Volkswagen Eos (2006 – 2015) Review

• March 2004: Volkswagen Eos makes it first appearance
• September 2005
• February 2006: Available to order
• October 2007
• January 2010: Eos BlueMotion Technology launched
• November 2010: Volkswagen facelifts Eos
• December 2010: Revised Eos available to order

01-01-0001:

Reports of leaks from complex multi-piece roof have inevitably increased. If buying used, look and feel for signs of water ingress. Take it through a carwash on the test drive.

A specific cause of water leakage is a result of the original drain around the window being inadequate and if the problem occurs VW dealers will install a second one in accordance with VW instructions.

One dealer advises that some paint sealants had been found to be a cause of leaks. The 'Safeguard' treatment seems to be okay.

Tom Williams tells us EOS seals need some maintenance. You can get a special cream to apply to the seals. The instructions in the VW rubber cleaning sets advise cleaning at least once a year. Also do not put the roof down if conditions were very dusty or if the car is covered in small windblown leaves. Use a mini Dyson to clean the seals before washing so as not to drive dirt into them. However, in Aptil 2011 Tom later reported that all efforts had prroved unsuccessful and leaks were occurring where the A pillars met the windoew frames. He gave up and sold the car.

Multiple repeated problems reported with DPF and EGR of TDI PD 170.

VW Eos have a problem with the driver and passenger windows which are designed to drop on unlocking the doors and then close again as they are shut. When there is a frost, the windows often will not return on closing of the doors, this leaves a gap of approximately an inch. Eventually they will close but this can be after 20 miles of driving. VW is aware but as of 5-3-09 there was no fix.

The alloy structure of the door mirrors corrodes after 3 - 4 years. VW will not replace out of warranty.

ESP warning light can indicate Fault Code "Boost Pressure Sensor G201". This is embedded inside Teves Mk 60 ABS systems and requires replacement of ABS control unit/pump. Seems to be age-related, occurring mainly in 3 - 5 year old cars. Does not necessarily lead to an MoT failure. VAG policy seems to be to pay 100% for fully VAG serviced cars up to 48 months old. Older than that, 35%. Non VAG serviced, smaller contribution towards £1,500 cost of replacement. More on the problem and independent rebuilds of the unit at: http://ecutesting.com/vw_golf_touran_abs_pump_module.html

By March 2011 VAG was admitting the problem and instead of replacing the modules was applying the repair developed by ECU testing and Sinspeed. If VAG doe not mee the cost, it is generally £500 - £700 including dismantling and replacement of the module.

15-01-2011:

2.0TFSIs suffering "coil pack failures", but the fault appears secondary to oil leakage into the packs. More at: www.seatcupra.net

22-01-2011:

If ESP/ABS amber warning light comes on intermittently and will not re-set, you might not actually have the ATE Teves Mk 60 ABS/ESP problem. First check circuits and start at the ABS fuse and holder (no 9 on a Golf, on scuttle edge by driver door). Pull it out, have a look and if okay replace it. The warning light may then go out. Sometimes they slip out a bit and become wobbly, which is enough to set off the warning.

01-01-0001:

GB writes: "I thought you might like appreciate an update as the lessons learnt might help future VW owners. The VW dealer has carried out over £3, 000 worth of work to implement the latest Eos seal upgrade, replacement of faulty roof controller and hydraulic pump, at no cost to myself. The issue has been around in how VW corporate reimburse the dealerships on this type of out off warranty repair; the financial arrangements have changed to the disadvantage of the dealership, according to the dealer, to better reflect the true cost of correction, according to VW corporate. Either way, I pointed out that has nothing to do with me the customer, and I should not be disadvantaged because of any internal in fighting on cost. So we held out and finally got the dealer to agree to repair the car and for them to sort out the financing between them later."

16-07-2011:

On April 2nd the convertible roof mechanism of TB's 2007 Eos failed. Local VW dealer had the car for around 8 weeks and eventually discovered that there was water leaking into the boot area and this had shorted the pump mechanism. The hydraulic pump had to be replaced at a cost to me of £1,700. The garage said they would approach VW regarding a goodwill payment as the boot seals will need to be modified. Reader heard nothing further and complained to VW Head Office who said they would look into it. Before before anything could be resolved and having had the car back for 2 weeks (and in generally dry conditions) the mechanism faulted again. The car went back to the garage who have now had it for a week and cannot seem to find the fault.

10-01-2012:

Cautionary tale: "In 2007 we found an ex-demonstrator, 2 litre Diesel Eos with DSG gearbox at our local VW main dealer. Now, after 69k miles and a long list of faults and problems, I realise that the choice of a diesel was a mistake and VW reliability, is in my case, a myth. Initial leak problems and a faulty roof mechanism were all dealt with by the dealer on 3 separate occasions, as was corrosion round the door mirrors. In the last 18 months we have had to regenerate the particulate filter a couple of times because we are not always driving long enough journeys to get the exhaust hot enough. When the warranty expired I paid for a 2 year Warranty Wise extended warranty as that was the only company that would cover the roof mechanism, which ironically, is the one thing not to have failed again. Since then we have had to claim for a failed seatbelt mechanism, a new Electronic Control Unit, and a failed Dual Mass Flywheel, all covered and paid for with only diagnostic costs to me. However, just before Christmas the Gear Box failed. Both the dealer and VW advised that this will require a new one as it can only be repaired by their manufacturer. (VW also declined any help with the cost of this). The main dealer has no access to spare parts or instructions how to repair. So, on this basis I asked the dealer to order a new box whilst the warranty claim was delayed by the Christmas / New Year shut down. Now Warranty Wise wanted to send the car to one of its repairers who, without an inspection, said they can fix it for £1,000 less than the price of a new box. The dealer won't release the car because he has a gearbox he can't return without a restocking cost, which he wants me to pay first, and I am stuck between a rock and a hard place with conflicting information and a substantial cost, regardless of what I decide to do. I have now decided to stay with the main dealer and the new box after they reduced their quote to replace. Warranty Wise has agreed to pay what their repairer quoted, so I still have an additional cost to meet but will get the car back later this week."

03-07-2012:

As well as problems in China, European drivers are reporting 'strange noises' from twin dry clutch 7-speed DSG when shifting from 4th to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd and 2nd to 1st. Source: www.autoevolution.com

08-10-2012:

"I now know why VW Group is the world’s most profitable car company: it makes cars with cheap components which fail after 32,000 miles and then sells replacement parts at high prices for its dealers to install at extortionate rates. In the past six months, my five-year old Eos Sport 2.0 TDi (bought from new and serviced exclusively by Alan Day VW) has required a new window motor, seat-belt latch and dual-mass flywheel at a total cost of £1,649.23. The DMF particularly rankles – it is a known fault with this engine: Alan Day offered a derisory 10% discount which VW said it would only match. I have refused and now wish to go after them for selling a product with a known fault." N.S. London SE21.

11-01-2013:

Warranty on DSG 7 speed dry clutch DQ200 gearbox extended to 5 years or 150,000 kilometres in Russia, China and Australia.

07-01-2014:

Mechatronics failure on 16k mile 2008 Eos 2.0TFSI 6-speed DSG. Mechatronics unit and fluid replaced at cost of £2,300 later reduced after contributions from VW to £900.

20-01-2014:

42k mile 2007 Eos V6 now leaking badly onto the front seats, onto passengers knees, and, more seriously, into the boot affecting the roof mechanism electrics. VW dealer offered to replace the seals for £700, but could not guarantee that this would solve the problem. The number of roof sections and consequent proliferation of seals means that this is likely to become an increasing problem as Eos models age.

21-03-2014:

Ancillaries belt came off 2.0 TDI engine of 43k mile 2010 Eos, wrapping itself around the timing belt and causing severe engine damage. It appears that the design of the ancillaries belt tensioner was later modified. Early ones (as originally fitted to the 2010) had an exposed spring, whereas in later tensioners the spring was encased, presumably to prevent foreign bodies from getting into the spring and affecting its function.

05-04-2014:

On 18,000 mile 2010 Eos 1.4TSI three pistons found to have cracked.

23-07-2014:

ATE Teves Mk 60 ABS/ESP brake pressure sensor problem reported on a 2007 VW Eos in Canada.

27-08-2014:

DPF of 6 year old VW Eos 2.0TDI blocked by 4,000 miles of short run use over a year. Two forced regenerations by the dealer failed to clear it. Quoted £2,000 for a new DPF, minus a 50% goodwill 'contribution'. Suggested cleaning by the Ceramex process that costs £300.

14-05-2015:

Engine light warning of 2010 Eos 1.4TSI came on so reader took straight to main dealer who advised engine misfire and not to use car. Left with dealer and three weeks later he advised compression failure on no. 2 cylinder. Currently removing head. Car bought from and serviced by same dealer. Likely to be the result of a slipped timing chain.

02-10-2015:

Satnav hardware failed on 2007 Eos. Quoted £1,000 to repair.

05-10-2015:

ESP light showing on 2017/57 Eos. Probably usual ABS/ESP module brake pressure sensor. Referred to http://www.ecutesting.com . Unfortunately ECU Testing does not rebuld the particular module used on the EOS which is cigarette box sized and located under the driver's seat (maybe it was the front/rear brake pressure regulator). VW dealer charged £96 for diagnosis, plus £829.21 (after 10% a goodwill) to replace module.

24-01-2016:

Piston failure reported on 2010 VW Eos 1.4TSI. Dealer anf VW collectively contributed 48% of cost of repair.

19-02-2016:

Leak into boot reported on 2008 VW Eos 2.0TDI Sport. Fixed before in 2013, but now returned. Dealer wants £2,500 to fix. Suggested ways to trace the leak and to generally clean and silicone spray all the seals.

05-10-2017:

Report of 2010 VW Eos 2.0TDI going in for EA189 N0x emissions fix and 3 months later developed a problem of all dash lights on for a few seconds, then go out but the power steering light stays on for a bit longer. Engine also loses power when lights on. Dealer things it is a steering or brake sensor problem; nothing to do with the NOx emissions fix.

24-09-2018:

Report of 160HP 1.4 Twincharger engine of VW Eos, bought used privately September 2017 becoming troublesome, then finally blowing up in February 2018. Had been diagnosed with low compression on one cylinder in September 2016.

17-05-2019:

Report of glow plugs light and dfp light have both come on with a coil light in a 2008 VW EOS 2.0TDI. Probably indicates a choked up EGR valve.

29-11-2019:

Report of soaking wet footwells of 2010 VW Eos TSI BlueMotion. The Eos is basically a sieve. The roof is in so many different parts that it is impossible to keep permanently sealed. But in your case I think you will find that the drains either side of the bulkhead vent well will be blocked by decomposing leaves. That gives nowhere for rainwater to go except via the pollen filter into the footwell. Clean the drains out with something like a teapot spout brush. It could also be that the pollen filter waterproof cover or its seal is damaged and the pollen filter will need to be replaced anyway because it will be sodden wet.

07-12-2019:

Report of at least two failures of 1.4TSI engines in a VW Eos. First at 15,000 miles. Then that engine failed 3 years later. Reader also wrote: "The engine fitted was not fit for purpose (VW changed a month after new engine fitted cos if pistons breaking up)"

11-10-2021:

Report of p roblem with roof sticking whilst closing on 2008 Volkswagen Eos.