Volkswagen complaints & recalls by model
Across 3 Volkswagen models and 21 model years, NHTSA has logged 3,015 owner complaints and 64 recall campaigns. The brand averages 29.2 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.69).
Analysis
Among the tracked Volkswagen models, the Jetta has the fewest complaints per year and the ID.4 the most. By model year, the brand's average rate is highest for 2023 (50.3 per year) and lowest for 2020 (14.2).
Volkswagen owners complain about Electrical more than owners in general: 26.9% of complaints, 1.7× the share across all tracked vehicles. In the last 12 months owners filed 663 complaints versus 575 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
Recalls: 64 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (10), 5 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 6 NHTSA defect investigations touch Volkswagen models, 0 of them still open.
Models
| Models | Segments | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Investigations | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen ID.4 | Electric vehicles | 991 | 48.7 | 1.16 | Worsening | Steady | 24 | 2 | Electrical |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | Compact SUVs | 1,181 | 28.2 | 0.67 | Improving | Rising | 26 | 2 | Engine |
| Volkswagen Jetta | Compact cars | 843 | 18.0 | 0.43 | Improving | Steady | 22 | 2 | Engine |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
By model year · Complaints per year on the road
All-vehicle average: 42.1
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Recalls by year received
Do-not-drive / park-outside: 5
Investigations
- Inadvertent Door Opening Closed
On May 16, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Recall Query (RQ) RQ24010 to investigate the remedy and scope of recalls 23V-213 and 23V-312. The affected vehicles by these recalls included model years (MY) 2021 through 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles. ODI received reports of the vehicleâs doors opening while the vehicle was in motion post recall remedy. ODI, also, received si…
- Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) Closed
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 V…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Vehicle Stalling - Manual Transmission Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a defect petition received on 14 August 2019 requesting an investigation of an alleged defect of the manual transmissions in Model Year (MY) 2019 Volkswagen (VW) GTI, Golf GTI and Jetta GLI vehicles. The stalling incidents cited occurred without warning as the vehicle slows to a stop or prepares to make a turn across traffic wit…
- Seat Belt Webbing Failure Closed
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two (2) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the Model Year (MY) 2018 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35mph full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017, at MGA R…
- Seat Belt Webbing Failure Closed
In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the 2018 MY Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35 mph, full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front-passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017 at MGA Research Corp. in…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen model has the fewest complaints?
Among the tracked Volkswagen models, the Jetta has the fewest complaints per year and the ID.4 the most.
What do Volkswagen owners complain about most?
Volkswagen owners complain about Electrical more than owners in general: 26.9% of complaints, 1.7× the share across all tracked vehicles. In the last 12 months owners filed 663 complaints versus 575 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
How many Volkswagen recalls and investigations are there?
Recalls: 64 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (10), 5 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 6 NHTSA defect investigations touch Volkswagen models, 0 of them still open.