Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Volkswagen Eos problems

Owners filed 94 complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen Eos with NHTSA between Aug 2012 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (64).

Complaints
94
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags64
  2. Engine13
  3. Electrical system6
  4. Steering5
  5. Power train5
  6. Fuel/propulsion system4
  7. Seats2
  8. Suspension2
  9. Visibility2
  10. Structure1
  11. Exterior lighting1
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Seat belts1
  14. Visibility/wiper1

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20121
20130
20142
20152
201625
201732
201816
20195
20200
20213
20223
20230
20241
20253
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

64 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“My airbag light came on my 2012 EOS and Vw dealer said it was a Clock Spring part issue causing it part number (5K0-953-569-AL) I mentioned this is a safety issue as it also disabled my horn on steering wheel and was pretty sure VW had a recall/bulletin or campaign on this issue. Appears for some odd reason VW didn’t have my vin [XXX] listed or flagged which I believe is a clear mistake. I am escalating this situation with VW and now here as my vehicle is having this same problem and needs listed as well. I strongly feel vw should replace the defective part 5K0-953-569-AL as part of an unidentified vin or vehicle they seem to pick and choose and that isn’t right. VOLKSWAGEN RECALL # 69L2 NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 15V483000 I am not driving it right now as not safe and feel Vw needs to step up and do what is right as exempting vehicles by vin or whatever is not taking proper responsibility for the defects known.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2026Steering, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11725901

Engine

13 reports1 fire
“The motor abruptly shut off while driving. Within 20 seconds the inside of the car filled with smoke and shortly thereafter there were visible flames seen through the front grill. Fire spread and fully engulfed the car. Flames extended 20 feet. Fire dept and police responded. The vehicle was a total loss.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2022EngineFire reportedODI 11447593

Electrical system

6 reports1 crash
“In an accident I was struck by another vehicle that swerved into my lane at a very high rate of speed. His vehicle struck my car on the drivers side front quater panel just after the head light and continued past the drivers door. Air bags failed to deploy causing injuries to my head and body. In a separate accident, head on collision the airbags failed in the front and side causing bodily injuries. The failure of the air bags to deploy was supposed to fixed in Nov 2022 at the VW dealership with the clock spring recall . I did have that replaced so why did mine fail not once but twice after the clock spring was replaced?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2025Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11645817

Steering

5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. IN ADDITION, THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED SUNNYVALE VOLKSWAGEN (1025 E EL CAMINO REAL, SUNNYVALE, CA 94087) AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2018Steering, Air bagsODI 11076709

Power train

5 reports
“My car goes into a false neutral and shifts out of gear while driving. The "PRNDS" indicator on dash had a blinking "D" alternating with a wrench. I have to come to a complete stop turn the car off and right back on and it goes away for about 5-10 minutes only to reoccur. This started happening when weather became hot, and only occurs after driving for an hour or more. Only when hot outside. I performed transmission fluid service with no resolve. There was no debris in the old fluid to indicate mechanical issues. I also get error code P2711- "unexpected mechanical failure". This has almost caused me to wreck several times putting my life and others at risk until I turn car off and immediatly restart engine which allows normal operation for a few minutes. It doesn't operate normally until car cools down. My engine is not overheating. My transmission fluid, and coolant services are current. NHTSA safety recall 09V333000 addressed this exact same issue on 20 August 2009 but it only covers model years 2009 and 2010. This is still a well known problem for the VW DSG transmission experienced by many others. VW said that they couldn't help me even though it's the same…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2024Power trainODI 11591236

Fuel/propulsion system

4 reports
“WHILE DRIVING A 2012 VW EOS, THE ENGINE STUMBLED AND UNLOADED TONS OF SMOKE OUT OF THE REAR OF THE CAR. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTOR, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE UNDER WARRANTY FOR 120,000 MILES. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT VW WILL NOT PROACTIVELY REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS, POTENTIALLY CAUSING 3 MORE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN A FUEL INJECTOR FAILS THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE DUE TO THE ENGINE MISFIRE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND VW WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER - WHICH SEEMS UNFAIR, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF VW'S ISSUE WITH ITS RECENT EMISSION SCANDAL. I HAD 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS VERIFY THE IMPACT A FAILED FUEL INJECTOR HAS, YET MY VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP DID NOT AGREE MINE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED INJECTOR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2019Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11277027
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.