YearToAvoid

2016 Volkswagen Eos Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

17/100

#6 most-complained of 7 Eos years

The 2016 Volkswagen Eos has 4 complaints and a Complaint Index of 17, ranking 6th of 7 model years — better than most other Eos years. It carries 2 recalls, neither marked do-not-drive, with Electrical System issues making up 75% of complaints.

Complaints
4
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 30 hwy

Top 2016 Volkswagen Eos problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System3 (75%)
  2. Engine1 (25%)
  3. Structure & Body1 (25%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain1 (25%)

What owners report

  • Seat heaters have reportedly overheated, smoking and burning holes through the seat fabric and a coat.
  • Owners describe sudden loss of transmission response while driving, with RPM spiking and the car coasting to a stop.
  • Warning lights for the EPC system, check engine, and gear indicator have flashed on together during a transmission event.
  • Some owners report random engine misfires tied to failed ignition coils.
  • One owner found the battery drained with the vehicle failing to start, followed by multiple warning lights after a jump-start and recharge, at 20,000 miles.
2016 Volkswagen Eos complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2022Aug 2023Jan 2024Aug 2024
6 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2022 to Aug 2024; peak Nov 2022 (2).

2016 Volkswagen Eos recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V014000Jan 11, 2019Airbags119,394 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder 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 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).

  2. 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.

2016 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.

2016 compared with other Eos years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Caution6740325
2015No verdict03225
2016No verdict174225

All Volkswagen Eos years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Volkswagen Eos reliable?
Compared to other Eos years, 2016 ranks 6th of 7 with a Complaint Index of 17 and only 4 complaints logged with NHTSA, making it one of the better years for this model.
What year Volkswagen Eos should I avoid?
NHTSA data shows 2012 (Complaint Index 100) and 2010 (Complaint Index 83) are the years with the most reported problems, both marked Avoid; 2016 is comparatively low at 17.
Does the 2016 Eos have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls: one for airbag inflators (campaign 19V014000) and one covering emissions compliance (campaign 18V329000). Neither is marked do-not-drive.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Eos?
Electrical System complaints make up 75% of reported issues for the 2016 Eos, including battery drain and dashboard warning lights, with a median failure mileage of 20,000.

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.