NHTSA Data Explorer

Volkswagen Phaeton

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Volkswagen Phaeton.

Complaints

7

Active records

Recalls

0

Active records

TSBs

272

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

2

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Top reported issues — Volkswagen Phaeton

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

5

Fluid issue

2

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

2

Access/entry issue

1

Driver assistance issue

1

Engine behavior

1

Operating state

1

Performance issue

1

Recent change

1

Reporting mechanism

1

Safety restraint behavior

1

Safety restraint issue

1

Steering behavior

1

Thermal issue

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2005 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON

Filed Nov 7, 2017


2 injured
Crash

DURING A ROLLOVER CRASH ON 14 SEP 2017 NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE AUTO DEPLOYED. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR'S FRONT SEATS - DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE AUTO WAS TOTALED IN THE CRASH. THE CRASH OCCURRED DURING DRY WEATHER DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN. THIS IS A US SPEC MODEL VW PHAETON. MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED INJURIES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY TO INCLUDE A BROKEN SHOULDER BLADE AND 4 BROKEN (C1-C4) LOWER SPINAL PROCESSES ON THE RIGHT SIDE.…

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON

Filed Mar 19, 2017


TRUNK EMERGENCY ESCAPE/ENTRAPMENT PREVENTION HANDLE NOT WORKING DUE TO DEFECTIVE TRUNK WIRING HARNESS. ONLY APPLIES TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRUNK.

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON

Filed Nov 14, 2011


VEHICLE IS AT 80,000 MILES. THERE IS A COOLANT HOSE WITHIN THE VEHICLE THAT CONNECTS THE OIL FILTER RESERVOIR TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE HOSE IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND CRACKS IF ANY OF THE MANY FACTORS ARE MET (RAPID CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE, HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURE, OVER 75,000 MILES). AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE PLASTIC CRACKS AND COOLANT RAPIDLY SEEPS OUT OVER TIME. AFTER READING OVER MANY FORUMS, THIS ENGINE, THE VOLKSWAGEN/ AUDI 4.2L V8 HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR DECADES. AND MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN…

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON

Filed Apr 1, 2010


2004 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON WITH FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PAY FOR A $3,00 DOLLAR REPAIR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE HESITATION OF THE CONVERTER ENGAGING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS AND NEVER COULD FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY. HE FINALLY HAD AN INDEPENDENT ELECTRONIC CHECK DONE AND THE PROBLEMS WERE AS FOLLOWS; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT ALL TIMES. THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE…

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON

Filed Sep 8, 2009


CONTROL ARM GASKETS CORRODED ON ALL UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS LEADING TO METAL ON METAL. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON

Filed Sep 8, 2009


2004 VW PHAETON TRUNK WIRE HOUSING - THE SLEEVE OVER THE WIRE HOUSING CAME OFF AND THEN THE PLASTIC TUBE THAT COVERS THE WIRES BROKE AWAY FROM THE JOINT THAT ENABLES THE WIRES TO COMPRESS BACK INTO THE TRUNK LID WHEN IT IS CLOSED. WHEN HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED THE TRUNK LID BUT THE PLASTIC TUBE WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN METAL AND REAR GLASS SHIELD. THE GLASS BROKE AND WAS REPLACE. 2 WEEKS LATER, WHILE HAVING THE 80,000 MILE SERVICE THE TECHNICIAN CLOSED THE TRUNK AND…

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON

Filed Apr 21, 2006


FROM DAY 1 WE NOTICED THAT THIS LUXURY VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. DAY 2 WE RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR VOLKSWAGEN AND FILED OUR COMPLAINT. THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE RUNS AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. THEY DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.