Volkswagen CC Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Volkswagen CC model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2008 drew the fewest (1) and the 2010 the most (242).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2017 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 20–25 |
| 2016 Among the fewest complaints |
26 | 6 | Air bags | — | 20–25 |
| 2015 | 30 | 4 | Fuel/propulsion system | — | 20–25 |
| 2014 | 80 | 5 | Air bags | — | 20–25 |
| 2011 | 86 | 4 | Air bags | — | 20–25 |
| 2009 | 136 | 4 | Air bags | — | 20–25 |
| 2013 Among the most complaints |
148 | 5 | Air bags | — | 20–25 |
| 2012 Among the most complaints |
230 | 6 | Air bags | — | 20–25 |
| 2010 Among the most complaints |
242 | 4 | Air bags | — | 20–25 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Volkswagen CC years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2010 Volkswagen CC: 242 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 84 (35%); Power train 49 (20%); Engine 46 (19%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 78,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2012 Volkswagen CC: 230 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 86 (37%); Engine 64 (28%); Fuel/propulsion system 58 (25%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 68,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
2013 Volkswagen CC: 148 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 89 (60%); Engine 19 (13%); Electrical system 17 (11%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 48,000 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The Volkswagen CC years with the fewest complaints
2008 Volkswagen CC: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (100%); Exterior lighting 1 (100%); Fuel/propulsion system 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Volkswagen CC: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 3 (75%); Air bags 1 (25%); Power train 1 (25%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2016 Volkswagen CC: 26 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 11 (42%); Fuel/propulsion system 7 (27%); Electrical system 4 (15%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 41,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Volkswagen CC owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41,000 |
| 2015 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37,000 |
| 2014 | 80 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35,000 |
| 2013 | 148 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48,000 |
| 2012 | 230 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 68,000 |
| 2011 | 86 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 72,000 |
| 2010 | 242 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 78,000 |
| 2009 | 136 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 83,000 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Volkswagen CC recalls
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2009–2014 model years; 659,493 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2016; 16V078000)
- Air Bag Clock Spring may Fail (2010–2014 model years; 415,825 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2015; 15V483000)
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2009–2014 model years; 363,713 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2018; 18V148000)
- Fuel Pump Failure Cause Engine Stall (2009–2016 model years; 280,915 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2017; 17V509000)
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2015–2017 model years; 119,394 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2019; 19V014000)
All 12 Volkswagen CC recall campaigns · Volkswagen CC problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Volkswagen CC years FAQ
Which Volkswagen CC year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2008 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Volkswagen CC years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2010, 2012 and 2013 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the air bags. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Volkswagen CC problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the air bags (423 of 983 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen CC have?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns covering the Volkswagen CC. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Volkswagen CC recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.