YearToAvoid

Volkswagen Best and Worst Years by Model

22 Volkswagen models, 22,783 NHTSA owner complaints and 394 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Volkswagen models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Volkswagen Tiguan2009–20252,253392009, 2018, 2019, 2020, 20222014, 2015, 2016, 2017Engine
Volkswagen Jetta2005–20256,336462009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 20192018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024Electrical System
Volkswagen Atlas2018–20251,974472019, 20212020, 2025Electrical System
Volkswagen Passat2005–20223,869382006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 20152011, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Airbags
Volkswagen Beetle2005–2019949222005, 2006, 2013, 20152010, 2017, 2019Airbags
Volkswagen Golf2005–2023847302011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 20222020, 2021Fuel System
Volkswagen Taos2022–2025489820222025Engine
Volkswagen GTI2005–20251,039252007, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2019, 20242014, 2020, 2023Engine
Volkswagen CC2008–2017983122009, 2010, 20122015Airbags
Volkswagen Touareg2005–2017414102007, 2008, 2014, 20162015, 2017Fuel System
Volkswagen Eos2007–201642572009, 2010, 20122011Airbags
Volkswagen Routan2008–201478482009, 2010—Electrical System
Volkswagen Golf R2012–202576162016, 2017, 2024—Electrical System
Volkswagen ID.42021–2025999252021, 2023—Electrical System
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport2020–2025479292021, 20242023, 2025Electrical System
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen2013–201917292015, 20172019Electrical System
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack2017–20191004——Electrical System
Volkswagen e-Golf2015–20195592015, 2016—Electrical System
Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid2013–201610132013—Transmission & Powertrain
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen2008–201417122011, 2014—Electrical System
Volkswagen Rabbit2006–200915232009—Brakes
Volkswagen R322006–20081162——Transmission & Powertrain

Volkswagen model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta · 888 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  2. 2010 Volkswagen Jetta · 852 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  3. 2013 Volkswagen Passat · 748 complaints · 9 recalls Avoid
  4. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta · 607 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
  5. 2014 Volkswagen Passat · 594 complaints · 10 recalls Avoid
  6. 2006 Volkswagen Jetta · 580 complaints · 4 recalls Caution
  7. 2006 Volkswagen Passat · 576 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
  8. 2019 Volkswagen Jetta · 548 complaints · 11 recalls Avoid
  9. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta · 516 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  10. 2012 Volkswagen Jetta · 499 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid

How we rank Volkswagen years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.