
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Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 13 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
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Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN 3VWC17AU4GM507122 · decoded Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.