Volkswagen CC Problems by Year

We compared every Volkswagen CC model year from 2009–2017 using 982 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 12 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2009, which drew far more complaints than other CC years at the same age. The best years are 2017, 2016 and 2015.

9model years
982complaints
12recalls
2010, 2012worst years
2017, 2016best years

Complaints by model year

200920102011201220132014201520162017136242862301488030264
Owner complaints per model year, Volkswagen CC. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
20174−94%3ElectricalGood
201626−74%6AirbagGood
201530−72%4Fuel SystemGood
201480−26%5AirbagAverage
20131481.8×5AirbagCaution
20122302.7×6AirbagAvoid
201186−16%4AirbagAverage
20102423.0×4AirbagAvoid
20091361.5×4AirbagCaution

* Complaints compared with the median CC year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Volkswagen CC problems

Latest Volkswagen CC recalls

Unknown or other

NHTSA recall 21V-321 · May 5, 2021 · 46 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles.

Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module

NHTSA recall 19V-535 · Jul 17, 2019 · 27,822 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-014 · Jan 11, 2019 · 119,394 vehicles

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.

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.

Unknown or other

NHTSA recall 18V-329 · May 16, 2018 · 252 vehicles

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.

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-148 · Mar 6, 2018 · 363,713 vehicles

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.

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.

All 12 Volkswagen CC recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Volkswagen CC should you avoid?

2010, 2012, 2013 and 2009 — these years have the most complaints relative to other CC years at the same age, led by air bags problems in the 2010.

What is the best year for the Volkswagen CC?

2017 has the fewest complaints compared with other CC years at the same age, followed by 2016 and 2015. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Volkswagen CC problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the air bags (422), fuel & propulsion system (223) and engine & cooling (202). Airbag complaints peak in the 2013 model year.

How many recalls has the Volkswagen CC had?

12 recalls across 2009–2017. The model year with the most is 2012. See all Volkswagen CC recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.