Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

18 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

transmission slipping 2
A recent report: I WAS DRIVING OUT OF TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. I PULLED IT OFF OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR…
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I WAS DRIVING OUT OF TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. I PULLED IT OFF OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED AND AGAIN IT WOULD NOT GET PAST 20 MPH. WHEN I SWITCHED THE CAR TO MANUAL MODE IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 2ND GEAR. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SITTING THE CAR WORKED PROPERLY. I CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA I WAS TRAVELING AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" AND THAT VW HAD HAD TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I DROVE THE CAR HOME. SEVEN DAYS LATER, THE EXACT THING HAPPENED AND I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHO INFORMED ME "THEY HAD NOT HAD ANY TYPE OF COMPLAINT SIMILAR TO WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING". THEY DID HOWEVER CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAVING THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWING DOWN AND BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND OR IF I AM TURNING, NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TURN BEFORE SOMEONE STRIKES ME FROM THE SIDE. THAT MECHANIC ALSO SAW WHAT I WAS EXPLAINING AND SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP NEEDED TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY. IT DID THE SAME THING AS I WAS LEAVING THE SHOP SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR SEVERAL DAYS THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE DSG TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT A WARRANTY, THEY SAID I WAS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THERE WERE OVER 53,000 VWS AND AUDIS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THIS IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY MINE IS NOT COVERED.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11194933 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
3

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1electrical shorts 1
A recent report: STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK AND NOTICED HALF MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. CHECKED THE FUSES AND F16 FUSE WAS MELTED.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11088719 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
2

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 2
A recent report: Unable to drive vehicle ABS system failure - no braking is possible. ABS warning light and loss of braking control while attempting to drive. The module part recall 45F2 does not apply to my year…
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Unable to drive vehicle ABS system failure - no braking is possible. ABS warning light and loss of braking control while attempting to drive. The module part recall 45F2 does not apply to my year 2011 vehicle. Though the previous year there is a recall for the part by VW. VW representatives will not offer recall or payment for part replacement saying recall does not apply to 2011. Vehicle is at risk. VW will not assume responsibility for faulty part. The vehicle is too dangerous to drive. Consumers should be informed.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11521427 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
10

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVE NOTICE THAT I HAVE FAULTY TAKATA AIRBAGS A FEW YEARS AGO. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT A TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD SWAP THE ORIGINAL…
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TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVE NOTICE THAT I HAVE FAULTY TAKATA AIRBAGS A FEW YEARS AGO. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT A TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD SWAP THE ORIGINAL AIRBAG WITH A REPLACEMENT MODULE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A DRYING AGENT. THAT NOTICE WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS ONLY AN INTERIM REPAIR UNTIL A REDESIGNED UNIT IS AVAILABLE. I HAD THE INTERIM REPAIR DONE ON MY VEHICLE. I NOTICED NOW THAT WHEN SEARCHING FOR RECALLS, IT SAYS THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IT SEEMS THAT AT THIS TIME IT WILL NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDED REDESIGN OF THE AIRBAG MODULE. THANK YOU

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11066170 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 18 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2011 and 2023, roughly 2 a year, which is about the same as the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.