Problems · NHTSA complaints
2011 Volkswagen Eos problems
Owners filed 18 complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen Eos with NHTSA between May 2011 and May 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (10).
Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags10
- Service brakes2
- Power train2
- Electrical system2
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Engine1
- Structure1
- Other / unknown2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
0
1
1
5
5
2
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
10 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“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”
Service brakes
2 reports
“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.”
Power train
2 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…”
Electrical system
2 reports
“STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK AND NOTICED HALF MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. CHECKED THE FUSES AND F16 FUSE WAS MELTED.”
Forward collision avoidance
1 report
“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.”
Engine
1 report1 crash
“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] *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.