YearToAvoid

2013 Volkswagen Eos Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2013 Volkswagen Eos ranks 7th of 10 model years with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict. It has 26 complaints, 4 recalls (mostly Takata airbag campaigns), 1 fire, and 1 injury, well below the worst Eos years like 2012 (index 89) and 2009 (index 100).

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
33/100
#7 of 10 Eos years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
26
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2011
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 30 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2013 Volkswagen Eos problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags19 (73%)
  2. Electrical System4 (15%)
  3. Engine3 (12%)
  4. Other2 (8%)
  5. Steering1 (4%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report Takata airbag recall parts being unavailable for extended periods, leaving the driver's frontal airbag inflator unreplaced.
  • A front passenger seat heater malfunctioned and burned through the seat and undergarments while driving.
  • The engine stalled without warning at various speeds, sometimes with the check engine light on and a diagnostic code stored.
  • The vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into neutral while driving around 50 mph, requiring the driver to pull over.
  • Front wheel bearings were diagnosed as needing replacement after abnormal noise from the front end, and the problem recurred after repair.
  • The steering wheel horn stopped working due to a broken clock spring, a part VW acknowledged and extended warranty coverage for.
2013 Volkswagen Eos complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2016Aug 2016Apr 2017Oct 2017Nov 2018Dec 2020May 2023
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2016 to May 2023; peak Oct 2018 (3).

2013 Volkswagen Eos recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V329000May 16, 2018Other252 vehicles

    Unknown or other

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 18V148000Mar 6, 2018Airbags363,713 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    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.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 16V078000Feb 10, 2016Airbags659,493 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    Risk: 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2013 Volkswagen Eos →

2013 Volkswagen Eos fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Eos years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Best2218225
2012Avoid8994425
2013Good3326425
2014Good4440325
2015No verdict03225

All Volkswagen Eos years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Eos reliable?
Compared with other Eos model years, 2013 ranks 7th of 10 with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict, meaning it has fewer reported problems than years like 2009 and 2012.
What problems does the 2013 VW Eos have?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Eos are dominated by airbags (19 of 26 complaints, 73% share), mostly tied to Takata inflator recalls, followed by electrical system issues (4 complaints, including one seat-heater fire) and engine issues (3 complaints).
Does the 2013 VW Eos have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2013 Eos, three involving airbags (including Takata inflator replacement and a steering wheel clock spring cover) and one broader compliance recall covering multiple VW models.
How does 2013 compare to the worst Eos years?
The 2013 model year's complaint index of 33 is well below the worst years: 2012 at 89, 2009 at 100, and 2010 at 78, all rated Avoid.
What is the median mileage for airbag complaints on the 2013 Eos?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 67,704 miles for airbag-related complaints on the 2013 Eos.

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.