Home · 2012 Volkswagen Eos · Complaints

What 94 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Eos

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (94)Crash / fire / injury (4)Airbags (64)Engine (13)Electrical system (6)Fuel system (5)Steering (5)Transmission & drivetrain (5)Visibility & wipers (3)Seats (2)Suspension (2)Body & structure (1)

4 of 94 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Mar 2, 2025Electrical systemAirbagsCrash1 injury

In an accident I was struck by another vehicle that swerved into my lane at a very high rate of speed. His vehicle struck my car on the drivers side front quater panel just after the head light and continued past the drivers door. Air bags failed to deploy causing injuries to my head and body. In a separate accident, head on collision the airbags failed in the front and side causing bodily injuries. The failure of the air bags to deploy was supposed to fixed in Nov 2022 at the VW dealership with the clock spring recall . I did have that replaced so why did mine fail not once but twice after the clock spring was replaced?

NHTSA ODI 11645817

Feb 1, 2025SeatsFire

While driving, turned seat heater on, it overheated enough to burn the seat and my coat. No noticeable fire.

NHTSA ODI 11640042

Jan 15, 2022EngineFire

The motor abruptly shut off while driving. Within 20 seconds the inside of the car filled with smoke and shortly thereafter there were visible flames seen through the front grill. Fire spread and fully engulfed the car. Flames extended 20 feet. Fire dept and police responded. The vehicle was a total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11447593

Sep 27, 2018Visibility & wipers1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR CUTS AND GLASS WAS EMBEDDED INTO HER SKIN DUE TO THE FAILURE, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 11131890

Working with the data? Download all 94 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Volkswagen Eos verdict →