CarOutlay

Volkswagen reliability complaints

NHTSA complaint and recall rollup for 119 Volkswagen make/model/year records in CarOutlay's dataset.

Pending review: this new brand hub is generated from real NHTSA rows and excluded from the sitemap until sampled. Data through 2026; reviewed June 2026.
NHTSA complaints
41,168
9,675 in the last 5 years
Vehicle records
119
make/model/year rows
Recall campaigns
431
raw NHTSA campaign count
Median complaints
249
per Volkswagen vehicle record

Most-reported Volkswagen problem areas

  • Electrical System 5,201

    111 Volkswagen records include this component family

  • Air Bags 3,469

    66 Volkswagen records include this component family

  • Engine 3,325

    71 Volkswagen records include this component family

  • Power Train 2,197

    52 Volkswagen records include this component family

  • Unknown Or Other 1,813

    54 Volkswagen records include this component family

  • Fuel/Propulsion System 1,301

    35 Volkswagen records include this component family

  • Service Brakes 1,107

    29 Volkswagen records include this component family

  • Engine And Engine Cooling 658

    22 Volkswagen records include this component family

Highest raw complaint records

2009 Volkswagen Jetta 1,275 2010 Volkswagen Jetta 1,184 2013 Volkswagen Passat 1,026 2002 Volkswagen Jetta 885 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 880 2001 Volkswagen Jetta 862 1999 Volkswagen Passat 854 2003 Volkswagen Passat 823 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 811 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 792 2014 Volkswagen Passat 785 2006 Volkswagen Passat 779

Recall leaders

2021 Volkswagen Atlas 17 recalls 2018 Volkswagen Atlas 16 recalls 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 14 recalls 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan 13 recalls 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 13 recalls 2015 Volkswagen Golf 12 recalls

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle, and not financial, safety, or purchasing advice. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).