Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Eos, and it carries 3 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 | 27 | 68% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 8% |
| Power train | 2 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
When pushing the driver side seat belt into the buckle, it instantly unlatched buckles. Yea it can be inspected. If in a car accident the driver could be seriously injured or fatally injured. I contacted Germain Wester
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen EOS. The contact stated that while operating, a burning odor was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. Later, while operating the vehicle, the front driver's side seat became extreme
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I have the RNS510 radio which the NHTSA has received concerns about and there are several Tec Bulletins in regards to the radio not functioning properly. When this radio goes out due to the need of over priced software u
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
We have the Xenon headlights, which requires us to have headlight washers on our cars due to safety issue for the other drivers on the road so they don’t get blinded, who’s is great if 1) they worked most of the time 2)
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
1) The flip up backup camera, yes it is available for inspection. I do have intentions to try and fix it like all the others unless asked to wait. 2) we bought a car with a backup camera for the safety of our 19 year ol
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The clockspring on the car went out. This mean all steering wheel controls don’t work, but more importantly, the air bags do not work either. We were told by the dealer the clocksprings are on back order and have been s
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Mid December 2021 the airbag light displayed and all functions on steering wheel quit working to include horn, cruise control, and all other buttons that interface with phone, radio and computer. After daughter returned
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Clock spring failure causing complete disconnect of all steering wheel electrical components as well as disabling the airbag
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2014 Volkswagen Eos. 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 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
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
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 62 | average |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 52 | average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 27 of them (68%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) 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 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2014 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. 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.