The 2013 VW CC is a stylish midsize sedan that suffers from catastrophic engine failures on 2.0T models and chronic DSG transmission problems. The 3.6L V6 is considerably more reliable but transmission issues still apply.
2.0T TSI Engine Piston Ring Failure / Excessive Oil Consumption
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Burns 1+ quart oil every 1,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Check engine light for misfire codes, Carbon buildup causes rough idle, Eventually leads to total engine failure
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. Pistons, rings, and cylinder honing required at minimum. 18-25 labor hours for proper rebuild with updated piston rings. Many owners opt for used low-mileage engine swap instead (12-16 hours).
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,500
DSG Transmission Mechatronic Unit Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh shifting or delayed engagement, Transmission fault warning on dash, Stuck in one gear or limp mode, Jerking when accelerating from stop, Won't shift out of park
Fix: Mechatronic unit replacement or rebuild required. Must be programmed/adapted to vehicle. 6-8 labor hours. Some cases require full transmission replacement if clutch packs are damaged from driving with faulty mechatronic.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
Timing Chain Tensioner Failure (2.0T)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise from engine on cold start, Check engine light with timing correlation codes, Metal shavings in oil, Engine runs rough or won't start if chain skips
Fix: Timing chain, tensioner, guides, and both cam adjusters should all be replaced together. 10-14 labor hours. Often discovered during oil consumption diagnosis. If chain has skipped, valve damage likely requires head work adding another $1,500-2,500.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Water Pump and Thermostat Housing Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant puddles under vehicle, Sweet smell from engine bay, Low coolant warning light, Overheating in severe cases, Visible coolant residue on plastic housing
Fix: Replace water pump, thermostat housing (plastic and prone to cracking), and all associated seals/o-rings together. 4-5 labor hours. Always do both components at same time since labor overlaps heavily.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Carbon Buildup on Intake Valves (Direct Injection)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and hesitation, Reduced fuel economy, Misfires under load, Loss of power, Long cranking time to start
Fix: Walnut shell blasting of intake valves required. Intake manifold removal necessary. 4-6 labor hours. Should be done preventively every 60k-80k miles on direct-injection engines. Catch can installation recommended to slow reoccurrence.
Estimated cost: $600-900
PCV System Failure and Diverter Valve Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Whistling or hissing noise from engine, Oil in intake piping, Rough idle, Check engine light for lean/rich codes, Loss of boost pressure on 2.0T
Fix: Replace PCV valve integrated into valve cover, diverter valve, and associated vacuum lines. 3-4 labor hours. On 2.0T, valve cover with integrated PCV is $400-600 in parts alone. Often done alongside carbon cleaning.
Estimated cost: $700-1,100
Sunroof Drain Tube Clogs and Water Leaks
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Water pooling in footwells, Musty smell in cabin, Wet headliner near A-pillars, Electrical issues from water damage, Mold growth under carpets
Fix: Clear drain tubes with compressed air or flexible wire. May need to remove interior panels to access tube connections. 1-2 hours if just clearing drains. If water damaged modules (common), repair costs escalate significantly. Preventive cleaning every year recommended.
Estimated cost: $150-300
Owner tips
Check oil level every fill-up on 2.0T models — if burning oil, budget for engine rebuild immediately
Service DSG transmission fluid every 40,000 miles regardless of 'lifetime fill' claims — extends mechatronic life
Install oil catch can on 2.0T to reduce carbon buildup and PCV system stress
Walnut blast intake valves every 60k-80k miles as preventive maintenance
Always verify complete service history — deferred maintenance kills these cars fast
Consider extended warranty if buying used — engine and transmission failures are extremely expensive
Hard pass on 2.0T models unless engine has been rebuilt with updated parts or you can afford a $6k+ surprise; 3.6L V6 is more reliable but DSG issues still make this a risky buy without warranty coverage.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required for vehicles with start-stop technology
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Every control module on the 2013-2017 Volkswagen CC — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ MIB (Modular Infotainment) system; component protection active on some units; CAN gateway adaptation needed
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V148000
2018-03-06 · EA15001
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V078000
2016-02-10 · EA15001
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 15V483000
2015-08-04 · PE15010
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Consequence: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
17mpg
Highway
27mpg
Combined
21mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Compact Cars
Wiper blades
Sedan body style, no rear wiper. Facelift year but wiper specs unchanged
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2013 Volkswagen CC 3.6L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.