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Volkswagen years to avoid

For every Volkswagen model, the model years with more than twice that model's typical number of owner complaints, and the years with the fewest. Based on 34,325 owner complaints.

The worst Volkswagen model years

Years to avoid from the last 20 model years, with the most owner complaints. The last column shows how far each year is above a typical year of the same Volkswagen model.

CarComplaintsvs typical yearMain problem
2009 Volkswagen Jetta8893.6xFuel system
2010 Volkswagen Jetta8523.4xFuel system
2013 Volkswagen Passat7494.5xAirbags
2011 Volkswagen Jetta6072.4xElectrical
2014 Volkswagen Passat5943.5xAirbags
2006 Volkswagen Jetta5802.3xTransmission
2006 Volkswagen Passat5763.4xAirbags
2012 Volkswagen Passat4842.9xAirbags
2022 Volkswagen Taos3265.8xEngine
2009 Volkswagen Routan2944.7xElectrical
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan2892.0xEngine
2010 Volkswagen CC2422.8xAirbags

Volkswagen models: years to avoid and best years

Amber: more than twice the typical complaints for that model. Green: the years with the fewest complaints among years with enough cars on the road.

ModelYears to avoidBest years
Jetta200120022006200920102011201720202021
Passat200220032006201220132014201620172018
Beetle20012002200320042005200920102018
Tiguan2018201420152017
AtlasNone stand out201820202022
GTI200220092019201420182022
Golf200120112015201620172022200620142021
ID.4None stand out
CC20102012201420152016
Routan200920102011
Touareg200420052008200920112015
Taos2022
Atlas Cross SportNone stand out
Eos20092012200720112013
New BeetleNone stand out
Golf SportwagenNone stand out201720182019
Jetta SportwagenNone stand out200920102012
RabbitNone stand out
R322008
Jetta Hybrid2013
Golf Alltrack2017

Questions about the Volkswagen years to avoid

What Volkswagen years should you avoid?

The Volkswagen model years with the most owner complaints, each well above a typical year of the same model, are the 2009 Jetta (3.6 times typical, mostly fuel system), the 2010 Jetta (3.4 times typical, mostly fuel system), the 2013 Passat (4.5 times typical, mostly airbags), the 2011 Jetta (2.4 times typical, mostly electrical) and the 2014 Passat (3.5 times typical, mostly airbags).

What is the most common problem with Volkswagen vehicles?

Across all models, most Volkswagen owner complaints are about electrical, engine and airbags.

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