This page covers 4 recalls, 26 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Volkswagen Eos.
25 mpg combined
9.4 L/100km
Subcompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
The dominant complaint pattern on the 2013 Volkswagen Eos centers on the clockspring, the coiled electrical connector inside the steering column. Across multiple reports, owners describe the horn stopping working, often discovering the issue only when they press the wheel and get no response. Several owners report the clockspring failing more than once, including after a dealer replacement. Because the clockspring also routes the airbag circuit, owners frequently note losing both horn function and steering-wheel-mounted controls at the same time. A couple of owners mention an audible snap from the steering wheel at the moment of failure. Engine and electrical complaints each account for a small handful of reports with no single recurring symptom standing out among them. The clockspring issue remains the clear outlier in terms of volume, with owners describing it as a repeat failure rather than a one-time fix.
26
Total Complaints
1
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Volkswagen Eos has 4 recalls, the most serious being a driver's frontal airbag inflator that can rupture or explode in a crash, sending metal fragments into the cabin and potentially causing serious injury.
The airbag inflator concern spans two related filings that describe the same core failure: excessive internal pressure causes the inflator to burst. Both point to the same outcome, metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants when the airbag deploys. There is also a separate airbag concern involving the clock spring, a flat coiled cable inside the steering column that keeps the airbag circuit connected while the wheel turns. Debris can contaminate this component and break the electrical connection, which means the driver's frontal airbag may not deploy at all in a crash, removing a key layer of protection at the moment it is needed most. The fourth recall is a compliance matter stemming from modifications made during an internal evaluation period; the affected vehicles may not meet all applicable regulatory requirements, which the filing notes can raise the risk of a crash, fire, or injury in general terms, though no specific mechanical defect is identified.
At a glance
What can fail
Modifications made during an internal evaluation period may have left these vehicles not fully compliant with applicable regulatory requirements.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair vehicles to restore full compliance or Volkswagen will repurchase them at no cost to you.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator can build up excessive pressure during deployment and rupture, potentially causing injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag inflator with a safer alternative at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator may build up too much internal pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Debris may contaminate and tear the air bag clock spring—a spiral cable that powers the driver's front air bag during steering wheel turns—causing the air bag to lose electrical connection.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a protective cover over the clock spring if the air bag light is off, or replace the clock spring if the light is on. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
