2009 Volkswagen EOS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 84 complaints (32.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 40.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 32.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
Power Train: 27; Service Brakes: 22; Electrical System: 15; Engine: 13; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2008: 1; 2009: 8; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 7; 2016: 12; 2017: 20; 2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2023: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10281557 · 2009-08-24 (August 24, 2009)
VOLKSWAGEN EOS AUTOMATIC. LAST THURSDAY AUGUST 20TH I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE CAR SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO HIT THE BRAKES SO AS NOT TO HIT ME. MY CAR THEN SWITCHED INTO DRIVE AND LURCHED FORWARD CAUSING ME TO HIT TO BRAKES SO AS NOT TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME SINCE I LEASED THE CAR ON JULY 19TH THAT THE CAR HAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND YET NOBODY BOTHERED TO TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT EXIST. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 675 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10593064 · 2014-05-21 (May 21, 2014)
THE LEAKING ON THIS HISTORICALLY DEFECTIVE HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE HAS CAUSED YET ANOTHER PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY FLOODED, AND THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAY IT IS NEARLY A TOTAL LOSS. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM SINCE THE MODEL WAS INTRODUCED AND VOLKSWAGEN HAS DECLINED TO DEAL WITH IT. MY PARTICULAR CAR CAN BE DRIVEN RIGHT NOW, BUT MAY STOP RUNNING AT ANY TIME DUE TO THE WATER THAT HAS SEEPED INTO VITAL PARTS, SUCH AS BRAKES AND ENGINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 48,467 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276563 · 2009-07-13 (July 13, 2009)
2009 VW EOS - TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 56 MILES. MECHATRONICS MODULE FAILURE CLAIMED BY SERVICE DEPT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 56 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277351 · 2009-07-19 (July 19, 2009)
ON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THE VEHICLE STALLS / STUTTERS. TRANSMISSION FAILS TO IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE AND / OR THERE IS A LAG OF AS MUCH AS 2-3 SECONDS FROM PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR UNDER LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION UNTIL THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MOVE. TRANSMISSION CLUNKS / GRINDS WHEN TRANSITIONED FROM D TO R OR R TO D. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10918906 · 2016-10-25 (October 25, 2016)
I PURCHASED MY 2009 VW EOS FROM A DEALERISHIP "AS-IS" AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MAF SENSOR, THROTTLEBODY HAD TO BE SERVICED WITH IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING. OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE ONTO THE WATER PUMP. NOW, THE ABS AND TRACTION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY MESSED UP AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT. ESTIMATION OF $2500 WORTH OF WORK.
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10918906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051636 · 2017-12-01 (December 1, 2017)
MY 2009 EOS IS UNDER RECALL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THIS. I REPLACED MY BRAKES AS ONE MECHANIC THOUGHT BECAUSE THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON - THAT WAS NEEDED. THE ABS LIGHT STILL STAYED ON. LAST WEEK THE ABS LIGHT AND AND ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON AND MY CAR LOST POWER AND CONTROL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT NIGHT LEAVING ME ON THE SIDE OF THE RODE IN DANGER AND HAD TO CALL AAA. VW WILL ONLY REPLACE ABS IF A "CERTAIN CODE" SHOWS UP WHICH THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU ABOUT TILL YOU PAY THE 150.00 DIAGNOSTIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294330 · 2009-12-02 (December 2, 2009)
2009 VW EOS DGS TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE WAS A BUMP LIKE THE CLUTCH ENGAGED, BUT THEN THERE WAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER (TORQUE) AND THEN ANOTHER BUMP LIKE THE CLUTCH FULLY ENGAGED. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE RECENT RECALL APPLIED ALREADY, AND WE'VE EXPERIENCED A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE PRNDS LIGHTS FLASHING (REPORTED ALREADY) AND THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGING WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, AND ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH ONLY THE D LIGHT FLASHING, ALSO REMAINING IN NEUTRAL, FROM STOPPED WHILE TRYING TO LEAVE A PAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10767449 · 2015-09-22 (September 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN EOS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, ENGINE, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE THROTTLE BODY, COIL PACK, AND FUEL INJECTOR WERE REPLACED BUT THE REMEDY FAILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10767449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906762 · 2016-09-14 (September 14, 2016)
FIRST THING TO GO ON THIS CAR WAS THE CLUTCH PACK COULD HEAR CLANKING NOISE WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN...HAD TO REPLACE.. NEXT CAME THE FAILED INJECTOR..I WAS DRIVING THE CAR SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE EXCHUSHED PIPE CAR ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE FUEL HAD LEADED ALL OVER MY ENGINE ..NOW THE ABS UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED THEY WANT $2,600.00.. ..MY CAR HAS 34,000.00 MILES ON IT...THE INSIDE OF MY DOORS ARE PEELING...THEY WANT ANOTHER $1,000.00 FOR THAT ! ..&THE ROOF GETS STUCK HALF WAY WHEN ITS REALLY HOT!
Owner-reported narrative. 34,652 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543616 · 2023-09-09 (September 9, 2023)
All of my lights on the right side of my dashboard is on..the traction light, brake light,steering wheel light and the speedometer is acting iradical..I put new speed sensors on it and it still haven't fixed the problem..alot of mechanics say it's and electrical problem..I bought the car from flow Mazda dealership a couple years ago it's been sitting since then
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11543616 at NHTSA ↗