Most common 2010 Volkswagen Eos problems
Share of the 69 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Eos complaints by model year
Best Eos years: 2015, 2016, 2011. Years to avoid: 2012, 2009, 2010, 2008, 2014. Compare all years →
2010 Volkswagen Eos recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Air bags › Frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2010 Volkswagen Eos:
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
What 2010 Volkswagen Eos owners say
Air bags all 24 →
Last week, while turning into our driveway, the steering wheel made a sound like rubber grinding. Immediately, an error message appeared indicating an airbag failure. The following day, while driving on a 4-lane highway, another vehicle began a lane change while I was in its blind spot. I applied the brakes, and attempted to sound the horn to alert the other motorist to avoid collision, however the car's horn failed. The accident was avoided, but the experience was unnerving. My wife took the vehicle to a local vw service center on 10/5/18, and was told the failure was related to an issue with the clock spring, a repair which she was told was uncovered by recall. We were a little suspicious, because the dealer had just performed a Takata airbag recall service in February, then today we received another recall notice regarding the airbag but not this related issue. …
Takata recall: my call was recalled in February of 2016 for replacement of the air bag inflator. After numerous call to request the new part & after checking in person at the norm reeves Volkswagen dealership (irvine, ca) in November of 2016, they still cannot remedy the situation. The dealership claims that it only receives a few parts each week! They just today (4-3-17) put me on a list and will supposedly call when the part comes in for my make & model. For a life threatening recall situation, this is completely unacceptable!! Why didn't they put me on "the list" when I called the prior time? Or when I complained in person during my service last November? Volkswagen obviously does not consider this recall a priority. Please pressure them to replace these defective inflators immediately!!
Transmission & drivetrain all 22 →
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen EOS. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle stalled. The message "Transmission Overheating. See Owner's Manual" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. However, the failure reoccurred increasingly while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V333000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer advised the contact to follow up with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen EOS. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that white smoke started coming from the vehicle. The contact steered the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where the water pump was replaced. She also stated that the ABS warning light had illuminated on the instrument panel which resulted in the engine not starting. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired for the ABS failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine & cooling
Drove the car to the bank when trying to leave the car would not start. We towed the car to the volkswagen dealership `and they said it the engine and some other faults totaling over $21000.00 Now the car is back home and not repaired.
My car doesn't always go in reverse. The rem panel signal goes from 0-5 in minutes but feels like it's stalled. The engine light is always on. I read that there has been a recall because of a gear malfunction. And an extended warranty for cars up to 10years old or 100,000 miles. I fit into this category. This happens when I start the car and stop at a stop sign. I've taken my car to vw dealerships and private dealers and they can't seem to figure it out.
2010 Volkswagen Eos engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Volkswagen Eos a good car?
Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Eos rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Eos at the same age. It is one of the Eos years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Volkswagen Eos?
The air bags — 24 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (22) and engine & cooling (10).
How many recalls does the 2010 Volkswagen Eos have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2010 Volkswagen Eos, the most recent from March 6, 2018 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Eos?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2016 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2009, 2010, 2008 and 2014. See the full Volkswagen Eos years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Volkswagen Eos problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.