Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Volkswagen Eos owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While in slow traffic and transmission in Drive position, if I slow down or stop for traffic in front of me or a red light, the transmission does not engage again when given acceleration. I have shut the car off and restarted again, sometimes more than once to get it to engage and get me out of traffic. I have held up traffic behind me. There are also loud clunking noises coming from what I believe is the transmission at each start causing the PRNDL to flash and no power for reverse and drive. I believe all of this will eventually cause a collision as it appears to other vehicles that I should be moving. People have also become very frustrated with my vehicle holding up traffic, especially on the busiest of days and long lines waiting to advance behind me. People have become impatient and angry to the point of road rage. Thankfully, no one has actually tried to hurt me physically. …
I slowly at 5mph went over a bump and my car went automatically into neutral, all of the P R N D S lights on the dash started blinking and the car just kept revving when I tried to put it into gear. I had the car towed to the dealership and it is currently there. I looked on Kelly Blue Book and saw there was a recall for my vehicle type and the recall states exactly what happened to my car. Can my VIN number be added to this recall since it is the very same mechanical issue? Here is the information I found on the recall NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 09V333000 Report Date: AUG 20, 2009 Vehicles Affected: 16000 What You Should Do: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, INSPECT THE DSG AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE AN AFFECTED DSG TEMPERATURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT [phone]. …
I was driving home from baltimore on the freeway going about 70mph and the vehicle started losing speed and nothing I did would get it to go again. I had to pull over put the car in park, shut the car off and then I was able to go again. This happened about 6 more times driving home to pittsburgh. I went to the dealer and they "fixed it". It worked for a short period of time. Then it happened again and they couldn't find anything wrong with it so they put seafoam in my car. It happened several more times and they had my car for months. They think the seafoam HID the problem for almost a year. They replaced fuel injectors and that helped for about 400 miles. Then they replaced the part that is the equivalent of a caarburetor. This fixed it for about 5 months this time. I just made a trip to chicago and thank god this did not happen there as I would have been killed. …
This affects tiguans, jettas, Eos, and other vws with 2.0tsi engines manufactured pre 2013. The timing chain tensioners have a design flaw and are prone to failure at unacceptably low mileages. These were replaced with a new design to correct this flaw beginning in some 2012 models. However, vw has never formally recalled these or acknowledged the design flaw. If/when it fails, it can ruin the engine often causing over $5K in damages. The workshop confirmed I had the old style and replaced mine at the cost of $873.68. This is a widely spread, widely documented problem that vw is only treating when it causes engine failures. While this is a widespread problem most owners are in the dark about it, 'taking it on the chin' and shelling out money presuming it's just a normal error and not knowing it's a design flaw in the car. …
Car has 85,000 miles. Transmission fails at low speeds going into d or r. Lights start blinking (p r n d s) periodically. Unpredictable when it will happen, can be anytime you're at slow speed. Turning it off and on temporarily fixes but I ran an OBD and came back p2711. This is for a failure with the dsg transmission. Svc bulletin recommends the clutch packs be replaced. Dealer quoted almost 3K to do this. They did not initially acknowledge the extended warranty on the dsg even after I pointed it out. What is worse, this car was taken when only 4 yrs and 49K miles for transmission work and they recommended it be replace (for a quote over 2K) but did not mention the warranty at the time. Service the transmission at the 40K intervals! Even if you do, it might fail! At least be aware of the dsg 10yr 100K miles warranty - must have trans fluid change records though! …
When backing out into a city street from a parking space on an incline, the vehicle gear dash lights began flashing and the car lost power. In order to get the vehicle to function, it was put in park and restarted, all the while blocking traffic and creating an unsafe disabled vehicle condition. The second incident occurred while driving at approximately 50 MPH on a state road. The vehicle shifted to a lower gear, revving the engine and quickly slowing to approximately 25 MPH. As was in the first incident, the prnd lights on the dash began flashing. This occurred in heavy traffic and required a vehicle following to swerve to avoid a rear end collision. I'm assuming the rear brake lights did not come on. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Eos. After the vehicle was shifted into the reverse position, the vehicle failed to move. The gear selector box and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and operated normally. On another occasion, while driving at a slow speed, the vehicle lost power and the gear shift box illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failures recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic where the technicians stated that the gear shift box, dual clutch, and transmission possibly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V333000 (power train). The failure mileage was 79,000.
Our 2009 Eos lux was being driven at a slow speed into a head in parking space yesterday. Gas pedal was being engaged to get into the space when car suddenly accelerated and rapidly lunged forward striking two parked cars in the parking row facing this space. Property damage on this vehicle and the two vehicles struck was significant. This car had suddenly jerked forward when pulling away from a stop at an intersection the day before; after the sudden jump forward the car resumed a normal acceleration. Insurer and dealer have assured us they will investigate. This vehicle has a serious and extremely dangerous defect and we will not drive it again unless we are certain that the defect is identified and corrected.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Eos. While driving 20 MPH, the transmission jerked and the rpms increased without warning. The vehicle also accelerated intermittently, which presented the potential risk of a crash. The vehicle was exlcuded from NHTSA campaign number: 09V333000 (power train). The vehicle was not included in NHTSA action number: pe09035 (power train), but the failure was similar. Volkswagen van nuys (6115 van nuys blvd, van nuys, ca 91401, [phone]) was notified and was currently servicing the transmission assembly. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested the dealer replace the same OEM transmission assembly. The approximate failure mileage was 51,700.
Driving 60 MPH during rush hour traffic on highway when suddenly engine reved prnd lights started blinking and car had no power. I managed to get to shoulder and the car would drive 20 MPH on shoulder. Faster the engine reved. Vw says recall on 2009 Eos does not include my VIN number. I could have been killed if the people behind me didn't manage to avoid hitting me. Vw will not assist me because my power train warranty ran out at 100K miles. My car has 103K. I am concerned that more cars were involved in the recall. Flash of death article by abc news is exactly what happened to me on nov 6 2015. Vw says my car is not affected. I disagree.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 passenger cars manufactured between September 2008 and August 2009. The wiring harness of a temperature sensor in the direct shift gearbox (dsg) May have connector wires that were insufficiently crimped.
Remedy: Volkswagen will reprogram the transmission control module with updated software free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2009. Owners May contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle stall/loss motive power
The subject vehicles are equipped with direct shift gearbox (dsg) transmissions, which feature a 6-speed automatic gearbox with two wet running clutches (dual clutch) in which the clutch mechanism and gear changes are electrohydraulically operated by a mechatronic control unit.the dsg mechatronic controller includes extensive self diagnostic functions and strategies to ensure safe operation and prevent…
Transmission complaints in other Eos years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Eos?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2009 Volkswagen Eos, 43% of the model year's 84 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Volkswagen Eos transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-333 (automatic transmission, Aug 20, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Volkswagen Eos transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.