2013 Volkswagen Eos recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
4 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Unknown Or Other
What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
What could happen: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2013 EOS.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 18V329000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
2. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
What could happen: 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 fix: 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 sup…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2013 EOS.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 18V148000 (manufacturer code 69Q9).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
3. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
What could happen: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2013 EOS.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 16V078000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
4. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. 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.
What could happen: 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 fix: 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…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2013 EOS.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 15V483000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-822-8987.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 2013 Volkswagen Eos owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Airbags (19), Electrical system (4), Engine (3), Unknown Or Other (2), Steering (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
05/12/2023 · Electrical system
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…
01/08/2022 · Steering
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…
06/30/2021 · Electrical system · 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 passeng…
12/07/2020 · Electrical system
IN NORMAL DRIVING, I TURNED STEERING WHEEL TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THERE WAS A SNAP IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS SOUND WAS THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL BREAKING AWAY. I LOST KEY FUNCTIONS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL INCLUDING THE AIRBAG, HORN, AND STEERING MOUNTED CONTROLS.
02/06/2020 · Unknown Or Other
THE SUNROOF STARTED FALLING APART WHEN MY CAR WAS A PROXIMITY 45000 MILES, AND I REPORTED, AND CALL TO VW CUSTOMERS SERVICE ROR SEVERAL TIMES FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THEY DENY TO DO THIS. FINALLY. I HAD TO DO ONOT MY OWN, BUT WHAT I LEARNED TROUGH ONE OF MY FRIENDS, IS THAT EXIST A RECALL FOR THAT. I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU CONFIRM THIS FOR ME - THE SEC…
10/10/2019 · Airbags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAMILTON VOLKSWAGEN (2200 NJ-33, HAMILTON SQUARE, NJ 08690, 609-587-76000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT TH…
11/09/2018 · Airbags
TAKATA RECALL ON 10/19/18 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THAT THEY COULD INSTALL THE NEW AIRBAG INFLATOR KIT DUE TO THE RECALL. A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/9/18 ONLY TO BE TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AIRBAG BECAUSE THE BRACKETS CONNECTING TO THE AIRBAG ARE NOT SENDING A GOOD SIGNAL TO T…
10/17/2018 · Electrical system
I TOOK THE CAR IN AS PART OF THE TAKATA INFLATOR RECALL. EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WAS WORKING WHEN I DROPPED OFF THE CAR. NOW THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $700 PLUS TO REPAIR THE HORN, IGNITION LOCK, CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CONTROL THE VOLUME AND MENU BUTTONS ON THE DISPLAY PANEL. THESE ITEMS WERE WORKING WHEN I DROPPED OFF THE CAR. VWOA HAS STATED DUE…