Problems · NHTSA complaints
2014 Volkswagen Eos problems
Owners filed 41 complaints about the 2014 Volkswagen Eos with NHTSA between Jan 2015 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (31).
Complaints
41
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
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 bags31
- Electrical system5
- Visibility/wiper2
- Forward collision avoidance2
- Power train2
- Seat belts1
- Steering1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Visibility1
- Other / unknown3
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
3
13
8
3
3
0
0
6
0
1
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 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
31 reports2 related recalls
“The clockspring on the car went out. This mean all steering wheel controls don’t work, but more importantly, the air bags do not work either. We were told by the dealer the clocksprings are on back order and have been since November 2021. There are 8500 already on back order. We were told it could be 6 months to a year before the part is available. Dealership says VW won’t allow them to do loaners, VW says it’s up to the dealership. I’m the meantime, my 24 year old is driving around with no air bags.”
Electrical system
5 reports
“1)The tubing that takes the windshield fluid from the tank to the actual sprayers and the heating element for the washer fluid (not important but was also damaged due to flaw in design. Yes it is still available for inspection. 2)Under Ohio Administrative Code 4501:2-1-16, every motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968, must be equipped with a windshield washer system maintained in operable condition at all times, capable of cleaning the windshield to provide a clear view for the driver. Due to their flaw in design there are years of Eos’s without just this! Vw’s fix, pay for a fix where you crushed the line with the hood. They have now set us up for a minor misdemeanor Failing to keep the windshield clean or operating with an obstructed view can result in a minor misdemeanor citation under Ohio Revised Code 4513.24. When it has just rained and the road dirt is all over the wind shield there is nothing we can do add the sun blaring in, the close call have been many when factors come into play. It has been see by an independent VW mechanic who said it very common. There are no fine sign you just can’t clean your windshield, the fluid is going all over…”
Visibility/wiper
2 reports
“We have the Xenon headlights, which requires us to have headlight washers on our cars due to safety issue for the other drivers on the road so they don’t get blinded, who’s is great if 1) they worked most of the time 2) people did not start pulling the fuse or discontinuing the hose so it hit the ground. See Volkswagen has a know issue, that when they pop out to spray the headlights, they are known to break the cover! This in turn leaves the sprayer exposed to the elements to get clogged and not work, owners to get mad because they just break again after replaced (reason why they get disconnected) and the cost is not cheap to replace, the actual part is not bad the problem is, it’s primed grey and you have to get it painted which cost over $100. If you do a quick search over this you will see tons of complaints and the dealership is well aware of the issues, one lady had hers replaced under warranty and they said the sprayer was not in the right place. I could agree with that seeing as my windshield also gets sprayed! There were no warnings, we did not think ours even worked we had the car almost a year the first time they ever worked!! Still not sure what made them work exactly.”
Forward collision avoidance
2 reports
“Mid December 2021 the airbag light displayed and all functions on steering wheel quit working to include horn, cruise control, and all other buttons that interface with phone, radio and computer. After daughter returned from college 1st week of February 2022 was the first date available and is when the vehicle was seen by Volkswagen of Little Rock. Service Manager [XXX] reported the Clockspring was faulty and this is a manufacturer defect that is covered fully by Volkswagen, however, the Clockspring has been on back order since February and after calling every 2 weeks and calling again yesterday, 17 June 2022, with still no end on sight, I am filing this formal complaint. My college age daughter drives this vehicle with no horn and no driver airbag. As a retired US Army Veteran, I am all too familiar with risk assessment and mitigation and believe my daughter should not have to continue driving an unsafe vehicle. Additionally, we did not pay hard earned money to have a faulty and unreliable car and unsatisfactory driving experience. We either want a vehicle replacement or for Volkswagen to make good on their promise to fix the problem. Respectfully, [XXX]”
Power train
2 reports
“WHILE DRIVING ON HWY AT APPROX. 50 MPH, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED BY ITSELF TO NEUTRAL. UNABLE TO SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE, PULLED OVER AND USING BREAKS WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE ON EMERGENCY LANE. WAS ABLE THEN TO CHANGE GEAR TO PARK. TURN OFF CAR AND START AGAIN. CALLED MECHANIC WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY HEARD OF NEUTRAL SWITCH VW ISSUES. THIS EOS ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES AND IS 4 YRS OLD SINCE PURCHASED NEW. THUS STILL COVERED BY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY UNTIL APRIL 2019. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS CALLS FOR A $1525 SHIFT LEVER WITH MULTI-SWITCH (INCLUDES NEUTRAL SWITCH) REPLACEMENT REPORTEDLY NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY OF THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY THAT EOS HAS FOR 5YRS / 60,000 MILES. A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE MAKING PRONE TO HWY ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE AND MULTI VEHICLE RISK AND FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE AND APPLY WARRANTY OFFERED AT PURCHASE TIME ON NEW VEHICLE”
Seat belts
1 report
“When pushing the driver side seat belt into the buckle, it instantly unlatched buckles. Yea it can be inspected. If in a car accident the driver could be seriously injured or fatally injured. I contacted Germain Westerville, Ohio who informed me it’s not under warranty and it would be $500 - $600 dollars. Contacted corporate who said it’s out of warranty but will have a supervisor call my on December 16,2025 It has not been inspected by police or insurance, it’s the only car I have to drive not sure how police are going to respond to that. No warning what’s so ever. I did try spraying WD40 just in case something was stuck.”
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.