Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen CC, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 79 | 53% |
| Engine | 8 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 3% |
| Air bags | 4 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 2% |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 1% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 1% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
While I was driving I notice my steering wheel making a crumbling of plastic noise when I made any kind of turn . A few days later my Airbag error lamp started to blink. I parked and restarted my engine then the airba
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen CC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen CC. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light would remain illuminated and the horn would not operate. In addition, the cruise control was inoperabl
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN CC. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OF HER VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF BETWEEN 55-70 MPH. THE C
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN OF SOUTH ATLANTA AT 678-263-3711 (LOCATED AT 305 JONESBO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
REGARDING THE ONGOING INVESTIAGTION FOR FAILED REPLACEMENT OF THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL. (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA18003). TWO WEEKS AGO, WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT MY STEERING WHEEL MADE A DISCERNING CLICKING SOUND.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 43 TO 50 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS ABILITY TO MOVE WHILE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, (LIKE IT HAD BEEN SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL). THE ENGINE JUST REVVED AS THE CAR CAME TO A STOP ON THE H
NHTSA complaint: Power train
LOW BEAM LIGHTS STOP WORKING. TURN LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, LIGHTS WOULD WORK FOR 3 MINUTES. MUST REPEAT TO KEEP LIGHTS ON. THIS IS BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Volkswagen CC. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period ma
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wou
Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spr
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volksw
| Reliability raw | 61 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 69 | good |
| Maintenance | 56 | average |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 58 | average |
| Efficiency | 37 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 79 of them (53%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 61/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 69/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 58/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.