Used car guide · 2006–2016

Volkswagen Eos common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Volkswagen Eos, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 36,605 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2016 Volkswagen Eos

Too few Volkswagen Eos cars first registered in 2016 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Volkswagen Eos as a whole.

35on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 2016 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20162015201420132012201120102009200820072006

What usually goes wrong with a Volkswagen Eos?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Volkswagen Eos in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Volkswagen Eos MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Diesel

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 9.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Volkswagen Eos MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2014 Volkswagen Eos did best (80% passed first time, 10 points above all 2014 cars) and the 2010 did worst (63%, 3 points above all 2010 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201583%74% +9572
201480%70% +10992
201376%67% +91,331
201273%64% +91,113
201168%62% +64,030
201063%60% +35,804
200963%59% +43,782
200863%57% +67,458
200760%57% +38,551
200660%56% +42,972

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volkswagen Eos

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 8.2× as often on the Volkswagen Eos as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Volkswagen Eos as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the Volkswagen Eos as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Eos?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score