Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 4 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Suspension2
- Structure2
- Power train2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Steering1
- Electrical system1
- Air bags1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 3 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 14.3–14.7 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Phaeton · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 16.7 | 11.4 | 14.3 |
| 2005 | Phaeton · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 16.7 | 11.4 | 14.3 |
| 2004 | Phaeton · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 17.3 | 11.4 | 14.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
29 Phaeton cars are on the New Zealand register; 52% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2006 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 2005 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
240 Phaeton cars are on Dutch roads; 72% arrived later as imports, and 2 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 21 | €110,170 |
| 2008 | 20 | €122,558 |
| 2007 | 22 | €141,930 |
| 2006 | 22 | €135,180 |
| 2005 | 42 | €121,485 |
| 2004 | 48 | €119,603 |
| 2003 | 45 | €94,450 |
| 2002 | 20 | €153,515 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
91 Phaeton cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 9% petrol, 91% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 16 | 269,000 km |
| 2010 | 12 | 243,000 km |
| 2009 | 6 | 281,000 km |
| 2008 | 18 | 289,000 km |
| 2007 | 12 | 301,000 km |
| 2006 | 7 | 240,000 km |
| 2005 | 14 | 323,000 km |
| 2004 | 6 | 325,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
645 Phaeton cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 8 | — |
| 2014 | 23 | 2 |
| 2013 | 71 | 13 |
| 2012 | 68 | 19 |
| 2011 | 124 | 24 |
| 2010 | 63 | 22 |
| 2009 | 77 | 48 |
| 2008 | 48 | 65 |
| 2007 | 53 | 69 |
| 2006 | 52 | 77 |
| 2005 | 26 | 57 |
| 2004 | 23 | 62 |
| 2003 | 9 | 23 |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
393 Phaeton cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 76% passed first time, against 60% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 155 | 83% |
| 2009 | 126 | 72% |
| 2007 | 112 | 71% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Phaeton | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.4% | 18.2% |
| Brakes | 6.4% | 10.0% |
| Visibility | 4.1% | 6.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.3% | 5.0% |
| Suspension | 2.5% | 15.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 1.3% | 5.8% |
| Steering | 1.0% | 3.0% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
12,109 new Volkswagen Phaeton cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2018, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2018 the largest markets were Germany (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 297 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 143 | — |
| 2015 | 1,446 | — |
| 2014 | 1,743 | — |
| 2013 | 1,725 | — |
| 2012 | 2,202 | — |
| 2011 | 2,733 | — |
| 2010 | 2,116 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Phaeton in 4 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use. The produ…
The adhesion of the glass cover on the sliding roof may be insufficient due to contamination during the manufacturing process. As a result, the glass cover may completely detach while the vehicle is in motion, posing a risk to the following traffic.
The adhesion of the glass cover on the sliding roof may be insufficient due to contamination during the production process. The glass cover could detach whilst the vehicle is moving and endanger traffic following behind.
Summer tyres may have been mounted with the wrong rubber mixture in the running surface.The use of the wrong rubber mixture results in a clear reduction in the tyres' adhesion to the road in wet weather.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0