CSR

Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2011 Volkswagen EOS

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

18

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Volkswagen EOS have filed 18 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2011 and May 2023. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 10 of them (56%). The typical failure was reported at 50,500 miles, the median across the 6 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (2)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

18V148000 · March 6, 2018

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 363,713 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

15V483000 · August 4, 2015

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
The risk
A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 415,825 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (3)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

EA18003

Still open engineering analysis · opened April 18, 2018

the air bags

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.The loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in illumination of the air bag warning light and will prevent operation of the front driver air bag in a crash of sufficient severity requiring a commanded deployment.In November 2017, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ17-009) after the agency received 90 complaints alleging failure of the clockspring in the subject models.Several of the complaints allege failure of the clockspring after receiving the recall remedy.The majority of the complaints allege the same failure mode without being included in the original recall, 15V-483.In its March 2018 response to ODI's Information Request under the Recall Query, Volkswagen provided approximately 700 consumer complaints and field reports on the recalled vehicles.These reports allege clockspring failure similar to the NHTSA reports described above.To date, NHTSA has received approximately 154 allegations of clockspring failure since the recall has launched.The total of 852 reports shown in the table above eliminates 6 duplicative reports received by ODI and the manufacturer.An Engineering Analysis has been opened to further evaluate the scope and effectiveness of the remedy associated with 15V-483 and perform a thorough review of the design changes implemented by Volkswagen and its suppliers to address this issue.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: 11080741, 11079877, 11079805, 11079124, 11076709, 11076645, 11076297, 11076249, 11076133, 11075756, 11075726, 11075358, 11075259, 11075055, 11074920, 11074565, 11073090, 11072745, 11072457, 11072089, 11071933, 11071880, 11071630, 11071592, 11067396, 11067061, 11066738, 11066601, 11066511, 11065909, 11065871, 11065262, 11064701, 11064564, 11064544, 11064531, 11063961, 11063501, 11063095, 11062772, 11062464, 11062353, 11062344, 11061463, 11061310, 11061311, 11060735, 11058154, 11057519, 11057477, 11057341, 11056793, 11056243, 11056063, 11055639, 11054279, 11052812, 11052678, 11052384, 11052228, 11051336, 11051155, 11051074, 11048803, 11047037, 11044226, 11043653, 11039142, 11033893, 11033330, 11032548, 11025475, 11025356, 11024647, 11023423, 11020570, 11020312, 11019415, 11019067, 11015441, 11015431, 11014595, 11014016, 11013709, 11013415, 11012596, 11011753, 11006668, 11006521, 11006307, 11006181, 11005301, 11003865, 11001780, 11001783, 11001334, 10994184, 10993360, 10993524, 10992490, 10985926, 10983678, 10981220, 10980831, 10980941, 10980549, 10979418, 10971152, 10967344, 10967155, 10959968, 10958624, 10957279, 10956488, 10949129, 10947562, 10945122, 10936498, 10936543, 10933950, 10927311, 10925421, 10924034, 10915612, 10915569, 10911171, 10902066, 10898733, 10896537, 10896510, 10895526, 10893938, 10891686, 10864967, 10863742, 10861984, 10851242, 10822505, 10821562, 10818403, 10795068, 10794402, 10788738, 10787804, 10782544, 10780725, 10780145, 10779145, 10776477, 10775448, 10763492, 10763423, 10763289, 10762670, 10760644, 10758777, 10749901, 10748922

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

RQ17009

Closed recall query · opened November 13, 2017 · closed May 4, 2018

the air bags

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.The loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in illumination of the air bag warning light and will prevent operation of the front driver air bag in a crash of sufficient severity requiring a commanded deployment.In November 2017, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ17-009) after the agency received 90 complaints alleging failure of the clockspring in the subject models.Several of the complaints allege failure of the clockspring after receiving the recall remedy.The majority of the complaints allege the same failure mode without being included in the original recall, 15V-483.In its March 2018 response to ODI's Information Request under the Recall Query, Volkswagen provided approximately 700 consumer complaints and field reports on the recalled vehicles.These reports allege clockspring failure similar to the NHTSA reports described above.To date, NHTSA has received approximately 154 allegations of clockspring failure since the recall has launched.The total of 852 reports shown in the table above eliminates 6 duplicative reports received by ODI and the manufacturer.This Recall Query has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA18-003) to further evaluate the scope and effectiveness of the remedy associated with 15V-483 and perform a review of the design changes implemented by Volkswagen and its suppliers to address this issue.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: 11080741, 11079877, 11079805, 11079124, 11076709, 11076645, 11076297, 11076249, 11076133, 11075756, 11075726, 11075358, 11075259, 11075055, 11074920, 11074565, 11073090, 11072745, 11072457, 11072089, 11071933, 11071880, 11071630, 11071592, 11067396, 11067061, 11066738, 11066601, 11066511, 11065909, 11065871, 11065262, 11064701, 11064564, 11064544, 11064531, 11063961, 11063501, 11063095, 11062772, 11062464, 11062353, 11062344, 11061463, 11061310, 11061311, 11060735, 11058154, 11057519, 11057477, 11057341, 11056793, 11056243, 11056063, 11055639, 11054279, 11052812, 11052678, 11052384, 11052228, 11051336, 11051155, 11051074, 11048803, 11047037, 11044226, 11043653, 11039142, 11033893, 11033330, 11032548, 11025475, 11025356, 11024647, 11023423, 11020570, 11020312, 11019415, 11019067, 11015441, 11015431, 11014595, 11014016, 11013709, 11013415, 11012596, 11011753, 11006668, 11006521, 11006307, 11006181, 11005301, 11003865, 11001780, 11001783, 11001334, 10994184, 10993360, 10993524, 10992490, 10985926, 10983678, 10981220, 10980831, 10980941, 10980549, 10979418, 10971152, 10967344, 10967155, 10959968, 10958624, 10957279, 10956488, 10949129, 10947562, 10945122, 10936498, 10936543, 10933950, 10927311, 10925421, 10924034, 10915612, 10915569, 10911171, 10902066, 10898733, 10896537, 10896510, 10895526, 10893938, 10891686, 10864967, 10863742, 10861984, 10851242, 10822505, 10821562, 10818403, 10795068, 10794402, 10788738, 10787804, 10782544, 10780725, 10780145, 10779145, 10776477, 10775448, 10763492, 10763423, 10763289, 107626

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

PE15010

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened March 24, 2015 · closed September 28, 2015 · led to recall 15V483000

the air bags, the electrical system

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while allowing for the turning of the steering wheel.Complainants alleged that that the clock spring failed while driving and without warning.When the SCCM fails electrically, an air bag warning light is illuminated on the dash of the vehicle.If a vehicle with a failed SCCM were to be involved in a crash of sufficient severity to require deployment, the driver air bag may not deploy properly, or deploy at all.As the result of an Information Request response from Volkswagen, ODI determined that the same SCCM was used in several vehicle models and MYs including: 2010-2013 CC, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2013 Golf, 2012-2013 Jetta and Jetta SportWagen, 2010 and 2012-2014 Passat and 2011-2014 Tiguan.ODI identified a total of 29 NHTSA complaints across all affected vehicles potentially indicating a failed SCCM.Drivers often indicated that an audible noise was heard from the steering column when the unit failed. Some drivers also mentioned that there was a noticeable but minor resistance to turning of the steering wheel after the failure with noises coming from the steering column.The average failure mileage is approximately 30,500 miles and failures often occur outside of the factory warranty.There were no reported crashes or injuries identified in either the NHTSA or Volkswagen data as a result of SCCM failures.On July 30th, 2015 Volkswagen notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (15V-483) to remedy the SCCMs in 415,825 MY2010-2014 vehicles.According to Volkswagen, the SCCM can become contaminated with human hair or similar fibers entering the unit between the steering wheel and steering column.Over time this can cause the electrical cable to tear and lose connection between the steering wheel and vehicle.Volkswagen will install a cover that attaches over the SCCM to help prevent contaminants from entering the unit.A new SCCM designed to reduce outside contamination intrusion was previously introduced into new vehicle production during the 2014 model year; accordingly vehicles equipped with the new design SCCM are not included in the recall.The recall action initiated by the manufacturer addresses the safety risks identified by the investigation.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10760644, 10758777, 10748922, 110734168, 10731545, 10721424, 10717651, 10715305, 10713742, 10713139, 10712295, 10711945, 10704830, 10704221, 10702926, 10702212, 10701406, 10691906, 10683944, 10682136, 10672715, 10670517, 10669312, 10628549, 10607240, 10575783, 10561143, 10552113, 10397670.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 18.

AIR BAGS 10 56%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 11%
POWER TRAIN 2 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 11%
ENGINE 1 6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 6%
STRUCTURE 1 6%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 5.

2011 2016 2023
2011 to 2023

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 45,000 miles

WHILE SITTING ON A BRIDGE, WAS HIT FROM BEHIND CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CAR IS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10672143. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

crash

CAR HAS 72,319 MILES. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT 10,000 MILES OR LESS. THE TENSIONER SPRING BROKE AND THE TIMING BELT SHIFTED CAUSING ALOT OF ENGINE DAMAGE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY VW DEALERS OR MANUFACTURE ABOUT THE TSB MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NO.: TB-15-12-01 COMPONENT(S): ENGINE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10045560 WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. I HAVE A $5,300 REPAIR FOR A $120.00 DOLLAR PART! CAN YOU HELP ME WITH A RECALL? THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA complaint 10873461. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Unable to drive vehicle ABS system failure - no braking is possible. ABS warning light and loss of braking control while attempting to drive. The module part recall 45F2 does not apply to my year 2011 vehicle. Though the previous year there is a recall for the part by VW. VW representatives will not offer recall or payment for part replacement saying recall does not apply to 2011. Vehicle is at risk. VW will not assume responsibility for faulty part. The vehicle is too dangerous to drive. Consumers should be informed.

NHTSA complaint 11521427. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
My ABS/ ESC light was on and the brake light was flashing randomly. After diagnostics it appears the ABS module is intermittently not receiving power. Because of this the ABS/ESC system randomly does not work as it should. This seems to be the same issue as the 16V-913 safety recall, but my car was manufactured on July 14, 2010 which was 33 days after the June 11, 2010 cut off date.

NHTSA complaint 11445178. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

76,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. I PULLED IT OFF OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED AND AGAIN IT WOULD NOT GET PAST 20 MPH. WHEN I SWITCHED THE CAR TO MANUAL MODE IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 2ND GEAR. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SITTING THE CAR WORKED PROPERLY. I CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA I WAS TRAVELING AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" AND THAT VW HAD HAD TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I DROVE THE CAR HOME. SEVEN DAYS LATER, THE EXACT THING HAPPENED AND I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHO

NHTSA complaint 11194933, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

100,114 miles

STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK AND NOTICED HALF MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. CHECKED THE FUSES AND F16 FUSE WAS MELTED.

NHTSA complaint 11088719. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVE NOTICE THAT I HAVE FAULTY TAKATA AIRBAGS A FEW YEARS AGO. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT A TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD SWAP THE ORIGINAL AIRBAG WITH A REPLACEMENT MODULE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A DRYING AGENT. THAT NOTICE WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS ONLY AN INTERIM REPAIR UNTIL A REDESIGNED UNIT IS AVAILABLE. I HAD THE INTERIM REPAIR DONE ON MY VEHICLE. I NOTICED NOW THAT WHEN SEARCHING FOR RECALLS, IT SAYS THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IT SEEMS THAT AT THIS TIME

NHTSA complaint 11066170, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLOCK SPRING IN MY CAR HAS FAILED REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THIS COMPLETE FAILURE COMES A SHORT 9 MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL 'REPAIR' DONE FOLLOWING A VW RECALL ON THE PART- THEY SIMPLY PLACED A COVER OVER THE ORIGINAL CLOCK SPRING. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART, BECAUSE I HAD THE INITIAL SAFETY CHECK DONE AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL RECALL AND THE PART WAS DEEMED FUNCTIONAL AT THAT POINT- EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE IT WOULD MOST LIKELY EVENTUALLY FAIL.

NHTSA complaint 11052812. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen EOS

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2014 40 3
2013 26 4
2012 94 4
2010 69 2

Other 2011 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 152 vehicles, 256 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst