Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Volkswagen Eos problems

Owners filed 4 complaints about the 2016 Volkswagen Eos with NHTSA between Nov 2022 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (3).

Complaints
4
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system3
  2. Seats1
  3. Engine1
  4. Power train1

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
20221
20231
20242

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

Electrical system

3 reports1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2024Electrical systemODI 11611815

Seats

1 report1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2024Electrical system, SeatsFire reportedODI 11566679

Engine

1 report
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2023EngineODI 11540209

Power train

1 report
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2022Power train, Electrical systemODI 11494025
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.