Volkswagen EOS Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Volkswagen EOS options? We analyzed 10 model years (2007–2016) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Volkswagen EOS has 425 owner complaints and 21 safety recalls across model years 2007–2016. The most reported issue area is AIR BAGS. 2012 drew the most complaints; 2015 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Volkswagen
- Model
- EOS
- Model years analyzed
- 2007–2016 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 425
- Safety recall campaigns
- 21
- Crash-related complaints
- 13
- Fire-related complaints
- 5
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2012 (94 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2015 (3 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- AIR BAGS
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Volkswagen EOS: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe VOLKSWAGEN EOS has 425 NHTSA complaints and 21 recalls on record. 13 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 425 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 21 federal recall campaigns
- 13 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
21 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2007–2016. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 425 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
425 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen EOS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the battery was drained and was jumpstarted. The contact stated that after the battery had been recharged, several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the instrument cluster had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
My seat heaters were on for 1 minute and started to smoke and burned multiple quarter sized holes in my seat. They burned holes in my winter coat and even made my skin have minor burns. There was a smoke that appeared and a very bad burning smell.
Multiple random misfires and failed ignition coils. My mechanic suggested that I report this because he has seen multiple instances of this in VW models like mine.
On 2 separate occasions, I lost transmission service to my 2016 VW EOS. 65K miles. While driving, my RPM increased dramatically, and it felt like the car went into neutral and wouldn't accelerate. I came to a slow, uncontrolled stop on the side of the road. The EPC code, check engine light and the gear indicator warning lights were flashing. It was very scary to not have any control of the car. Very unsafe situation. The code reader indicated code U0103 meaning "lost communication with gear shift module". LP and Sons DeLand FL, repaired the vehicle, citing: remove and replace transmission gear shift.
Unable to drive vehicle ABS system failure - no braking is possible. ABS warning light and loss of braking control while attempting to drive. The module part recall 45F2 does not apply to my year 2011 vehicle. Though the previous year there is a recall for the part by VW. VW representatives will not offer recall or payment for part replacement saying recall does not apply to 2011. Vehicle is at risk. VW will not assume responsibility for faulty part. The vehicle is too dangerous to drive. Consumers should be informed.
My ABS/ ESC light was on and the brake light was flashing randomly. After diagnostics it appears the ABS module is intermittently not receiving power. Because of this the ABS/ESC system randomly does not work as it should. This seems to be the same issue as the 16V-913 safety recall, but my car was manufactured on July 14, 2010 which was 33 days after the June 11, 2010 cut off date.
Read 14 more owner reports
I WAS DRIVING OUT OF TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. I PULLED IT OFF OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED AND AGAIN IT WOULD NOT GET PAST 20 MPH. WHEN I SWITCHED THE CAR TO MANUAL MODE IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 2ND GEAR. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SITTING THE CAR WORKED PROPERLY. I CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA I WAS TRAVELING AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" AND THAT VW HAD HAD TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I DROVE THE CAR HOME. SEVEN DAYS LATER, THE EXACT THING HAPPENED AND I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHO INFORMED ME "THEY HAD NOT HAD ANY TYPE OF COMPLAINT SIMILAR TO WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING". THEY DID HOWEVER CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAVING THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWING DOWN AND BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND OR IF I AM TURNING, NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TURN BEFORE SOMEONE STRIKES ME FROM THE SIDE. THAT MECHANIC ALSO SAW WHAT I WAS EXPLAINING AND SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP NEEDED TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY. IT DID THE SAME THING AS I WAS LEAVING THE SHOP SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR SEVERAL DAYS THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE DSG TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT A WARRANTY, THEY SAID I WAS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THERE WERE OVER 53,000 VWS AND AUDIS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THIS IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY MINE IS NOT COVERED.
STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK AND NOTICED HALF MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. CHECKED THE FUSES AND F16 FUSE WAS MELTED.
TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVE NOTICE THAT I HAVE FAULTY TAKATA AIRBAGS A FEW YEARS AGO. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT A TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD SWAP THE ORIGINAL AIRBAG WITH A REPLACEMENT MODULE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A DRYING AGENT. THAT NOTICE WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS ONLY AN INTERIM REPAIR UNTIL A REDESIGNED UNIT IS AVAILABLE. I HAD THE INTERIM REPAIR DONE ON MY VEHICLE. I NOTICED NOW THAT WHEN SEARCHING FOR RECALLS, IT SAYS THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IT SEEMS THAT AT THIS TIME IT WILL NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDED REDESIGN OF THE AIRBAG MODULE. THANK YOU
THE CLOCK SPRING IN MY CAR HAS FAILED REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THIS COMPLETE FAILURE COMES A SHORT 9 MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL 'REPAIR' DONE FOLLOWING A VW RECALL ON THE PART- THEY SIMPLY PLACED A COVER OVER THE ORIGINAL CLOCK SPRING. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART, BECAUSE I HAD THE INITIAL SAFETY CHECK DONE AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL RECALL AND THE PART WAS DEEMED FUNCTIONAL AT THAT POINT- EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE IT WOULD MOST LIKELY EVENTUALLY FAIL.
I RECEIVED A LETTER IN APRIL 2016 REGARDING A TAKATA SDI DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG RECALL.. TO DATE NO ONE IS ABLE TO TELL ME WHETHER THE CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED AND IS IN NEED OF REPAIRS. I HAVE CHECKED THE WEBSITE PERIODICALLY BUT FIND IT UNHELPFUL AND CONFUSING. WHAT S GOING ON WITH THE RECALL??
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL ON MY AIRBAG A YEAR AGO, ON FEBRUARY 9, 2016. VW DOES NOT YET HAVE A REPAIR AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE A YEAR WITH A DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS AIRBAG IS TOO LONG TO WAIT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER BACK IN APRIL REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. THEY'RE TELLING US THAT THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. WE ARE VERY FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE CAR KNOWING THIS COULD IN FACT COULD CAUSE DEATH. WE KNOW THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE NEW CARS WITH AIRBAGS THAT ARE NOT DEFECTIVE, SO THIS IS DISTURBING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE OLDER MODELS WITH DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS ARE BEING NEGLECTED. THIS IS WRONG! THEY NEED TO FIX THE OLD CARS FIRST BEFORE SELLING NEW CARS! *TR
2011 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE. *SMD
TAKATA RECALL - THE INTIAL RECALL FOR VW WAS FEBRUAY 2016. SIX MONTHS LATER THERE IS STILL NO REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR AVAILABLE. THERE HAS TO BE MORE THAN ONE COMPANY THAT MAKES AIRBAG INFLATORS! DANGER OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH - SHOULD BE A MOTIVATOR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR HAS 72,319 MILES. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT 10,000 MILES OR LESS. THE TENSIONER SPRING BROKE AND THE TIMING BELT SHIFTED CAUSING ALOT OF ENGINE DAMAGE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY VW DEALERS OR MANUFACTURE ABOUT THE TSB MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NO.: TB-15-12-01 COMPONENT(S): ENGINE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10045560 WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. I HAVE A $5,300 REPAIR FOR A $120.00 DOLLAR PART! CAN YOU HELP ME WITH A RECALL? THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE SITTING ON A BRIDGE, WAS HIT FROM BEHIND CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CAR IS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Showing 20 of 425 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Volkswagen EOS
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Volkswagen EOS, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Volkswagen EOS has 425 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Volkswagen EOS has 21 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 13 of the Volkswagen EOS's 425 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Volkswagen EOS vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Volkswagen EOS vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Volkswagen EOS has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Compare
Buyers also compare
How does the Volkswagen EOS stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Volkswagen EOS by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Volkswagen EOS.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Volkswagen EOS reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Volkswagen EOS reliable?
Poor. The Volkswagen EOS has 425 NHTSA owner complaints and 21 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is AIR BAGS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Volkswagen EOS years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2012 (94 complaints), 2009 (84 complaints), 2010 (69 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Volkswagen EOS problems?
Top reported issues: AIR BAGS (168 complaints); POWER TRAIN (102 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (51 complaints).
Does the Volkswagen EOS have recalls?
Yes — 21 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Volkswagen EOS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.