Electrical
Filed May 22, 2026
SOS MODULE FAILURE 3 TIMES IN 8 MONTHS
- NHTSA ID
- 11739545
- Incident
- May 22, 2026
2020 Volkswagen Arteon
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest May 22, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview
Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon, most frequently naming the electrical category. 442 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical2100.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 2024
On my driver's screen, an error message popped up that read "SOS, ERROR: Emergency call function. Service vehicle!" I took my car to the dealership. This was in November of 2023. They were able to remove the error message but the module itself was broken and the SOS feature was not working and would need to be replaced. This module also affects the ability to talk hands-free. This module has been on back-order for nearly a year. It is illegal in most states to use your phone w/ your hands, but more importantly, I was sold a car with the SOS feature and a hands-free (and more) phone/Carnet feature. This is affecting many VW models as well as Audi's and Skodas and is all over the internet. I've contacted VW USA and they are unable to provide ANY information on if and when the modules will be available and told me to "stay in touch" with my dealership. I am on my 6th VW and this is my first complaint. It's a BIG one! I can see a back order of 3-6 months, but NOT a year.
- NHTSA ID
- 11620204
- Incident
- Nov 1, 2023
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
V0017132033846_27
ENGINE
Prevent Sporatic Misfire Faults.
V1718032037201_21
ENGINE
Checking engine oil level.
V0118122014603_22
ENGINE
Reprogramming Control Module process
V9419012011521_22
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses
V0116132033805_12
ENGINE
Engine missfire diagnostic aid
V1917012022548_16
ENGINE
Identifying and Mixing Volkswagen Engine Coolants
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.