Problems · NHTSA complaints
2013 Volkswagen Eos problems
Owners filed 26 complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Eos with NHTSA between Apr 2016 and May 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (19).
Complaints
26
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags19
- Electrical system4
- Engine3
- Steering1
- Power train1
- Suspension1
- 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
6
8
6
1
2
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 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
19 reports3 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Eos. The contact stated while having a routine check at the dealer, the mechanic informed the contact that the horn was not functioning and that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the clockspring needed to be replaced again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty or recall. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 108,000.”
Electrical system
4 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Eos. The contact stated that while driving, the heater inside the front passenger seat erroneously activated and malfunctioned causing the seat to burn which also caused a burn to the bottom of the front passenger seat. There was a hole on the front passenger side seat and during the incident, it burned through the passenger's undergarments and jeans causing his burn injuries. Medical treatment was not provided due to the injured passenger not being able to sit and was being treated at home. During the incident, a burning odor was present inside the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and the electrical wire to the seat was deactivated. The cause of the failure was not determined. A fire report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.”
Engine
3 reports
“WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MILES PER HOUR, VEHICLE SHIFTED ITSELF TO NEUTRAL... SLOWLY CHANGED LANES TO EMERGENCY LANE AND CAME TO A HAULT. PLACED CAR ON PARK TESTED REVERSE AND IT WORKED...PLACE ON DRIVE AND CAR DROVE ON... A VW MECHANIC TELS ME IT COULD BE A TRANSMISION MULTISWITCH PROBLEM; DO YOU HAVE HISTORY OR RECORD OF SUCH SCARY PROBLEM WITH EOS???”
Steering
1 report
“I pressed the steering wheel to activate the HORN. The HORN did not work. My VW dealer (Valenti VW, Watertown, CT) after 1.5 hours determined the the spring on the steering wheel that activates the horn and possibly the airbag is broken. The spring is broken and is back ordered since 12/20/2021. VW IS ACUTELY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 years and 100,000 miles. This is a very serious safety issue.”
Power train
1 report
Suspension
1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
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.