TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FUEL VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
2012 Volkswagen Passat complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE UPPER AND LOWER BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD CODES READ. THE CODE WAS P205C AND THIS INDICATES THE EMISSIONS ADBLUE HEATER AND SENSOR HAD A PROBLEM. THE UNIT (HEATER AND SENSOR) IN THE ADBLUE TANK IS A NON SERVICEABLE UNIT AND MUST BE REPLACED. OVER $950.00 TO REPLACE. HAPPENED AT 50,466 MILES AND DEALER HAD NO HELP EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF TDI'S ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN, MANY MANY TDI'S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT AT FAULT, BUT I WAS T-BONED WITH ALMOST OVER $11,000 IN DAMAGE. THE CASE WAS SETTLED BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF IN THE ACCIDENT AND I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL FOR A STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC CLOCK ISSUE THAT COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM GOING OFF. I ACCRUED OVER $7,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS, AND I OWE OVER $15,000 ON THE VEHICLE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I FEEL I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT ISN'T SAFE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE UPPER AND LOWER BACK WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE DUE TO CLOGGING. VISIBILITY THROUGH WINDSHIELD WAS RESTRICTED DUE TO HEAVY FOGGING AND POOR DEFROSTER PERFORMANCE OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. CLEANING OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO HELP. THE FOGGING WOULD COME AND GO DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND WAS HEAVY AT TIMES. DIAGNOSIS TOOK SOME TIME DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD. GENERALLY A 3 YEAR OLD, WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WILL NOT HAVE A CLOGGED HEATER CORE. THE GRADUAL DIMINUTION OF HEAT DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE CLOGGING CAUSED THE LACK OF FULL HEAT NOT TO BE APPARENT IN THE SPRING AND FALL MONTHS HOWEVER HEAVY FOGGING OCCURED DURING THESE SEASONS. IT WAS NOT UNTIL WINTER THAT THE LACK OF HEAT AND DEFROST WAS APPARENT. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE HEATER CORE ASSEMBLY THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR LATCH FAILS WHILE I'M DRIVING THE CAR. THE DOOR HAS OPENED ON ITS OWN NUMEROUS TIMES AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR AT SPEED. THE LATCH FAILS AT REST WHILE THE CAR IS ON OR OFF, AND AS THE CAR IS MOVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DOOR QUITE LITERALLY FLIES OPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WILL NOT LATCH UNLESS THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A HIGHWAY SIGN POST. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
SAFETY RISK: A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIRBAG WILL PREVENT THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH MY LIGHT HAS COME ON WARNING ME MY AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING
GAS GAUGE WAS NOT READING FULL WHEN TAKEN TO GAS STATION, ALTHOUGH GAS DISPENSER CLICKED OFF AS FULL. HAPPENED MANY TIMES AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS. TOOK MY CAR IN TO VW DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT GAS VENT WAS NOT WORKING NOT ALLOWING MY CAR TO FILL COMPLETELY. THEY STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE GAS TANK, ~ $2000. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR. THEY STATED IT WAS NOT A SAFETY SITUATION???
1. STEERING BEGAN TO GET DIFFICULT TO TURN AS IF I HAD LITTLE POWER STEERING, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. TOOK IT VW DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD IT WAS A SMALL LEAK IN POWER STEERING FLUID. WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, $1700. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DRIVABLE BUT TO CHECK THE STEERING FLUID FREQUENTLY.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 2016. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V125000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
VEHICLE DEVELOPED A ," LOSS OF POWER" ISSUE AT APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO AROUND 50,000 MILES. IT USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST 10- 15 MINUTES AFTER COLD START UP AND WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING BETWEEN 10 AND 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL BE OPERATING NORMALLY, THEN INSTANTLY LOSE POWER AND START SHUDDERING. WHEN MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THEN, THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES. ALONG WITH LOSS OF POWER, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE ODOR OF DIESEL FUEL WHICH COMES FROM THE OBSERVED FUEL POOLING ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD ONLY WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WILL NOT LET ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF THEIR SAFETY. MANUFACTURER DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT NOT RESOLVE IT. THE MANUFACTURER ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL DEPT HAS BEEN INVOLVED BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO SOLVE AFTER 1.5 YEARS AND NUMEROUS SHOP VISITS.
OCTOBER 2014 WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY FROM THE STREET AT SLOW SPEED AND HEARD A CRUNCH WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL . AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TURN THE LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG CAME ON AND NONE OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORKED.HAD DEALER REPAIR CLOCK SPRING AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS IN COLUMN.NOVEMBER 2015 WE WERE MAKING A U-TURN ON A PUBLIC ROAD,AT SLOW SPEED , AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN THERE WAS A RESISTANCE IN THE COLUMN AND A CRUNCH , FOLLOWED BY THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND NO STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORKING . THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON , THERE IS CONSTANT CRUNCHING SOUNDS FROM THE COLUMN AND THE DEALER SAYS ITS BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY(THE PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT AT MORE THAN $500.00) AND THAT THEY KNOW OF NO RECALL OR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING OR AIRBAG ON THESE CARS .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND, THE GEARS SHIFTED, AND THE VEHICLE DECREASED SPEED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TURBO FAILURE, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURBO FAILURE. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD SAFELY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE AIR BAGS AND ENGINE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPSTARTED AND TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE, BUT CLEARLY STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) BUT HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
WHEN MY CAR REACHES 10 MPH, IT AUTO-LOCKS THEM DOOR BY DEFAULT. THE ISSUE IS IT TRIES TO LOCK THE DOORS WHENEVER IT SLOWS DOWN TO 10 MPH AND ACCELERATES UP ABOVE 10 MPH. THE DOWNSIDE IS, THE CHILD LOCK FAILS WHENEVER THIS SCENARIO HAPPENS. BASED ON ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A "COMMON" ISSUE.
TURNING THE CORNOR WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN AND BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL STOP WORKING. WAS TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A CLOCK SPRING. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED DID NOT KNOW IT WAS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOPE IT WILL GET RESOVLED SOON. I WAS TOLD IF I WOULD GET IN A ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT COME OUT.
DESPITE PERFORMING THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED (VERY EXPENSIVE) MAINTENANCE FOR THIS VEHICLE, WE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH OUR 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THIS CAR WAS A COMMUTER VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVEN 110 MILES/5 DAYS PER WEEK AT 55-65 MPH. WE THOUGHT THAT WITH PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE THIS CAR WITH ITS DIESEL ENGINE WOULD LAST MORE THAN 111,000 MILES... WE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED AND FRANKLY IRATE. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY. OUR ISSUES WERE: AT NUMEROUS MILEAGES, OUR HEAD, TAIL AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $50/INSTANCE. AT 104,738 MILES, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE WINDOW PIN WAS REPLACED FOR $184.05. AT 101,019 MILES, THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,260.76. AT 111,166 MILES, OUR 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND LOUD ON TRIP. WE MADE IT HOME AND MY HUSBAND BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE VOLKSWAGEN SHOP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT BEARINGS BROKE OFF AND DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF OUR ENGINE. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT A WHOPPING $6,865.76. AT 127,115 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE STARTER HAD GONE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE SOLD THE PASSAT ON THE SPOT TO THE DEALER BEFORE FIXING THIS ISSUE. WE COULD NOT BEAR TO SELL THIS CAR TO A PRIVATE PARTY.
NOX SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED OUT OF RANGE CODE. WAS QUOTED 655 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. NOX SENSORS ARE NOT REQUIRED BY FEDERALLY MANDATED 80K EMISSIONS WARRANTY SO VW WON'T INCLUDE VOLUNTARILY. ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING THIS FIXED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AGAIN WITH CODE P203B, REDACTANT LEVEL RANGE/PERFORMANCE. SPEAKING A FEW TIMES WITH TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THIS LIKELY MEANS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AD BLUE HEATER UNIT AND TANK WHICH IS OVER 1000 DOLLARS. AGAIN, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
THIS CAR HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND FROM DAY ONE I WASN'T UN-HAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT YOU COULD TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WITHOUT HAVING SWITCHED THE TRANSMISSION TO P. EVERY AUTOMATIC CAR I EVER HAD AND I HAVE DRIVEN MANY INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF RENTAL CARS OVER THE YEARS. I REPORTED THIS IN 2012 TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AS DESIGNED. I, IN BETWEEN, MOVED AND DID THE SAME AT 2 OTHER DEALERS AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. IN 99% OF THE CASES I WILL NOT FORGET TO PUT THE CAR IN P, BUT OVER THE YEARS SEVERAL TIMES I DID. WHEN I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND SAW IT STARTED TO MOVE I ALWAYS WAS SO LUCKY TO JUMP BACK IN THE CAR AND BUT IT IN P, OR PULLED THE HAND BREAK OR PUSHED THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY 2 WEEKS AGO I HAD IT AGAIN, TRIED TO JUMP BACK IN THE CAR (I WAS AT THE TRUNK) WAS HALF IN THE CAR BIT IT ACCELERATED INTO A DITCH (IN FRONT OF THE CAR) AND MY LEFT LEG WAS PULLED OVER THE ROAD WITH VERY SERIOUS SCRAPE WOUNDS. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS PRETTY BAD DAMAGED. I HAVE NEVER REPORTED THIS TO VW USA SERVICE BECAUSE THE DEALERS TOLD ME IT HAD NO SENSE. THIS MUST BE A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX, BECAUSE THE CAR HAS DST TRANSMISSION WHICH MEANS EVERYTHING IN COMPUTER CONTROLLED.
THIS CAR IS BUILT WITH REVERSED COLOR CODED BATTERY CABLES WITHOUT PROPER, EASILY IDENTIFIABLE POLARITY IDENTIFICATION. THE FACTORY BATTERY HAS CONVENTIONAL MARKINGS, RED +, BLACK -, HOWEVER THE BLACK CABLE IS DESIGNED TO GO ON THE "+" TERMINAL AND THE RED CABLE IS DESIGNED TO GO ON THE "-" TERMINAL ON THIS MODEL. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS POLARITY MARKINGS ON THE CABLES. IF ONE LOOKS VERY CAREFULLY YOU CAN FIND A TINY - STAMP ON THE RED CABLE TERMINAL AND THE TINY + STAMP IS HALF COVERED BY INSULATION AND HIDDEN ON THE BLACK CABLE TERMINAL.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 9/10/15. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON 9/12/15 AND LEARNED THAT THE CAR'S ADBLUE HEATER HAD GONE AND WILL COST JUST OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE. THE ADBLUE HEATER HEATS THE ADBLUE TO REMOVE NO2 FOR EMISSIONS, HOWEVER VOLKSWAGEN IS CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THE ADBLUE SYSTEM HAS NOT OTHER PURPOSE THAN FOR EMISSIONS AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL WARRANTY, AS THE EMISSIONS WOULD FALL OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS WITHOUT THIS COMPONENT. PROPER EMISSIONS HELP TO KEEP OUR ENTIRE POPULATION SAFE AND HEALTHY FROM THE HARMFUL POLLUTANTS GENERATED BY VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE SEAT BELT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
HEARD A SMALL SNAP IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS QUIT WORKING. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CLOCKSPRING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE INCLUDING NTSB LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AS A RECALL. IF ACCIDENT OCCURRED RIGHT NOW THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE
MY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT ON. ALL IT SAYS IS "ERROR: AIR BAGS" "ERROR: BRAKES"
WAS ON RAMP ENTERING I-5 SOUTH OFF CLAIREMONT (SAN DIEGO) WHEN ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR PREVIOUS SIGNS. STEERING AND BRAKES STOPPED BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE. THE CAR DID NOT START RIGHT UP RIGHT AWAY. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND I HAD JUST STOPPED TO GET GAS; SHE GOT OUT OF CAR TO CHECK GAS CAP. IT WAS ON TIGHTLY. SHE GOT BACK INSIDE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, DOORS UNLOCKED ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO DEALER 8.21.2015 AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND NOTHING RECORDED IN THE CAR'S SYSTEM. THEY KNOW I AM VERY CONCERNED AND THIS IS VERY DISTURBING.
THE TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND AS A RESULT, ALSO CAUSED THE GAS LINE AND FUEL INJECTORS TO FAIL BECAUSE METAL WAS SENT THROUGH THE CAR. THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WILL NO LONGER TURN ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,500.
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT SIXTY MILES AN HOUR AS I TRY TO COME OFF THE FREEWAY TO MY EXIT THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO ENGAGE AS I GET CLOSER TO MY TURN I DEPRESS THE CAR EVEN DEEPER THE CAR DOESN'T ATTEMPT TO STOP OR SLOWDOWN SO I BRACE FOR IMPACT AND NOW THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
THE CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL THEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. ALSO A WINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING WHICH DID NOT ACCELERATE VERY WELL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED A TURBO WHICH WAS JUST REPLACED 20,000 MILES AGO, MECHATRONIC UNIT ,, AD BLUE HESTER KIT ,PARTICULATE FILTER PART . THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD I PUT ABOUT 35K MILES ON A YEAR. I SERVICE THE CAR RELIGIOUSLY NEVER HAVE MISSED REQUIRED SERVICE. OVER $6,000 DOLLAR REPAIR
AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT CAME ON AFTER STARTING UP CAR IN DRIVEWAY ON AUGUST 3, 2015 AND WILL NOT TURN OFF EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. VW SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. I COMPLIED AND, AT MY EARLIEST CONVENIENCE, TOOK IT TO RALPH THAYER VW IN LIVONIA, MI ON AUGUST 5, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AM. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY CAN NOT LOOK AT IT FOR FOUR DAYS, UNTIL MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2015. NO LOANER CAR WAS PROVIDED AFTER REQUEST OF SUCH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING.
ALL STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS HAVE STOPPED WORKING INCLUDING THE HORN. THE AIRBAG ICON SHOWS AN "ERROR" MESSAGE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CRACKING SOUND WHEN IT TURNS. IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION #PE15010. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE: STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING/STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE (SCCM). DEALER WANTS OVER $ 500 TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 58,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2012. UPDATED 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ UPDATED 11/22/2017*CN
ON 8 TO 10 OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE LOST POWER, I.E. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT ACTED AS THOUGH IT WERE IN NEUTRAL WITH HIGH RPM?S. SOMETIMES IT IS INTERMITTENT AND RECOVERS POWER BUT ON THREE OCCASIONS ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IT HAS LOST ALL POWER AND I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND IT STARTS NORMALLY WITH FULL POWER. THE DEALER CHECKED THE ENGINE CODES AND ONLY FOUND ENGINE LOST COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSMISSION AND SAID THE VW DID NOT HAVE ANY NOTICES ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS TO VW AND THEY SAY IT HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE. QUICK GOOGLE SEARCHES SHOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH LOTS OF VW TDI ENGINES SHOWING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. LOSS OF POWER IN 65 MPH TRAFFIC IS VERY DANGEROUS AND INEXCUSABLE. VW SHOULD BE LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THIS PROBLEM.
ON 6-9-15 THIS DIESEL VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE AS I DO NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE (IT IS AT THE DEALER). TAKEN TO VW OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. DEALER STATED FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED AND CLEANED OUT FUEL LINES AND REPLACED FILTER. DEALER STATED VEHICLE STILL WOULD STILL NOT START. DEALER THEN STATED THEY INVESTIGATED FUEL DOWN-LINE OF FILTER AND FOUND CONTAMINATED FUEL IN THE COMMON FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL JUST BEFORE THE FUEL INJECTORS. DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT RETAIN THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WOULD HAVE SHOWN A FILTER BREACH/RUPTURE THAT ALLOWED THE CONTAMINATED FUEL TO GO BEYOND THE FILTER CAUSING THIS ADDITIONAL MISCHIEF. REQUEST FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF VW PASSAT DIESEL FUEL FILTERS AND THE FUEL FILTRATION SYSTEM THAT MAY CAUSE SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE OF PASSING THROUGH CONTAMINATED FUEL, RATHER THAN FILTERING AS IT SHOULD WHICH WOULD CAUSE A SLOWER DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF DIESEL FUEL FILTRATION IS TO PREVENT INTRODUCTION INTO CRITICAL ENGINE COMPONENTS CONTAMINATES OFTEN FOUND IN DIESEL FUEL. DEALER ESTIMATES REPAIR COST OF $7,236.25, THE BULK OF WHICH IS FOR DAMAGE TO CRITICAL ENGINE COMPONENTS DOWNSTREAM OF THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER RESULTING IN SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE. THIS VEHICLE WAS REFUELED ONLY AT DIESEL FUEL STATIONS FOR WHICH RECEIPTS WERE OBTAINED, SO NO GASOLINE OR OTHER IMPROPER FUEL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THIS VEHICLE.
DRIVER STEERING COLUMN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A SEVERE CRASH. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF UPDATED 1/4/16*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. MA 08/05/15 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A MECHANIC ADVISED THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED, WHICH APPEARED TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA PE 15010. UPDATED 9/29/2015*JS
2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI DIESEL, HEARD A SMALL SNAP IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE BACKING UP AND TURNING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS QUIT WORKING. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CLOCKSPRING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE INCLUDING NTSB LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AS A RECALL. IF ACCIDENT OCCURRED RIGHT NOW THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, VW FACTORY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP OUT WITH THE REPAIRS. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED TWO MONTHS AGO FROM MOSSY VOLKSWAGON IN EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA. THEY WONT HELP EITHER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH THIS RECALL. INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE. HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/CAR-NEWS/FEDS-PROBE-2012-VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-CC-BECAUSE-DRIVERS-AIRBAG-MAY-NOT-DEPLOY-PROPERLY.HTML
I HEARD A WEIRD NOICE IN MY STEERING COLUMN WHILE BACKING OUT, LIKE A SCRAPING NOISE. I TURNED THE WHEEL THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. ALL ELECTRICAL ON MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT WORK AFTER THIS, EVEN THE HORN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A WIRING HARNESS THAT COULD HAVE BROKE POSSIBLY DEPLOYING THE AIR BAG, IT COULD ALSO BE A BAD CLOCKSPRING WHICH VW DEALERS WANT HUNDERDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH VW VEHICLES. THE HORN NOT WORKING AND THE AIR BAG POSSIBLY DEPLOYING IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER TRYING TO PAY MY CAR PAYMENT LET ALONE GO PAY VW TO REPLACE A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT IN THIER VEHICLES. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ASK THEM TO DO IT IF VW FEELS THEY HAVE NO RESPONSABILITY TO DO IT ON THIER OWN. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THIS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT OTHER VEHICLE MANUFACTURES HAVE ORDERED A RECALL FOR THESE SAME ISSUES ON THEIR VEHICLES.
I HEARD A CLICK WHEN I WAS TRURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND THE AIRBAG MESSAGE APPEARED .
DRIVING ON MAY 24.2015 MAKING A LEFT TURN, I HEARD A LOUD CRACK IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I LOST ALL OF THE FUNCTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN MESSAGE SHOWED AIR BAG ERROR, CHECK ENGINE, NO CONTROL. I LOST ALL FUNCTION OF MY STEERING WHEEL, AND EVERY MOVE MADE A CRACKING SOUND. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE ANYMORE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY. I HAVE TRANSPORTED IT TO A VW DEALER TO CHECK ON IT AND FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG, STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. I KNOW AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE WAS FILLED PE15010 AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE DEFECT. I WAS VERY AFFRAID AND AM WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF TODAY.
MY FAMILY AND I WERE FINISHING UP OUR FOOD SHOPPING AND LOADED THE CAR AND STARTED DRIVING OFF AND WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A TURN TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT SOMETHING IN THE STEERING WHEEL "POPPED" AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED. BEING MECHANICAL IN NATURE I ASSUMED THE CLOCKSPRING BUT NEVER IMAGINED THAT IT WOULD FAIL WITH SO LITTLE MILES OR AT ALL FOR THAT MATTER. I CALLED VW AND TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THE CLOCKSPRING WAS THE ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CRACKING NOISE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE MODULE FAILED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE OF THE NAME OF THE MODULE THAT NEEDED TO REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
ON APRIL 14, 2015, I WENT TO VW KENNEDY SERVICE CENTER IN PUERTO RICO BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2012 PASSAT DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK AND REAR DOOR'S LOCKS, THAT SOMETIMES FAILED TO OPEN OR LOCK, AND HAVE WEIRD SOUNDS WHEN I OPEN THEM WITH THE POWER LOCKS BUTTON OR WHEN THE CAR REACH 10 MILES. ON APRIL 16, THEY MADE A DIAGNOSTIC OF A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LEFT DOOR LATCH BUT THEY ONLY MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO IT. ON APRIL 21, I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE CENTER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE REAR LEFT DOOR LATCH, BUT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS DOOR LOCK CONTINUES ON A RANDOM BASIS, SOMETIMES FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE, BUT THE VW SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEMS. I THINK THAT A DOOR LOCK THAT FAILED TO CLOSE OR OPEN ON A RANDOM BASIS REPRESENTS A SECURITY PROBLEM.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat → · Every Passat year → · How the figures are calculated →