Owners filed 84 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 2 times.
When it fails
07000070,000 milesMedian miles at failure
71 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 0–10,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power Train
25
0
0
0
Service Brakes
20
1
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
9
1
0
0
Engine
8
0
0
0
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
5
1
0
0
Electrical System
4
0
0
0
Air Bags
3
1
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
2
0
0
0
Unknown or Other
2
0
0
0
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc)16V913000
Filed Dec 20, 2016135,683 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
Risk. A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission09V333000
Filed Aug 20, 200916,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America, Inc
Defect. VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.
Risk. THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Engine
Filed May 21, 2026FL
Car randomly turning off/on. Key stuck in ignition, cannot turn off or on. Bouncing from on to accessory mode without user control. Vehicle was taken to dealership, VW North America has not been very helpful. Could have gotten into an accident as this occured in the road turning into a restaurant. No lights came on about this. Dealership has had car for 3+ weeks "waiting for parts". VW North America does not want to get involved. To kill the engine I had to pull the fuel pump fuse.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 19, 2026NM
Approximately 6 years my daughter and her boyfriend were driving and she heard a loud pop sound, and thought it might be a tire but it wasnt behaving like it was and then all of the sudden people are driving next to her telling her to pull over cuz the car was on fire, she pulled it over and as soon as she got out the whole car caught fire. when they noticed the fire it had started near or under the passenger front seat, there was no warning lamps or any problems proir. The auto insurance company took the car and they said they inspected it but never gave me any answers, they simply paid off my loan and that was it. The fire department put out the fire, the car was burnt to a crisp, and the fire men were accusing my kid of smoking and starting the fire, so they did no investigation.
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2026150,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Eos. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of a persistent oil leak on the ground. The vehicle had undergone three separate repairs to resolve the failure, but the oil leak persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel was running lean. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Power Train
Filed Sep 8, 2025WA
While in slow traffic and transmission in Drive position, if I slow down or stop for traffic in front of me or a red light, the transmission does not engage again when given acceleration. I have shut the car off and restarted again, sometimes more than once to get it to engage and get me out of traffic. I have held up traffic behind me. There are also loud clunking noises coming from what I believe is the transmission at each start causing the PRNDL to flash and no power for reverse and drive. I believe all of this will eventually cause a collision as it appears to other vehicles that I should be moving. People have also become very frustrated with my vehicle holding up traffic, especially on the busiest of days and long lines waiting to advance behind me. People have become impatient and angry to the point of road rage. Thankfully, no one has actually tried to hurt me physically. The date below would be the latest incident.
Power Train
Filed Oct 20, 2023HI
I slowly at 5mph went over a bump and my car went automatically into neutral, all of the P R N D S lights on the dash started blinking and the car just kept revving when I tried to put it into gear. I had the car towed to the dealership and it is currently there. I looked on Kelly Blue Book and saw there was a recall for my vehicle type and the recall states exactly what happened to my car. Can my VIN number be added to this recall since it is the very same mechanical issue? Here is the information I found on the recall NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 09V333000 Report Date: AUG 20, 2009 Vehicles Affected: 16000 What You Should Do: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, INSPECT THE DSG AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE AN AFFECTED DSG TEMPERATURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987. Summary: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTIN
Service Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 2023NC
All of my lights on the right side of my dashboard is on..the traction light, brake light,steering wheel light and the speedometer is acting iradical..I put new speed sensors on it and it still haven't fixed the problem..alot of mechanics say it's and electrical problem..I bought the car from flow Mazda dealership a couple years ago it's been sitting since then
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 1, 2021TX
The vehicle has exhibited intermittent ABS, ESC, and Brake light. Code check revealed intermittent communication errors with various parts of the ABS system including the control module. Diagnostics varied, undiagnosable due to intermittent activity and varying codes. April 2021, ABS, ESC, Brake light, codes indicate communication error with the ABS control module. Codes and light reset after being cleared, the vehicle was operational and drives with no detectable issues other than lights/ and possible non-operational ABS. 06/29/2021, 10 minutes into drive vehicle speedometer begins to dance from zero to operating speed, to total fault intermittently in interstate traffic on I-10 west into Houston at Channel View, braking begins to engage automatically/intermittently, loss of engine power, check engine/flashing brake light , vehicle narrowly avoids collision. Vehicle parked and restarted, driven back home with check engine and flashing brake light and intermittent speedometer, no drivability issues. 6/30/21 internet search for similar issues reveals an abundance of similar issues without drivability problems and 2017 recall# Part 473 Safety Recall Report 16V-913. I would call attention to pages 3 and page 4 of this recall 1.) Considering the events of 6/28 and page 3 of the recall under Chronology, Volkswagen appears to admit the problem, and with a thorough understanding of its own systems should openly acknowledge the ability of this system to cause dangerous drivability co
Power Train
Filed Jun 30, 2021KY
THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Electrical System
Filed Mar 8, 20214 milesWI
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON, CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL ON IT'S OWN. FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE OF THE NEUTRAL SHIFT THERE IS NO POWER. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE CAR.
Service Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 2020113,000 milesFL
THE ABS BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED EURO CAR MECHANIC HE SAID THAT 8 CODES SHOWED UP FOR THIS. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL 45F2 ON THIS. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP IN PANAMA CITY, FL. THEY WERE EXTREMELY RUDE AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME IF OR WHEN THE RECALL WAS COMPLETE, AND IF IT WAS COMPLETED AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING, THEN THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE INITIAL RECALL THAT WAS NOT FIXED.
Service Brakes
Filed Jun 2, 2020120,000 milesFL
WHILE DRIVING THE N,D, R, P, S STARTS FLASHING. IT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. *TR
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2020IL
IT HAS A MAJOR OIL LEAK AND ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. THE LEAK IS AT REAR MAIN SEAL AND UPPER TIMING GASKET. I FEEL DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. DUE TO WHERE THE OIL LEAK IS PRESENT, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE PULLED WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY.
Service Brakes
Filed Jan 17, 2020122,328 milesTX
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER ABS WARNING LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HILEY VOLKSWAGEN OF ARLINGTON 1461 E INTERSTATE 20, ARLINGTON, TX 76018 (817) 575-6000 FOR A NHTSA RECALL REPAIR NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS THEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $2,700.00 FOR AN UNSPECIFIED PUMP. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AUTOBAHN VOLKSWAGEN FORT WORTH 2810 WHITE SETTLEMENT RD, FORT WORTH, TX 76107 WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED AGAIN THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND GAVE HER THE SAME ESTIMATE AS THE PREVIOUS DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SET UP BOTH APPOINTMENTS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,328.
Power Train
Filed Jan 7, 202069,621 milesNC
HARSH/JERKY SHIFTING IN DSG POWER TRAIN UNIT. TYPICALLY AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS CONDITION PREVIOUS INVESTIGATED THROUGH CLOSED CASE # PE09035. ISSUE RELATES TO EXCESS WEAR IN SOLENOID BUSHINGS. PREVIOUSLY REPORT BY NHTSA THAT VW ISSUED EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10YEARS/100,000 MILES. CAR WAS WITHIN LIMITS BUT VW REFUSED REPAIR SAYING MECHATRONIC UNIT (WHERE THE DEFECTIVE VALVES ARE LOCATED) NOT COVERED BY AGREEMENT WITH NHTSA. CURRENT NHTSA WEB PAGES APPARENTLY INCORRECTLY REPORT THAT VW DOES REPLACE DEFECTIVE UNITS. JERKING IS DANGEROUS IN PARKING MANEUVERS.
Electrical System
Filed Jan 2, 2020160,000 milesTX
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SENSORS TURNED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD LAPSED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Power Train
Filed Jul 5, 201951,700 milesCA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH PRESENTED THE POTENTIAL RISK OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS EXLCUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V333000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09035 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR. VOLKSWAGEN VAN NUYS (6115 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401, (818) 785-7571) WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS CURRENTLY SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THE DEALER REPLACE THE SAME OEM TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,700.
Power Train
Filed Jul 3, 2019123,790 milesCA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE RPMS ACCELERATED ON THEIR OWN. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE GEAR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE TURNING ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN VAN NUYS (LOCATED AT 6115 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401, (818) 785-7571) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,790.
Power Train
Filed Jul 1, 201951,700 milesCA
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 30TH, 2019, @ ABOUT 6PM, @51K I WAS DRIVING 25MPH AND CAR JERKED, THEN THE RPMS REVVED REALLY HIGH AND CAR SLOWED DOWN, AND "PRNDS" LETTERS STARTED BLINKING. I SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND CAR WAS STILL GOING AT HIGHER THAN NORMAL RPMS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT VERY SLOWLY THROUGH RESIDENTIAL STREETS TO MY HOUSE. WHEN I WAS GOING TO PARK IT IN MY SPOT, I HAD TO PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND WHEN I DID, IT DID NOT MOVE IN REVERSE! DURING ALL THIS THE "PRNDS" LIGHTS KEPT ON FLASHING. I HAD TO TURN IT OFF, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, AND GET PUSHED INTO MY PARKING SPOT. WHEN I TESTED TO SEE IF CAR WOULD START, IT STARTED PERFECTLY, NO FLASHING LIGHT OR ANYTHING, NO DELAY OR TROUBLE TO START IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER TURNED ON EITHER. THE DAY BEFORE, I DID HAVE AN ISSUE WITH GETTING THE CAR STARTED, IT NEEDED A JUMP START, AND WHEN THE BATTERY WAS TESTED FOR ITS VOLTAGE, IT WAS RUNNING ON THE LOWER SIDE. I HAD NOT DRIVEN IT ALL DAY ON FRIDAY, AND THE STARTING ISSUES WERE ON SATURDAY. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT I MUST HAVE LEFT A LIGHT ON, BUT NOTHING WAS LEFT ON TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. EARLIER ON SUNDAY, I NEEDED TO GO ON ONE OUTING AND THE CAR DID GIVE ME TROUBLE TO START, WITH A DELAYED SLOW START, AND IT DROVE FINE TO MY DESTINATION LESS THAN 4 MILES AWAY. WHEN I LEFT THERE, THE CAR MANAGED TO START WITH THAT DELAY AGAIN, AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME IS WHEN THE CRAZY JERKING, RPM REVVING, AND CAR SLOWING DOWN HAPPENED ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS WAS
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Apr 9, 2019NC
ABS MODULE NOT WORKING SINCE SUMMER OF 2018.
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2019177,000 milesAL
2009 VOLKSWAGEN EOS 2.0T TSI ENGINE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE DUE DEFECTIVE DESIGN. CAR DID NOT START AND I HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE AT MY EXPENSE. NOW I AM NOT SURE IF THE NEW ENGINE (USED) HAS THE NEW DESIGN VERSION TENSIONER OR THE OLD. I HAVE INVESTIGATED AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE. THIS MOST ENGINE CODE IS CCTA AND IS USED IN MANY VW CARS 2008 AND UP. VOLKSWAGEN SENT A BOLETN EXPLAINING THIS FAILURE AND CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THE TENSIONER ON 2012 THIS FAILURE MAY CAUSE CATASTROFIC ENGINE FAILURE AND DESTROY IT. VW HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Dec 20, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.