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Volkswagen engine problems

Owners have filed 7,099 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on Volkswagen vehicles — 15% of everything reported about the brand, across 40 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the Volkswagen Jetta, worst in 2010.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

7,099

Complaints

15%

Share of all Volkswagen complaints

104

Crashes

260

Fires

Which Volkswagen models have the most engine problems

Jetta 2,032 28.6%

Worst in 2010

Passat 1,590 22.4%

Worst in 2003

Tiguan 708 10.0%

Worst in 2022

GTI 384 5.4%

Worst in 2019

Beetle 372 5.2%

Worst in 2000

Atlas 371 5.2%

Worst in 2018

Golf 312 4.4%

Worst in 2019

Routan 207 2.9%

Worst in 2009

Taos 205 2.9%

Worst in 2022

CC 203 2.9%

Worst in 2012

Touareg 134 1.9%

Worst in 2004

Atlas Cross Sport 90 1.3%

Worst in 2021

Eurovan 57 0.8%

Worst in 2000

EOS 56 0.8%

Worst in 2009

Corrado 52 0.7%

Worst in 1993

ID.4 51 0.7%

Worst in 2023

Cabrio 36 0.5%

Worst in 1999

NEW Beetle 31 0.4%

Worst in 2000

FOX 29 0.4%

Worst in 1993

Golf Sportwagen 27 0.4%

Worst in 2016

Worst Volkswagen model years for engine problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2010 Volkswagen Jetta 189 16% 45,375 B
2009 Volkswagen Jetta 169 13% 60,254 B
2003 Volkswagen Passat 156 19% 78,000 F
2002 Volkswagen Passat 150 19% 59,250 F
2022 Volkswagen Taos 150 30% 24,000 D
2019 Volkswagen Jetta 149 19% 700 C
2000 Volkswagen Jetta 145 23% 66,700 D
2019 Volkswagen GTI 139 48% 400 F
2006 Volkswagen Passat 131 17% 78,000 C
2001 Volkswagen Jetta 123 14% 52,675 B
2013 Volkswagen Jetta 116 16% 54,000 B
2011 Volkswagen Jetta 115 13% 47,637 C
2002 Volkswagen Jetta 114 13% 52,685 B
2014 Volkswagen Jetta 114 21% 61,885 C
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan 111 24% 33,000 C
2000 Volkswagen Passat 109 17% 65,911 D
2013 Volkswagen Passat 109 11% 41,176 C
2001 Volkswagen Passat 100 18% 62,000 C
2018 Volkswagen Atlas 100 15% 18,487 B
2006 Volkswagen Jetta 94 12% 84,000 A

Other Volkswagen problems

Engine problems on other brands