Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2011GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual Extended coverage
15 serious complaints of 18, the most about air bags (10) and brakes (2); 0.7× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2011 vehicles. 2 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA18003: air bag clockspring failure. NHTSA investigation RQ17009: air bag clockspring failure.
What owners report
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 volkswagen eos. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Jan 2017
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage This document advises dealers regarding the Timing Chain/Timing Chain Tensioner Limited Warranty Extension (VWP-18, Aug 2018)
- Extended coverage This Document informs dealers on VWP-18-11 for the Steering Wheel Clock Spring Limited Warranty Extension (VWP-18-11, Oct 2018)
- Extended coverage This supporting FAQ is for the Turbocharger Limited Warranty Extension Class Action Settlement. (Turbocharger, Sep 2025)
- Extended coverage VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP COMMUNICATION: Volkswagen announced a warranty extension program to cover the High Pressure Fuel Pump on 2009-2012 model year TDI Clean Diesel Engine vehicles (Dealer, Apr 2015)
- Extended coverage This technical bulletin was updated per powertain team and warranty team. (V241702, Feb 2017)
- Extended coverage The Vehicle Maintenance Declaration has been added back to WISE for the Timing Chain Warranty Extension. (Vehicle, Jan 2019)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
18 owner complaints · 2 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 25 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2011 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · Drive: FWD
2011 EOS trims
| Komfort | Luxury |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Volkswagen reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Volkswagen aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 200 hp | FWD | 25 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 4 | Electrical system (3) | — |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | FWD | 25 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 3 | Electrical system (2) | — |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | FWD | 25 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 40 | Air bags (31) | — |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 200 hp | FWD | 25 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 26 | Air bags (19) | — |
| 2012 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | FWD | 25 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 94 | Air bags (64) | — |
| 2011 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo manual available | FWD | 25 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 18 | Air bags (10) | — |
| 2010 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo manual available | FWD | 25 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 69 | Air bags (24) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Volkswagen EOS C FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 4 |
| 2015 | Volkswagen EOS C FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 3 |
| 2014 | Volkswagen EOS C FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 40 |
| 2013 | Volkswagen EOS C FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 26 |
| 2012 | Volkswagen EOS C FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 94 |
| 2011 | Volkswagen EOS C FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 18 |
| 2010 | Volkswagen Eos Convertible w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 69 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Eos | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2015 | Eos | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2014 | Eos | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2013 | Eos | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2012 | Eos | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2011 | Eos | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
25 |
| 2010 | Eos | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
25 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.