Are Volkswagens reliable?

Newer Volkswagens (Arteon, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Beetle, CC, Eos, GTI, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, ID.4, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, Routan, Taos, Tiguan, Touareg, and e-Golf) do not share one complaint pattern. 8 of the 15 models average more owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. Atlas Cross Sport, Beetle, CC, Jetta, Passat, Touareg, and e-Golf average fewer owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. Arteon, GTI, Jetta SportWagen, Routan, and Taos do not cover enough model years for that comparison.

Models

20

Model years

2012–2026

Data as of 2026-10-16.

Record by model

2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Jetta SportWagen 2012–2014
Total recalls 1
Total complaints 70
Fewest complaints 2013, 0 per year · 2014, 1 per year
Most complaints 2014, 1 per year
Photo: OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0
2019 Volkswagen Arteon
Arteon 2019–2023
Total recalls 6
Total complaints 10
Fewest complaints 2020, 0 per year · 2019, 1 per year
Most complaints 2019, 1 per year
Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Volkswagen Routan
Routan 2012–2014
Total recalls 1
Total complaints 72
Fewest complaints 2013, 0 per year · 2014, 0 per year · 2012, 2 per year
Most complaints 2012, 2 per year
Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Volkswagen Eos
Eos 2012–2016
Total recalls 5
Total complaints 167
Fewest complaints 2015, 0 per year · 2016, 0 per year · 2013, 0 per year
Most complaints 2014, 5 per year
Photo: Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, CC BY 2.0
2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen
Golf SportWagen 2015–2020
Total recalls 9
Total complaints 186
Fewest complaints 2019, 0 per year · 2015, 1 per year · 2018, 1 per year
Most complaints 2017, 3 per year
Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf
e-Golf 2015–2020
Total recalls 8
Total complaints 36
Fewest complaints 2017, 0 per year · 2018, 0 per year · 2019, 0 per year
Most complaints 2015, 6 per year
Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0
2013 Volkswagen Golf R
Golf R 2013–2026
Total recalls 16
Total complaints 74
Fewest complaints 2013, 0 per year · 2019, 1 per year · 2016, 1 per year
Most complaints 2024, 4 per year
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Volkswagen GTI
GTI 2012–2025
Total recalls 9
Total complaints 84
Fewest complaints 2014, 1 per year · 2012, 3 per year · 2013, 4 per year
Most complaints 2013, 4 per year
Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Volkswagen Touareg
Touareg 2012–2018
Total recalls 4
Total complaints 177
Fewest complaints 2015, 1 per year · 2016, 2 per year · 2012, 3 per year
Most complaints 2014, 4 per year
Photo: Navigator84, CC BY-SA 3.0
2012 Volkswagen CC
CC 2012–2018
Total recalls 11
Total complaints 370
Fewest complaints 2017, 0 per year · 2015, 2 per year · 2016, 3 per year
Most complaints 2014, 11 per year
Photo: Navigator84, CC BY-SA 3.0
2012 Volkswagen Beetle
Beetle 2012–2019
Total recalls 16
Total complaints 424
Fewest complaints 2018, 1 per year · 2016, 1 per year · 2017, 1 per year
Most complaints 2012, 9 per year
Photo: Palauenc05, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Volkswagen Golf
Golf 2012–2021
Total recalls 27
Total complaints 639
Fewest complaints 2014, 0 per year · 2020, 1 per year · 2021, 1 per year
Most complaints 2017, 19 per year
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Golf GTI 2016–2026
Total recalls 0
Total complaints 273
Fewest complaints 2021, 1 per year · 2023, 2 per year · 2020, 2 per year
Most complaints 2022, 32 per year
Photo: Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 3.0
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
Tiguan 2012–2026
Total recalls 37
Total complaints 1,814
Fewest complaints 2014, 3 per year · 2015, 4 per year · 2016, 4 per year
Most complaints 2018, 59 per year
Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Volkswagen Passat
Passat 2012–2022
Total recalls 27
Total complaints 2,372
Fewest complaints 2020, 1 per year · 2022, 2 per year · 2019, 3 per year
Most complaints 2014, 74 per year
Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Atlas Cross Sport 2020–2026
Total recalls 30
Total complaints 479
Fewest complaints 2023, 5 per year · 2020, 15 per year · 2022, 16 per year
Most complaints 2024, 32 per year
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Volkswagen Jetta
Jetta 2012–2026
Total recalls 38
Total complaints 2,799
Fewest complaints 2018, 2 per year · 2020, 7 per year · 2022, 8 per year
Most complaints 2019, 96 per year
Photo: ChengH, CC BY-SA 3.0
2022 Volkswagen Taos
Taos 2022–2026
Total recalls 8
Total complaints 489
Fewest complaints 2024, 18 per year · 2023, 27 per year · 2022, 70 per year
Most complaints 2022, 70 per year
Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Atlas 2018–2026
Total recalls 48
Total complaints 1,973
Fewest complaints 2020, 4 per year · 2023, 31 per year · 2022, 34 per year
Most complaints 2021, 70 per year
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
2021 Volkswagen ID.4
ID.4 2021–2026
Total recalls 25
Total complaints 999
Fewest complaints 2024, 16 per year · 2022, 33 per year · 2021, 57 per year
Most complaints 2023, 124 per year
Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0

The table gives each model up to three years with the fewest complaints per year, and the year with the most, each counted from complaints filed in that year’s first 3 years on the road. A model year younger than 3 years is too early to compare, so it is left off that list. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market cars on this page. A model with more cars on the road produces more filings. How we count.

Complaints per year

6'124'134'145'153'164'172'183'193'2012'2132'2213'2317'24'25'26

Each bar is the median of the models with complaints on file for that year, not weighted by how many of those cars were sold. A year with no complaint file is left blank.

Recalls by model year

51'1239'1341'1457'1547'1636'1758'1847'1929'2057'2138'2229'2327'2420'257'26

A campaign that covers more than one model is counted on each.

What owners file about

Air bags
1,859
Unknown or other
1,141
Engine
1,126
Electrical system
936
Powertrain
584
Fuel and propulsion system
552
Service brakes
519
Exterior lighting
272

Frequently asked questions

Are Volkswagens reliable?

Newer Volkswagens (Arteon, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Beetle, CC, Eos, GTI, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, ID.4, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, Routan, Taos, Tiguan, Touareg, and e-Golf) do not share one complaint pattern. 8 of the 15 models average more owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. Atlas Cross Sport, Beetle, CC, Jetta, Passat, Touareg, and e-Golf average fewer owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. Arteon, GTI, Jetta SportWagen, Routan, and Taos do not cover enough model years for that comparison.