Most common 2016 Volkswagen Eos problems
Share of the 4 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 →
2016 Volkswagen Eos recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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
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.
What 2016 Volkswagen Eos owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen EOS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the battery was drained and was jumpstarted. The contact stated that after the battery had been recharged, several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the instrument cluster had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
My seat heaters were on for 1 minute and started to smoke and burned multiple quarter sized holes in my seat. They burned holes in my winter coat and even made my skin have minor burns. There was a smoke that appeared and a very bad burning smell.
2016 Volkswagen Eos engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Eos a good car?
Based on 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Eos rates better than average: 84% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Eos at the same age. It is one of the best Eos years by this measure. 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 2016 Volkswagen Eos?
The electrical system — 3 complaints, 75% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (1) and engine & cooling (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen Eos have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Eos, the most recent from January 11, 2019 (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 2016 Volkswagen Eos problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 100% 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.