2012 VOLKSWAGEN Passat Problems & Complaints
Real owner complaints and problems reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). View common issues by component.
478
Complaints Reported
Complaints by Component
AIR BAGS
218 complaints
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000(Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bags warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Oct 09, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V148000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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.
Sep 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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.
Sep 15, 2025
I received a a notice of recall from Volkswagen for my airbag. In my 2012 Passat. I made an appointment with AutoNation Mall of Georgia Volkswagen service department for repair. I brought my car in on my appointment date and was informed upon my arrival that there is a back order of these airbags. Their recall says that the airbag May deploy at any time due to temperature and or humidity changes. I was not given a solution for repair, just told" the tariffs have impacted the arrival of the airbags for this recall. " This is not the first time this has happened to my vehicle. I've even had to pay out of pocket to get the airbag replaced because Volkswagen did not have the part in stock. At this point I'm frustrated and feel that my safety is being put at risk.
Aug 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (AIR BAGS). The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that parts were available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about parts not being made available. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.
Aug 11, 2025
+ 213 more complaints for this component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
25 complaints
We would have been in a life threating situation (very cold) if we would have not walked down highway to get internet service to look up the issue. What happened. We drove up from Phoenix to the mountains in Arizona. When starting the car after a stop (to look at a heard of Elk in a pasture) the car would not start. It would briefly start for a second then die. The dash lit up with many errors. We were stranded with no cell phone service with night approaching. We walked down the road and got cell service again and called family. Found out from online video while waiting for family to arrive you could disconnect the battery and reconnect to get the car started. We did this and it worked but engine light still was on. Car would not start again next morning and dash lit up. We would have been in a really bad situation (very cold) if we would have not walked down highway to get internet service to look up the issue. More internet research shows thousands of people have this problem.
Dec 09, 2025
Volkswagen Passat 2012 Passat key won't go into ignition - Trying to fit my key into ignition will not go in and or Turn [XXX] [XXX] Removing the plastic steering wheel shroud, (T25 x3) then remove VW ignition switch, Black plastic piece under spring pressure needs to come out, this piece is the piece that pushes the white plastic piece infront of the key. When this is removed, re-assemble. This same problem plagued my wife’s car, and me as I was dispatched to rescue her. There is a chance replacing all of this with new might fix the issue but removing the un-needed part accomplishes the same end goal, reliability for no cost, and no spray into ignition. [XXX] Volkswagen ignition switch repair and diasssembly See [XXX] for full details. Volkswagen ignition switch repa... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Sep 14, 2023
The electrical system failed. It has been to numerous mechanics many refusing to do the work. The car cuts off while driving randomly. When ignition is turned off and then turned back on car starts again. No light on dash alternator ecu fuel pump fuses all replaced in effort to try to find the issue with no avail. Car cuts off in mid traffic and then stalls .This is life threatening and should be addressed . No mechanic wants to work on this particular year and model car. Car has been inspected by Volkswagen dealer. No warning lights sounds or dashboard notifications.
Feb 07, 2023
I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO RUN ERRANDS BUT WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION, I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO START AND DIDN'T HEAR A CLICKING SOUND. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN MOVED FROM THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT A DAY. ALL OF THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND DASHBOARDS WORK FINE AND ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL BUT I GET NOTHING FROM THE ENGINE..I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR IS $1,200 AND THEY ARE NOT EVEN CERTAIN IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED.
Mar 04, 2020
CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTION. WE HAD THE CLOCK SPRING COVER INSTALLED DUE TO RECALL, BUT THE CLOCK SPRING IS NOW INOPERATIVE WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF DRIVERS AIRBAG FUNCTIONALITY AND STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK.
May 28, 2019
+ 20 more complaints for this component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
25 complaints
Clock spring was replaced then went out again. Daughter now has a car with no air bag, no horn and none of the electrical working on staring wheel. We are told it will take 6 months for the part, but reading online seeing people waiting over 10 months now for the part. Dealer has no solution and says VW needs to take care of it.
Sep 27, 2022
CLOCK SPRING FAIL AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON HORN IS NOT WORKING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE CAR LIKETHIS
Aug 31, 2022
Although this site has my car listed with ZERO unfixed recalls, that is not true. I received a recall notice for the clockspring on this vehicle, called my local dealership and was told it was no big deal, just to have it fixed when I brought my car in for 80k mile servicing. At that time, the clockspring had not yet broken and my car only had 50k miles on it. Late last October, my clockspring broke and I took it to the dealership. They ordered the part but said it was on backorder and it is STILL on indefinite backorder. I have now been driving more than 6 months with NO airbags, NO horn and NO hands free steering wheel controls. The dealership will not give me a loaner until my vehicle is made safe to drive. I have reached out to VW headquarters, the consumer product safety commission and the NTSB. I am on an online chat site where it is apparent there are thousands of us who cant pass state safety inspections and have had to park our vehicles or are driving them out of necessity, like myself. I am a widow who works full time and cant just buy another vehicle so easily. I believe VW should either buy our vehicles from us or give us loaners until they can be made safe to drive. People will have accidents and VW will wish they had done something. It should not get to that point! My local dealership told me the VW clockspring is made in Ukraine - so obviously this is not getting resolved by VW anytime soon. Please help! Thank you for your time. The failure of these parts leaves the vehicle with no airbags, horn or hands free controls on the steering wheel. Consumer stated there are thousands of us out here with unsafe and disabled vehicles and we can get no response at all from VW. Dealership stated the part is on indefinite backorder and consumer has already been without airbags, horn, etc for more than 6 months now. Consumer believes VW should authorize loaner vehicles until ours can be made safe to drive or purchase the vehicles to get them off the road. Right now, consumer can’t sell them, can’t pass state safety inspections and are unfortunately left to take a chance and drive them.
May 03, 2022
On the 29th of January, upon turning on my car and turning my steering wheel, I heard a "clicking" noise, and immediately on the dash my airbag light displayed along with a message saying, "Error: Airbag". After driving, I realized that my horn no longer worked and the controls on my steering wheel were inoperable. When I arrived at my destination, I began looking up the issue and things that could cause the airbag light to display, along with causing the other issues I was experiencing. The first thing that popped up described a recall that was initiated in 2015 for the clockspring piece failing, which causes the airbag light to display, the horn to not work, as well as the controls on the steering wheel to not work. I looked up the CarFax on my specific vehicle and found that this clockspring piece was replaced on my car back in 2016 (before I owned it), so on the following Monday, I called my local Volkswagen dealership where the guy confirmed that this had been a recall that was previously fixed on my car and offered me an appointment for the 24th of February to confirm that this was the issue going on with my car. As I was unsatisfied with waiting this long, I called other local Volkswagen dealerships to see if they could get me in sooner. The York Volkswagen dealership got me in on the 4th of February, ran diagnostics, and confirmed that this was the issue with the car, the clockspring needed to be replaced, again. However, it was relayed to me that this piece is part of a nationwide backorder and that they could not give me a time frame of when they would be able to replace this piece for me, all they could do was tell me that the part had been ordered for me and they would call me when the part arrived. Upon asking what I was supposed to do in the meantime, as far as driving with this extreme safety issue or do as my inspection is coming up and will not pass inspection with the airbag light on or the horn not working, no one was able to give me any guidance.
Feb 05, 2022
FAILED STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING AS DESCRIBED IN 2015 RECALL 69L2. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND ALL STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS, INCLUDING HORN, DO NOT FUNCTION. ALL SYMPTOMS BEGAN WHILE MAKING A TURN WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR RECALL REPAIR.
Nov 17, 2020
+ 20 more complaints for this component
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
17 complaints
I noticed a fuel smell in the cabin area that continued to get worse. After pulling the back seat I was able to visually see the fuel pump that had lots of micro cracks which was causing a fuel leak. The leak was very dangerous and caused major foam damage to my rear seat and was a major hazard had anything caused an ignition in the cabin, it certainly would have burned the vehicle. I saved the fuel pumped after having a local shop replace it.
Jul 05, 2025
Stop on middle of the freeway twice and one on the road. Be replace the hoof 24 months ago now again dealer claim need to change the whole fuel system it’s 2012 Passat to modification done 2017. For another 6900 dollars this consumer ripoff by be. Car now is in the dealer. It’s dirito brothers volkswagon. 2020 n main st Walnut Creek. Scary to stop on [XXX] with this at night with a dog onboard. Very confused vw customer who 2 other vw. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Jan 16, 2024
The DPF keeps causing the engine light to come on when there isn’t anything wrong but it also makes the car use more fuel every time this happens
Aug 14, 2021
CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE, WAS ALMOST HIT BY SEMI-TRUCK. FUEL PUMP SENT METAL SHARDS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW DEALERSHIP QUOTED COST OF $ 6000 TO REBUILD ENTIRE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. WHAT A WAY TO START MY FAMILY VACATION STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR 4 HOURS ON A SUNDAY.
May 22, 2019
FUELL PUMP CONTROL COMPUTER MODULE LOST POWER. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC! IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS ETC. CAUSING A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSSIBILITY OF DEATH SITUATION. VW HAS HAD THIS ITEM RECALLED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME! VW STILL HAS NO FIIX TO DATE!
May 08, 2018
+ 12 more complaints for this component
STEERING,AIR BAGS
16 complaints
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a clicking sound was coming from the steering column. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated, with the cruise control feature inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clockspring was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the failure was repaired on two previous occasions. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Apr 19, 2023
The clock spring has went out on my 2012 VW Passat, but VW does not have them in stock, nor do they know when they'll have them in stock. This means that the drivers air bag will not work in the event of an accident. They are not doing a recall, but are doing an "extended warranty". They are knowingly putting unsafe vehicles out on the road.
Feb 23, 2022
THIS VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE I BOUGHT IT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON I DON'T THINK THE RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY CAUSE I HAVE SAME ISSUE AS IT WAS STATED BY OTHER DRIVER'S AIRBAG LIGHT ON STEERING MAKING NOISE IT'S RIDICULOUS
May 10, 2021
I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD VERY WEIRD NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL EVERYTIME I TURN IT IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE NEXT DAY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. BY THE TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, MY HORN STOPS WORKING. SO THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE 2012 VW PASSAT. WHAT CONCERNS ME MOST IS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL FAIL IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A NON WORKING HORNE
Sep 12, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO O'STEEN VOLKSWAGEN (904-322-5100, LOCATED AT 11401 PHILIPS HWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256) WHERE THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SAME DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING AGAIN. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SAME PART WAS REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Mar 07, 2019
+ 11 more complaints for this component
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
16 complaints
STEERING WHEEL HAD A SLIGHT TUG AND A NOISE. LOST ALL FUNCTIONS ON STEERING WHEEL. WAS ON A COUNTRY RD. TOOK IT TO A VW MECHANIC IN QUINCY PA ON SEPT 4 2020. THEY SAID THE CLOCK SPRING BROKE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. I LOOKED IT UP AND RECALL NUMBER 15V483000 CAME UP. IT WAS ALREADY FIXED EVIDENTLY. I GUESS I SHOULD NOT HAVE IT DONE NOW IT IS COSTING 800 DOLLARS.
Sep 21, 2020
FEB 2018 VW REPLACED THE AIRBAGS AND CLOCK SPRING. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON TOGETHER WITH THE ABS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS. I HAVE NO POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, NO HORN ETC. MY STEERING IS GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER TO TURN. I'M SURE THIS POSES SOME SORT OF A SAFETY RISK ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE. I WISH VW WOULD CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A NATIONWIDE REMEDY TO CURE THIS DEFECT. THE SOONER THE BETTER SINCE VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE 2011. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED. I GOT INTO IT TO GO TO WORK AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. PLEASE HELP YOUR CONSUMERS TO CURE THIS DEFECT AND NOT PUT A BAND-AID ON IT.
Mar 13, 2019
AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE AFTER PREVIOUS RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. ENCOUNTERED STEERING WHEEL RESISTANCE TO CORNERING AND HEARD CRUNCHING NOISE AS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS INCLUDING HORN WERE LOST. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SERVICE STATED OVER PHONE THAT THIS WAS UNRELATED TO PREVIOUS RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED.
Nov 03, 2018
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECAL 69L2 STATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING IN MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT COULD FAIL. THE CLOCK SPRING DID FAIL AND WAS REPAIRED IN 2015 UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. ON OCT 5TH 2018 THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING FAILED AGAIN AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE 2015 RECALL. WITH A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING THE DRIVER AIR BAG IS DISABLED. THE HORN IS DISABLED AND ALL CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ARE DISABLED. THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING BROKE AS I WAS MAKING A NORMAL RIGHT HAND TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY.
Oct 08, 2018
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR 2 RECALLS AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY CLOCK SPRING. ONE OF THE RECALLS THEY ARE DOING REPLACES THE CLOCK SPRING COVER. THEY QUOTED ME A NEW CLOCK SPRING FOR ~$500. THEY ARE REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING COVER FOR A CLOCK SPRING THAT IS DEFECTIVE.
May 14, 2018
+ 11 more complaints for this component
ENGINE
15 complaints
SUDDEN ENGINE HIGH VIBRATION WHILES DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE AND BATTERY FAILURE AT THE SAME TIME AND DAY. VW TECHNICIANS IDENTIFIED PIECES OF METAL FROM ENGINE IN OIL FILTER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. NOTE: CAR IS TAKEN CARE OF WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE USING VW SERVICE
Mar 10, 2017
CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DIESEL FUEL ALL INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY, DEALERSHIP SAID A BOLT ON THE ENGINE HAD A STRESS FRACTURE AND BROKE. *TR
Dec 29, 2016
ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTERCOOLER
Dec 29, 2016
AFTER THE NOX SENSOR WENT IN THIS CAR EXACTLY A MONTH TO THE DAY LATER THE ADBLUE HEATER IS SHOT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE MIL LIGHT CAME ON. A SCAN SHOWED IT IS THE ADBLUE HEATER. THIS IS THE 2ND EMISSIONS RELATED PART TO GO IN THIS CAR SINCE THE DIESEL SCANDAL BROKE AND THE 2ND ISSUE IN A MONTH.
Sep 12, 2016
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A 200 MI. COUNTDOWN BEGAN INDICATING THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. WE WERE OVER 500 MILES FROM HOME ON THE WEEKEND. WE HAD TO DRIVE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR HOME 10 HOURS TO NEAREST DEALER WITH THE THREAT OF STALLING IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. WE COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF, NOR STALL IT AS THE CAR INDICATED IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS THE NOX SENSOR. I PAID $625 PLUS TAX TO FIX PART OF THE FRAUDULENT EMISSIONS SYSTEM.
Sep 10, 2016
+ 10 more complaints for this component
STRUCTURE
11 complaints
DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND VW WANTS A TON TO REPAIR IT. ON THE FORUMS & INTERNET THEY STATED WE SHOULD BE OPENING A CASE HERE AS ITS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
Dec 24, 2019
I KEEP HAVING A PROBLEM IN FREEZING WEATHER WITH MY VEHICLE DOOR MECHANISM FREEZING LOCKED. I CAN NOT GET INTO OF OUT OF THE CAR ONCE FROZEN. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DOOR ACTUATOR. VW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THE DEALERS BUT NO RECALL. THERE IS OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VIEWS ON YOUTUBE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AND I DOUBT PEOPLE ARE JUST WATCHING THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE BORED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS I CAN NOT GET INTO MY VEHICLE WHEN BELOW FREEZING AND IF IT IS REALLY COLD I CAN NOT GET OUT UNTIL THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE RAISES ENOUGH. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE ON COLD DAYS. THIS HAS CAME UP QUITE A BIT WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE ON REALLY COLD DAYS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT SEEMS WATER CAN GET INTO THE ACTUATOR AND THEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS. USUALLY THE HEATER IN THE CAR WILL THAW THE DOOR BY THE TIME I GET TO WHERE I AM GOING BUT IF THE TEMP IS REALLY COLD I WILL STILL BE LOCKED IN THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS STARTED LAST YEAR BUT I TRIED GREASE AND OIL HOPING IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THIS IS ON GOING.
Dec 21, 2019
FUEL TANK DOOR DOESN'T OPEN.
Dec 03, 2019
I WENT TO OPEN MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND IT WOULDN'T UNLOCK. I CLIMBED ACROSS FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE DOOR WOULD OPEN. WHEN I PULLED THE LEVER FROM THE INSIDE THE DOOR OPENED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. BUT NOW IT WOULDN'T LATCH TO FIRMLY CLOSE. IT WOULD JUST HIT AND POP OPEN A LITTLE BIT. I WENT TO BOMMARITO VOLKSWAGON IN ST. PETERS, MISSOURI AND THEY REFUSED SERVICE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT CAUSED BY USER ERROR. WARRANTY OR NOT, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. I DISCUSSED IT WITH THE DEALER, ABOUT PRICING AND THEY REFUSED SERVICE AND FORCED ME TO DRIVE OFF THEIR LOT WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WHERE I HAD TO MANUALLY HOLD THE DOOR SHUT. I ALSO REQUESTED THE TAKATA AIRBAG BE REPLACED AND THEY FORCED ME TO LEAVE WITH THREAT OF CALLING THE POLICE FOR AN ISSUE THEY REFUSED TO FIX DESPITE NEVE RAISING MY VOICE AND JUST TRYING TO TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH THE DEALER.
Nov 13, 2018
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. DOOR LOCK LATCH MECHANISM FAILED. CANNOT DRIVE CAR IF DOOR WON'T STAY LATCHED. INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED MECHANISM. BASED UPON INTERNET SEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT DOOR LATCH FAILED SEEMS COMMON WHICH WAS A SURPRISE.
Jan 27, 2018
+ 6 more complaints for this component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
10 complaints
Bought in July and had 38461 miles and only put 3000 miles since bought. Driving down the road and it started raining and had 2” of water in my drivers side floor board. Took to jack Morris auto glass and they looked at it and said the pan on the driver’s side of the sunroof was cracked. He told me that driving it was risky as it could catch fire and cause electrical issues. Please advise.
Dec 05, 2022
FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN NOR WILL IT UNLOCK. LATELY, (DECEMBER 2018), I CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES COLD DRY MORNINGS, OTHER MORNINGS MIST THAT HAS FROZEN, OTHER MORNINGS JUST COLD. I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND WORK MY WAY OVER TO DRIVERS SEAT. TAKES UP TO 20 MINUTES FOR THE DOOR TO OPEN. I FOUND IT EASIER IF I HAVE DEFROST ON HIGH HEAT WITH VENT POINTED TO DOOR. I FIND THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I DRIVE TO WORK KNOWING SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN AND I COULD NOT GET OUT.
Mar 05, 2019
SECONDARY AIR PRESSURE SENSOR FAILURE AFTER 37000 MILES,PART OF EMISSION AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
Nov 14, 2018
TAKATA INFLATORS
Jan 02, 2017
HEATER CORE ON A 2012 PASSAT HAS CORRODED AND CLOGGED WITH FACTORY FLUIDS INSIDE STILL. CAUSES THE HEAT TO NOT COME OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
Dec 29, 2016
+ 5 more complaints for this component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
10 complaints
2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEAD LAMP CONNECTOR HOUSING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP CONNECTOR HOUSINGS WERE NOT UPDATED. UPDATED 09/05/2017*JS
Sep 25, 2017
LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY APPEARS FOGGED OVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. DEALER INDICATES THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) IN THIS ASSEMBLY HAS OVERHEATED. THE INCREASED TEMPS CAUSED THE PLASTIC LENS TO APPEAR CLOUDY AND OR FOGGED OVER. THE HIGHER TEMP HAS CHANGED THE SHAPE OF THE REFLECTOR OF THE DRL SOCKET TOO, CAUSING THE LEFT DRL TO APPEAR SIGNIFICANTLY DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE DRL, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. WHEN DRIVING, THE FOGGED HEADLIGHT LENS DIMINISHES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE DIMINISHED BRIGHTNESS OF THE DRL IS OBVIOUS . THIS CONDITION WAS NOTICED AFTER PURCHASE IN LATE 2014 BUT SEEMS TO HAVE INCREASED OVER TIME. LAST WEEK IT OCCURRED TO ME TO ASK, DURING SCHEDULED DEALER SERVICE, ABOUT GETTING THE LENS CLEARED, THE DEALER POINTED OUT THE DEFECT IN THE OVERHEATED AND MISSHAPEN LENS ASSEMBLY IN THE DRL. THE VEHICLE IS USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO COMMUTE VIA INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BETWEEN HOME AND WORK.
May 24, 2016
I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2012 WV PASSAT. THE BULBS SEEM TO BE BLOWING OUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON MY AUTO. IN SEPTEMBER 2014 (FIRST) IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE , THEN AFTER A WHILE ON 3/23/15 THE LEFT SIDE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS THIS TIME.. WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT HOOD PROBLEMS WHICH EFFECTED THE FRONT LIGHTS..JAN 2014.. THERE WAS A TIME 2014 WHEN THE LOW BEAMS AND TURNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING FOR A AT LEASE THREE HOURS.. THEN THEY WENT ON.. *TR
Feb 23, 2015
THE RIGHT LOW BEAM LAMP REMAINS OFF, EVEN THOUGH THE BULB IS GOOD, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN REDUCED VISION. WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BACK OF THE BULB FIXTURE THE BULB ILLUMINATES BUT THEN TURNS OFF AGAIN ONCE THE PRESSURE IS REMOVED. THE CURRENT VW RECALL FOR THE SAME OR AT LEAST SIMILAR PROBLEM DOES NOT EXTEND TO THIS VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE HOOD HAS NEVER BEEN ROUGHLY CLOSED, UNLESS DONE DURING SERVICE AT A VW FACILITY. *TT
Apr 15, 2014
I HAD MY VW PASSAT 2012 SERVICED IN SEPT, OF 2011 WITH 31,000 MILES ON IT FOR A HEADLIGHT FAILURE I HAVE THE INVOICE # [XXX] THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM WAS NOT WORKING, ( WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS AFTER I WAS STOPPED IN COCONUT CREEK FL ON ST RD. 7 BY THE POLICE, ON THAT MORNING FOR $125.00 OF WHICH I HAVE PAID A TRAFFIC TICKET, I HAVE THE PAID RECEIPTS FOR THAT AND TICKET COPIES ALSO) NOW AGAIN I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT. MY CAR WAS MANUF. 09/2011 WHICH THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND IS STATED THAT WAY ON THE WEBSITE SAFECAR.GOV THERE TELLING ME AT VW COCONUT CREEK MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED AND I MUST PAY FOR REPAIR. WHY? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Apr 10, 2014
+ 5 more complaints for this component
SERVICE BRAKES
8 complaints
FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL/PUMP ON MY 2012 VW PASSAT WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. I LOOK ONLINE AND SEE THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR VW OWNERS I SENT THIS TO VW AS A CONCERN AND TO NHTSA AS A CONCERN PREVIOUSLY BUT NEVER HEARD ANYTHING FROM EITHER ONE.
May 10, 2021
I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR THE BREAK WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO PUSH, IT WAS LIKE PUSHING A LEAD WEIGHT AND FINALLY THE CAR STOPPED AFTER PUSHING WITH ALL MY STRENGTH WITH BOTH FEET. I WAS DRIVING INTO THE PUBLIX PARKING LOT AT MIRASOL IN PALM BEACH GARDENS AND PARKING THE CAR IN THE PARKING SPOT, LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON MY WAY TO THE STORE OR I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. SO I WAS ACTUALLY IN MOTION IN THE PARKING LOT TRYING TO PARK MY CAR.
Nov 16, 2020
A LOT OF INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY DASHBOARD INCLUDING ABS CONTROL FAILURE AMONG OTHER INDICATORS. I HAD THIS DIAGNOSED AT MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAILURE IN THE ABS CONTROL/PUMP UNIT AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS A $2,500 REPAIR. I DID RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VWS. THIS SAFETY RELATED PART FAILURE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL GIVEN IT IS PART THAT HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. *TR
Apr 14, 2020
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.
Dec 07, 2015
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.
Aug 12, 2015
+ 3 more complaints for this component
POWER TRAIN
7 complaints
MY 2012 PASSAT HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE FLYWHEEL AS IT WAS STARTING TO COME APART AND CAUSE A RATTLE NOISE LIKE AN EXHAUST PIPE RATTLING IT WENT AWAY WHEN I TOOK RPM TO A LITTLE HIGHER NUMBER HAD IT FIXED BY DEALERSHIP I WONDER WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON THIS AS IT HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE I HAD IT REPLACED IN TIME BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO CATCH IT IN TIME IF I HADN'T AND IT BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING IT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE ENGINE CAUSING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND AT 75 MPH COULD POSSIBLY GET INTO A SERIOUS WRECK THIS FLYWHEEL DIDN'T WEAR OUT IT WAS COMPLETELY COMING APART AND FOR A 2012 WITH 80,000 IT SHOULDN'T BE COMING APART THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN MISTREATED AND HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE NEW ALL RECOMMENDED BY FACTORY. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE NO RECALLS ANYWHERE FOR THIS FLYWHEEL PART ON A TDI 2.0 PASSAT.
Feb 14, 2021
THEY VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IS MY 2ND VEHICLE FOR OCCASIONAL DAYS SO FOR THE MOST TIME STAY AT HOME. ONE DAY I JUST TURNED ON TO WARM UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I WENT TO AUTO ZONE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE ERROR CODE READ P2432 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM AIR FLOW / PRESSURE SENSOR CIRCUIT LOW BANK 1. I CHECKED ON INTERNET AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2011 VW JETTA 5 CYLINDER 2.5L THAT EXACTLY THE SAME ENGINE.
Dec 23, 2019
THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO PARKWAY VOLKSWAGEN, SANTA CLARITA CA 91355, FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION SERVICE. REPORTED MECHATRONIC GASKET LEAKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. OFFERED TO DO SO AT A REDUCED PRICE. AFTER DEALER REPAIR CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL RANDOMLY FROM DRIVE MODE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. CLAIMS FAILURE IS A COINCIDENCE AND NOT RELATED TO THEIR WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Apr 23, 2015
THE CAR HESITATES TO THE POINT THAT IT COMES CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN PULLING OUT AFTER BEING STOPPED. IT HESITATES AND THEN SURGES FORWARD. THE CAR WILL ROLL FORWARDS AND/OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING WHETHER YOU ARE FACING DOWNHILL OR UPHILL WHEN SITTING ON A HILL AND YOU TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. TO PUT IN GEAR--VERY SCARY. I JUST HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE CARS--IT IS A DIESEL NOT GASOLINE. I LOOKED ON SOME COMPLAINT WEB SITES AND THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2006 ABOUT THESE VERY SAME ISSUES--WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS--DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN ISSUE AND HAS BEEN ONE FOR A LONG TIME. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS AS I DO NOT WANT MY KIDS OR FAMILY TO DRIVE THIS CAR DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS--I COULD NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ONE OF THEM AND I KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM-- THE DEALERS ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE--READ THE COMPLAINTS FOR YOURSELF AND WHAT CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERS WHEN THEY REPORT THE ISSUES--YOU ARE OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HELP IN THIS SITUATION-PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS VERY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS--THANK YOU--[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS
Jul 07, 2014
AS I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM MY HOUSE TO MY DESTINATION, MY TRANSMISSION FLUID BEGAN TO LEAK OUT ONTO THE STREET. I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR EIGHT DAYS EARLIER WHICH WAS A NEW CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH ONLY HAD 2 MILES ON THE CAR. THE AMOUNT OF MILES I HAD PUT ON THE CAR WAS 500 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION INSIDE OF IT. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DEALERSHIP HAD TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION INTO MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE OLD ONE HAD DEFECTED PARTS INSIDE. *TR
Jul 27, 2012
+ 2 more complaints for this component
AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6 complaints
I've repeatedly tried to contact manufacturers about this recall in which they state they will call back and never due , i feel this is a immediate problem and should be fixed due to it may cause harm or death
Mar 21, 2025
TAKATA RECALL I LOOKED UP VEHICLES VIN AN NOTICED 6 RECALLS ON IT I HAD GOT THE ISSUE FIXED AND I NOTICED MY SENSOR IN MY TIRE WAS BLINKING I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP GUY WORKING TOLD ME ONLY A SENSOR I NEED TO PAY FOR WHICH I HAVE ALREADY LOOKED UP AN SEEN THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THE TIRE SENSOR ON THE 24 OF FEBRUARY I'M RIDING DOWN PATTON ST IN GREENSBORO NC I NOTICED MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE RATTLED ME I PULLED OVER AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED I BEGAN TO GET IN THE CAR I'M NOT SURE WHY THE AIRBAGS CAME OUT I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE AIRBAGS HITTN ME IN THE FACE I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP SPOKE WITH SUPERVISOR EBBIE ALSO DISRESPECTFUL I'M ONLY WANTING MY CAR FIXED BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED ON VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES
Feb 27, 2019
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN JUST FINE UP UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING,12/1/2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30. AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN I HEARD CLICKING COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. MIND YOU I WOULD HERE THIS CLICKING HEAR AND THERE BUT FIGURED MAYBE MY STEERING COLUMN WAS GETTING RUSTY NOT KNOW IT WAS MORE SERIOUS UNTIL NOW. AFTER I PARKED MY CAR I RECEIVED AND AIR BAG ERROR. MY CAR WAS APART OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL AND I GOT THAT FIXED AT THE DEALER APRIL 2017. WHEN I CALLED THE VW DEALER NEAR MY RESIDENCE, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASK I BRING MY CAR IN TO DIAGNOSE HOWEVER FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, APPEARS TO BE A SPIRAL CLOCK SPRING ISSUE. OF COURSE BEING A FEMALE I HAD CONCERNS AND ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS GOONG BACK TO THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT TO SEE IF IT ALL TIED IN TOGETHER. THE ADVISOR ADVISED SINCE THE RECALL WAS A YEAR AND HALF AGO THIS IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE BUT AGAIN WOULD DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE FIRST. HERE'S MY ISSUE. AS I REACHED MORE, I NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO THE CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. THERE WERE RECALLS BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND VERY CONCERNING AND POOR JUDGEMENT ON VW BEHALF. NOW I'M DRIVING WITH A POSSIBLE FAULTY AIRBAG THAT WAS NOT REALLY FIXED, MY HORN DOES NOT WORK, NOR ANY CONTROLS ON MY STEERING WHEEL. IN MY OPINION I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR SUCH REPAIR DUE TO THE LACK OF VW. VW ARE PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AT STAKE. I'VE HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOW THIS. NOT RELIABLE VEHICLES AT ALL. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND ADDRESS IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
Dec 02, 2018
TAKATA INFLATORS WERE CHANGED DUE TO RECALL IN JAN 2018. IN APRIL 2018 I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE & THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THEN I REALIZED THAT ONLY INFO SHOWING ON MY PANEL WAS THE PHONE HOOKUP, ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT. I CHECKED THE HORN & THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. AFTER CHECKING FUSES WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP & MADE AN APPT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. WE ARE TOLD IT IS THE CLOCKSPRING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST IS OVER $500. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE & THEY STAYED WE HAD THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED IN 2016 UNDER A RECALL. HOWEVER WE HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF THIS BEING DONE. THIS NOISE & THEN THE CLICKING & OTHER ISSUES CONNECTED TO THE CLOCK SPRING HAPPENED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING AREA. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BEING THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF & WHEN NEEDED. ALSO I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A VEHICLE THAT DECIDED TO BACKUP WITHOUT LOOKING & I COULDN'T USE MY HORN TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVER. THANK GOD HE REALIZED WHAT HE WAS DOING. AS FOR THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING IN MAY OF 2016, MY QUESTION IS WHY WAS THAT REPLACED THEN & NOT THE AIRBAGS? ALSO, BEING THERE WAS RECALL ON THE AIRBAG & IT WAS BEING DONE, WHY DIDN'T THEY REDO THE CLOCK SPRING. I LOVE THE PASSAT BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF SHODDY WORKMANSHIP! I NOTICED A LOT OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CLOCK SPRING & WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY YOU ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS ISSUE? I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS HAVING ITS CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL LABOR BEING THAT THE CLOCK SPRING GOES BAD SHORTLY AFTER REPAIRS ARE DONE TO THE RECALLED AIRBAG.
Apr 30, 2018
WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD POP COME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, AN ALARM CAME UP FOR "AIRBAG ERROR". ALSO, ALL OTHER FUNCTIONALITY ON MY STEERING WHEEL WAS DISABLED, INCLUDING THE BLUETOOTH ACCESS, RADIO BUTTONS, ETC. I CONTACTED MY VW DEALERSHIP (BOUCHER VW IN RACINE, WI) AND THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING AND THAT THE AIR BAG IS NOT FUNCTIONAL IF THIS ALARM IS ACTIVE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS COVERED AS A PART OF THE RECALL (I BELIEVE THE RECALL NUMBER IS 15V-483) AND THEY STATED IT WAS NOT AND THAT THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $550. I ASKED WHY THIS WAS NOT COVERED AS A PART OF THE RECALL BUT WAS NOT PROVIDED AN EXPLANATION. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THIS QUESTION WHEN I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
Jan 12, 2018
+ 1 more complaint for this component
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6 complaints
TWICE WHILE DRIVING, THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED LEAVING THE AUTOMOBILE DISABLED ON THE HIGHWAY. ON BOTH OCCASIONS IT WAS REPORTED THAT METAL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL PUMP AND ALL COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. THE TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AFTER THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE FOR THE EXHAUST/ EMISSIONS RECALL. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND WITHIN 2000 MILES. THE SECOND WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST 10,000 MILE SERVICE AND WITHIN 9 MONTHS FROM THE FIRST.
Aug 26, 2020
THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING ONCE IN A WHILE AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER BEGAN TO DIE WHEN IDLE WAITING AT RED LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. I WAS TOLD THE VACUUM SEAL NEEDED REPLACED BUT TO DO SO EVERYTHING WOULD NEED REPLACED AS YOU CAN'T JUST REPLACE A VACUUM SEAL. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF MY CAR STARTED TO GO HAYWIRE AND EVERY LIGHT, CLOCK WOULD GO OFF IF I TRIED TO START THE CAR. AFTER THAT AS FIXED THE BATTER WHICH WAS TESTED AND AT 99% DIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THESE ISSUES HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ON A CITY STREET DRIVING AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH PEOPLE PASSING ME AND HONKING. I GOT THE CAR FIXED AT STEVEN'S CREEK VOLKSWAGEN IN SUNNYVALE, CA IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I WAS OUT OF A CAR FOR WELL OVER A WEEK. NONE OF THESE WERE ISSUES CAUSED BY ME. I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR.
Jul 27, 2018
ON MY 2012 TDI WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD ~ BELOW 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS MISFIRING. IT USUALLY STARTS FINE, BUT IT STUMBLES/MISFIRED FOR THE FIRST MILE OR SO. THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GET UP TO SPEED, NOR WILL IT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR, THE ENGINE WILL REV TO 3000 RPM AND MORE WHEN COLD, WHICH IS VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE. I WILL MANUALLY SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR AND THEN IT CHUGS AND MISFIRES AND STRUGGLES TO GET UP TO SPEED.
Feb 05, 2018
AD BLUE REDUCTANT TANK FAILED. THUS MAKING THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM NOT WORK PROPERLY. PART # 561-198-970-A IS DEFECTIVE. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY 2013 PASSAT WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FROM VW. HERE IS A LINK TO A THREAD ON THE EXTENT OF THESE FAILURES. HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=438268
Aug 16, 2016
ON JULY 16, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 PM, MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI SEL PREMIUM LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE FAILED AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTH AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY SURROUNDED BY CARS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 65 MPH. THE ENGINE FAILURE PUT MY LIFE, MY COLLEAGUE'S LIFE AND MY FETUS'' LIFE IN DANGER AND COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS FOR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES AS WELL. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FOUND A BROKEN BOLT. THIS BOLT HELD THE FUEL RAIL AND FUEL INJECTORS IN PLACE AND WHEN IT BROKE, CAUSED THE INJECTORS TO POP OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE. THE INSTALLED BOLT WAS PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT REPAIR THAT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, CLOSER TO MY HOME, PERFORMED BACK IN APRIL 2014. I''VE HAD THREE MAJOR INCIDENTS WITH MY VW NOW, ALL WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND IT SEEMS TO BE STEMMING FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. WHEN THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, THE SERVICE CENTER BLAMED IT ON A "BAD BATCH OF DIESEL FUEL" FROM A LOCAL GAS STATION. THEY SAID THAT WITHIN 3 WEEKS, THEY'VE HAD AROUND 25 CARS COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 44,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. BECAUSE OF THESE INCIDENTS, THE LAST ONE OF WHICH PUT MY LIFE AS WELL AS 2 OTHER LIVES IN GRAVE DANGER, I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT, IN CASE IT IS A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. *JS
Jul 29, 2014
+ 1 more complaint for this component
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
5 complaints
The fuel pump design to last the life of the vehicle exploded this is a 10k fix they ( extended the warranty to 120000 miles instead of replacing the bad pumps im at 1290000 miles i don’t understand how this is acceptable given the amount of issues and occurrences the fuel pump has exploded
Apr 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power with the battery warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer who informed the contact that the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
Dec 27, 2022
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED AND NEVER TURNED BACK ON AND THEN BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL. THIS SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED TWICE. ONCE AT 60,000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER AT 77,910. THE SECOND NEARLY RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND THE SECOND SUPPOSEDLY WAS A FAULTY FUEL LINE. BOTH WERE COVERED IN FULL BY VW AFTER INVESTIGATION. *TR
Jun 24, 2014
STARTED CAR AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. FUEL (DIESEL) STARTED POURING OUT THE BACK BY THE FUEL TANK NECK. ABOUT 2-3 GALLONS OF FUEL CAME OUT ( LESS THAN A MINUTE) BEFORE REALIZED THIS WAS HAPPENING AND TURNED CAR OFF. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE FUEL LINE CAME OFF BUT CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY OR HOW. VW TOLD THEM THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. CHECKED ON LINE AND CAN SEE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING BUT NOT BEING REPORTED. *TR
Feb 15, 2014
METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. FUEL WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO BE DIESEL FUEL. NO OTHER FUEL HAS EVER BEEN USED OR PUMPED INTO THIS VEHICLE. *TR
May 01, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
3 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 76 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND EXHAUST FLUID WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR OVER A YEAR. AN ERROR CODE STATED VEHICLE SHUT-OFF AT 200 MILES WAS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT-OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURF VOLKSWAGEN KIA (1016 WEST COLUMBIA DRIVE, KENNEWICK, WA 99336, (509-586-3185) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Mar 15, 2021
MY 2012 VW PASSAT WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE PARKED & WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHTS WITHOUT ANY WARNING.USUALLY THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, BUT ONCE IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE WHEN THE STOP LIGHT TURNED TO GREEN.
Sep 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TEDDY VOLKSWAGEN (718-920-1400, LOCATED AT 3743 BOSTON RD, BRONX, NY 10466) WHERE THE EPC INDICATOR WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HEADED BACK TO THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND, WHEN RESTARTED, THE EPC INDICATOR TURNED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR. THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR CALLED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,500.
Oct 02, 2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3 complaints
THE HEATER CORE IS CLOGGED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS OF THE CAR, BOTH WINDSHIELD AND DOOR, DO NOT DEFOG/DEFROST FOR UP TO 20 MINUTES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WEATHER. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE ONLINE WITH MANY OWNERS OF VW'S IN THE 2012+ RANGE AFFECTED. I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE IN THE CROSSWALK TWICE RECENTLY DUE TO THE DECREASED VISIBILITY.
Feb 12, 2019
ONE OF THE ACTUATORS IN THE HVAC SYSTEM PREMATURELY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE RECIRCULATION ACTUATOR. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO PROPERLY DEFROST, CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AS VISIBILITY THROUGH THE FOGGED WINDSCREEN WAS DRASTICALLY REDUCED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ACTUATOR (AT MY EXPENSE) AND THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. AN ACTUATOR SHOULD NOT BE FAILING THIS EARLY IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFETIME. I, THE USER, DID NOT DO SOMETHING SPECIAL TO CAUSE THIS TO OCCUR. *TR
Jan 12, 2017
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.
Jan 30, 2016
STEERING
3 complaints
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.
Dec 03, 2015
WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, A LOUD STRANGE NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTROLS ON MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NO LONGER WORK, AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR MY AIRBAG. AS MY HUSBAND DROVE US HOME, I SEARCHED THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THE ERROR MESSAGE IS TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND MAY NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD OR MAY DEPLOY WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO. THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT WARN OF AN ACCIDENT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING UNEXPECTEDLY WOULD PROBABLY CAUSE A CAR ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE MCKINNEY, TX VW DEALERSHIP FIRST THING THE NEXT MORNING. THEY SAID THE CLOCK SPRING HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY REPLACED THIS PART, BUT MY STEERING WHEEL STILL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. THIS IS THE SAME SOUND WE HEARD WHILE WE DROVE HOME THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AGAIN, BUT I AGAIN HEARD THE SAME CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THE PASSATS MAKE THIS NOISE, AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. MY STEERING DID NOT MAKE NOISE THE FIRST 40,000 MILES I PUT ON THE CAR, SO I'M WORRIED THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PART. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I FOUND ONLINE THAT A LOT OF OTHER PASSAT OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME COMPLAINT, AND MANY OF THEM HAD CLOCK SPRINGS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. WITH SO MANY DEFECTIVE PARTS, THIS SEEMS WORTHY OF A RECALL SINCE THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Mar 31, 2014
CAR HAS CONSTANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. DRIVING REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE TO THE LEFT ON STEERING WHEEL. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR ALIGNMENT AND ALTHOUGH THEY ADJUST IT, RIGHT PULL PERSISTS. SOMETIMES, STEERING HAS A FEEL AS THOUGH CAR IS ERRATIC. CAR NEVER SETTLES INTO TACKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHICH SEEMS VERY ODD AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
Apr 16, 2013
SEATS
3 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT UPHOLSTERY BEGAN FALLING APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Oct 24, 2014
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MADE A SHORT STOP AND BOTH SECTIONS OF THE BACK SEAT UNLOCKED AND CAME DOWN/FORWARD. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS SITTING IN THEM. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE TRUNK THAT WOULD HAVE SET OFF THE UNLOCKING BARS. *TR
Dec 13, 2012
RECENTLY I DROVE SEVERAL NEW CARS (THE LATEST BEING THE 2012 PASSAT) AND FOUND ONE COMMON COMPLAINT: THE HEADREST ON THESE CARS ARE TILTED FORWARD WAY TOO MUCH WITH NO ADJUSTMENTS AVAILABLE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NHTSA REQUIRES VEHICLES HEADRESTS TO BE HIGHER AND CLOSE TO THE HEAD TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURIES. HOW DO YOU IMPROVE SAFETY IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION? THE NEW HEADREST REGULATION FORCES THE DRIVER TO SLOUCH FORWARD (AND LOOKING DOWN) WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING FATIGUE TO SET QUICKLY. FOR ME, THE ONLY WAY TO FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHILE DRIVING THESE NEW CARS ARE BY RECLINING THE SEAT BACK EXCESSIVELY (SO MY HEAD DON'T TILT FORWARD). THIS, IN MY OPINION, AREN'T SAFE SINCE THIS POSITION REDUCES THE DRIVER'S ALERTNESS. WITH THE ACTIVE HEADREST TECHNOLOGY, WHY CAN'T CAR MANUFACTURER'S SET THE HEADREST AT A NORMAL ANGLE? IN MY OPINION THE NEW HEAD REST REGULATION IS AN EASY AND LAZY WAY TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURY WITHOUT PROPER RESEARCH (I.E ONLY BASED ON MEASUREMENTS WITH NO REGARDS TO DRIVER'S COMFORT). *TR
Jan 09, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3 complaints
ON TUESDAY, 24 JUNE, I DROPPED OFF OUR 2012 VW PASSAT AT A VW DEALER FOR ITS 2 YEAR / 20K MILE SERVICE WITH 15,100 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AN ELECTRICAL WIRING RECALL REGARDING HEADLIGHTS AND THE HOOD WAS PERFORMED ON THE PASSAT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHIN AN HOUR OF LEAVING THE DEALER AND AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES FROM THE DEALER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND HER SISTER WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS RAINING HARD ENOUGH THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE HIGHWAY LANE MARKINGS AND MY WIFE WAS CONCENTRATING ON FOLLOWING THE CAR LIGHTS IN FRONT OF HER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SECOND LANE FROM THE RIGHT OF A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. THEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING FROM DASHBOARD LIGHTS OR SOUNDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT DARK, AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. MY WIFE'S SISTER SAW THE CAR CLOCK DIALS SPIN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN STOP AT 9:00. ALL POWER WAS OUT IN THE PASSAT. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING DOWN FOUR LANES OF HIGHWAY WITHOUT POWER. AS THE PASSAT SLOWED DOWN, MY WIFE KEPT THE CAR POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT IS HARD TO DETERMINE IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED BECAUSE MY WIFE WASN'T TRYING TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY MUCH. AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A HIGHWAY EXIT, THE HIGHWAY LANES BEGAN TO DIVERGE AS THE RIGHT LANE EXITED THE HIGHWAY, THE SECOND LANE FROM THE RIGHT SLIT WITH AN OPTION TO EXIT TO THE RIGHT OR REMAIN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE TWO LEFT LANES REMAINED ON THE HIGHWAY. BY MAINTAINING A STRAIGHT TRAJECTORY, MY WIFE MANEUVERED THE PASSAT INTO THE MEDIAN SEPARATING THE HIGHWAY FROM THE OFF-RAMP. THE PASSAT ROLLED TO A STOP, DEAD IN THE MEDIAN. WHILE NO OTHER POWER WAS AVAILABLE IN THE PASSAT, THE HAZARD FLASHING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONAL. *TR
Jul 03, 2014
BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED (ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS). THE FIRST IN 2013 (RIGHT SIDE) IN WHICH DEALER REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT VW WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT HOUSINGS. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT DECIDED TO DO A "COURTESY" FIX. IN APRIL OF 2014 THE LEFT LIGHT FAILED AND THE VW DEALERSHIP SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND THEN "APPLY" FOR A REFUND WHEN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN CAME OUT. THEY HAVE HAD A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR OVER 18 MONTHS AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. NO LIGHTS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR
May 03, 2014
VEHICLE, WHILE AT SPEED AT NIGHT, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST LOW BEAM ILLUMINATION FROM THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE FACTORY LIGHT BULB REVEALED NO FAULTS: FILAMENT WAS INTACT AND RESISTANCE (OHM) COULD BE MEASURED ACROSS TERMINALS. INSTALLATION OF A NEW VW BULB DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS FACTORY STOCK AND UNMODIFIED. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS WHAT APPEARS TO BE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT DEFORMATION OF THE BULB RETENTION HARDWARE. ON-LINE SEARCH REVEALS NUMEROUS IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS POSTED BY OTHER PASSAT OWNERS, AFFECTING BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES VW DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE RECTIFIED BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
Jan 15, 2014
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 complaints
Any time it rains and the car goes through a deeper than surface level puddle/wet area where the nose of the car has to dip down (think by railroad tracks, high water retention areas with lack of drainage, etc) as soon as the car dips down into the water, the steering wheel will lock up and I am unable to turn. It's severely dangerous as there is no give at all to the wheel as it is solidly locked and if you happen to be taking a curve or changing lanes etc, you will not be able to turn the car. My husband and myself have narrowly escaped severe car accidents as this is random and there is nothing you can do except try to force the wheel to turn. When I say the wheel is locked, it's a good 15-20 seconds of desperation trying to turn the wheel before it finally unlocks and I am able to correct the direction of the car. Living in FL with high rainfall chances, including sporadic downpours that unfortunately leave situations like this to occur often, it is a severe safety risk for myself and for other drivers. I have been lucky so far that when this has occurred I have been able to eventually correct the steering, however there have been several severe near misses that are completely out of my control. Please help find a solution, as there doesn't seem to be a fix for this anywhere that I've looked. I do not want to spend money I don't have taking it from dealership to dealership for them to be just as stumped as we are. I have two young kids and not only do I not feel safe letting them in the car, I seriously dread any time it rains because of this issue. I'm not talking about driving through deep bodies of water, but normal rainy weather situations on everyday roads that are otherwise uneventful. Unfortunately I am in an area where water seems to gather quite a bit on the everyday roads I need for work and this situation is truly unavoidable. I put one date below as when it occurred, but it has happened several times in the last week alone due to heavy rains
Sep 07, 2023
MY VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF ONCE STARTED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND THE IGNITION BECOME STUCK AND I CAN NO LONGER TURN MY CAR OFF. SINCE MY CAR CAN'T TURN OFF, IT WILL BE ON FOR HOURS ON END UNTIL THE GAS RUNS OUT OR UNTIL I GET SOMEONE TO CUT THE BATTERY TO MAKE THE CAR STOP RUNNING. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE I WAS AFFRAID TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE AND NOT BE ABLE TO TURN MY CAR OFF FOR HOURS ON END. I FEEL I AM NOT ABLE TO USE MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND IS NOT EVEN 10 YEARS OLD. I FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO USE.
Sep 03, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS
2 complaints
My airbag light is on. Had a test done and it also indicated airbag problem. My car was supposedly repaired of this defect some time ago, but here we are. Also when entering my VIN for any recall; it lists defective light. Previous work done by Audi/VW of Jackson, Ms. On 12/9/22 the airbag indicator light and service light is on.
Dec 12, 2022
TAKATA RECALL AND HEADLAMP SOCKET RECALL.
Sep 01, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE WORK DONE ON THE THROTTLE BODY THREE TIMES BEFORE THIS REPAIR. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING, I HAVE HAD CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT COME ON ALONG WITH THE EPC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER THE LIGHTS COME ON, I CAN DRIVE ABOUT A MILE BEFORE I LOOSE COMPLETE POWER AND CANNOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 15MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN. THE DEALERSHIP IS RECOMMENDING A FULL THROTTLE REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH THE VACUUM PUMP. I HAD A COMPLETE THROTTLE REPLACEMENT IN 2018 AND HAVE ONLY PUT 6,000 MILES ON THE CAR SINCE THAT TIME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND POSSIBLY RECALLED.
Mar 16, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE HEEL OF HER SHOE WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE FLOOR MAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY AND THE POTENTIAL RISK OF BECOMING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
Sep 10, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Jul 08, 2020
SCENARIO: 1. CAR STATIONARY IN GARAGE 2. WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START 3. RADIO AND ACCESSORIES WORKING FINE 4. SMELT A LOT OF GASOLINE AND STOPPED CRANKING THE CAR 5. LARGE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE HAD SPILLED ON THE GARAGE FLOOR ACTIONS: 1. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WOULD NOT TOW THE VEHICLE AS IT SPILLED GASOLINE WHEN LIFTED 2. FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE HOSE FROM THE FUEL TANK IN TO THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD COME LOOSE 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS THAT THE CABLE WAS NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT POTENTIAL FAULTY PART DETAILS: 1. HOSE IS BLACK IN COLOR 2. HOSE IS TUCKED INSIDE A BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED NO DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING ON MY VEHICLE 4. FIRE DEPARTMENT HEARD A DISTINCT CLICK WHEN THEY PUSHED THE HOSE IN TO THE FUEL SYSTEM 5. DUE TO #4, FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS THAT THE CABLE WAS NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT STRONGLY ADVISE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 OWNERS TO CONTACT THEIR DEALER TO GET THE HOSE AND FUEL SYSTEM ASSEMBLY CHECKED OUT AND URGE NHTSA TO OPEN A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR
May 04, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints
CLOCK SPRING FAILURE RESULTING IN AIRBAG, STEERING WHEEL CONTROL, AND HORN MALFUNCTION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG ISSUE WITH OTHER VW OWNERS BY DOING A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH.
Jul 13, 2018
TAKATA RECALL A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I HAD RECALL 15V483000 COMPLETED ON MY 2012 PASSAT. I WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUES SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, WIPERS TURNING ON FOR NO REASON. IT SEEMED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN SINCE BOTH OF THESE FEATURES ARE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED NO FURTHER ISSUES UNTIL TODAY. I MADE A U-TURN AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HASN'T WENT OFF SENSE. I'M CONCERNED AFTER READING ABOUT SHRAPNEL AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
Jun 03, 2016
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE KEY TO FRACTURE INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
May 24, 2016
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.
May 11, 2015
AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
2 complaints
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
Feb 11, 2016
THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH FROZE SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN THIS YEAR AFTER DOING IT THREE TIMES LAST YEAR. THE LATCH FROZE EVERY TIME THERE WAS MOISTURE (FOG, SNOW ,RAIN, ETC.) AND THE TEMPERATURE FELL BELOW 32 F. THE LATCH WAS FINALLY REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAGS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Jan 30, 2014
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints
WHEN I START THE CAR, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PROCEED TO PUT THE CAR IN D (DRIVE) OR R (REVERSE). THE CAR ACCELERATES IMMEDIATELY EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IS TO ALLOW THE CAR TO WARM-UP FOR 30 TO 45 SECONDS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD AS LONG AS IT DOES GO OVER 11 RPMS IT SHOULD BE OKAY. THEN WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE FORGOT TO LET THE THE CAR WARM-UP AND ALMOST RAN INTO MY GARAGE DOOR OR WHATEVER OBJECT THAT WAS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. ALSO, BECAUSE MY SPOUSE DOES NOT DRIVE THE CAR OFTEN, HE TENDS TO FORGET TO LET THE VEHICLE WARM-UP AND AS A RESULT ALMOST HIT A CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HIM. IF I LET ANYONE DRIVE THE CAR, I TELL THEM TO LET THE CAR WARM-UP BEFORE THEY DRIVE OFF. I DO THIS BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER WILL BE OVERCOME BY THE IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION AND LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY AND SHOULD BE RE-EVALUATED. ALSO, THE BRAKES SQUEAK AND I HAVE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THEM OUT EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR FOR THE 10K MAINTENANCE. EACH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR. I HOPE THAT IF THERE IS A DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM, IT CAN BE RESOLVED. IF NOT, I WILL TRADE THE CAR FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I WOULD HATE FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE TO BE SOLD TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER WITH THE EXISTING DESIGN. *TR
May 26, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AND THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED IN THE TEST VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ
Feb 28, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints
CAR WAS SLUGGISH TO GO WHEN ACCELERATING, JERKING. *TR
Apr 21, 2014
THE CAR WAS STARTED TO GO TO LUNCH, OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS +4. IT WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AT LOW SPEED TO THE INTERSTATE. AFTER ACCELERATING UP THE ON-RAMP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TURBO FAILED CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. LUCKILY THERE WAS ENOUGH MOMENTUM AND VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ON IT'S OWN POWER AT THIS POINT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, TAKING THREE WEEKS. *TR
Mar 26, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
2 complaints
I LEFT MY HOME AND DRIVE MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES AT SPEEDS AT OR UNDER 25 MPH. I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. WHEN I ACCELERATED THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND I COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO GO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. LATER THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PREMATURE TURBO FAILURE. IF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I MAY HAVE BEEN IN DANGER OR ENDANGERED OTHER MOTORISTS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS BEING MORE FREQUENTLY REPORTED ON INTERNET FORUMS AND MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING TURBO FAILURES AT LOW MILES. *TR
Mar 02, 2014
IF I AM DRIVING WITH NO ACCELERATION (COASTING) AND STEP ON THE GAS TO ENTER TRAFFIC THERE IS NO POWER; NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BOTH IN TOWN WHEN TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS ON THE FREEWAY TRYING TO CUT IN BETWEEN CARS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE LOTS OF ROOM BETWEEN CARS. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE I AM NOT USED TO DRIVING A CAR WITH A DIGITAL THROTTLE. *TR
May 30, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,ENGINE
2 complaints
I DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I GOT A FLASHING LIGHT ON MY DASH, QUICKLY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO FEEL SHAKY AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET BUT THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST VW DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TELLING ME IT WAS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE (HPFP) THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE AND THAT BECAUSE A PART HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THE WORK REQUIRED WAS EXTENSIVE, IT WOULD TAKE THEM ABOUT A WEEK. I DID GET MY CAR IN ABOUT 5 DAYS AND ALL REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER HOW MUCH THE JOB WOULD HAVE COST WITHOUT WARRANTY AND HE SAID IT WAS ABOUT A $5,700 JOB! IT APPALLED ME THAT HE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY THE HPFP FAILED SO EARLY INTO THE CAR'S LIFE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE IS A SENSE OF UNEASINESS THAT I HAVE NOW WONDERING IF THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Sep 20, 2013
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ONCE, NO OTHER WARNING OTHER LIGHTS FLASHED AND THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS WARNING LIGHTS TO FLASH. SUDDENLY THE CAR HESITATED AND THEN MY SPEED DROPPED TO 0 IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. LUCKILY, THE TRANSPORT TRUCKS BEHIND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION AND ACTUALLY BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SAFELY ROLL ONTO THE SHOULDER. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE; I WAS LUCKY. WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE A CAR THAT YOU NOW FEEL IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE! VW SHOULD HAVE TO BUY THIS CAR BACK. *TR
Jun 08, 2013
ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1 complaint
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking an unknown fluid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vacuum pump, oil pan, and the gaskets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 193,211.
Oct 25, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
I heard a loud crack while turning my steering wheel and now I have an "Airbag Error" message and the controls on my steering wheel do not work. Is this related to the Airbag recall? Is it the Steering Wheel Clock Spring?
May 07, 2022
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaint
Lost power reconnect batter n steering locked
Apr 26, 2022
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 complaint
I was driving this particular day through a busyfour way stoplight intersection around time school was dismissing so 3:30ish PM. And I lost all power to my vehicle with just the battery light flashing once. I barely made it out of the i intersection and to the shoulder of the road as there was no power steering and i had to pump my breaks to stop. I called the local police and let them know it would be towed tomorrow morning. The tow bill was 100 dollars and i had replaced the battery thinking it was the problem. The brand new battery drained in two minutes tops after install alternator was tested and fuses were in working order all except for one that went to my12 volt charging port which was replaced as well as serpentine belt was replaced with alternator test. The battery still drains instantly and when speaking with volkswagon suntrup in sunset hills st. Louis which is the nearest Volkswagen dealership about 30 minute drive my car still is under a dealership warranty for the national emissions recall that was just fixed after i purchased the vehicle. The dealership refuses to come get/ fix/ diagnose or rectify vehicle although admitting to knowing this year has parasitic draws instally killing a brand new battery even while driving was/is a very dangerous situation for me and my family. This car has been sitting in my drive way now for 6 months while nothing is being by vw and i am without safe or working transportation for my family. Ive also been told by vw. That they cant find some parasitic draws and are confused as me!
Feb 24, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BREAKS WITHOUT THE OPERATOR REALIZING IT, RESULTING IN A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATOR AND SECURITY OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE IS USING VW CODE SCANNERS, OTHERWISE, THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS TRAITS TO AN UNSUSPECTING OWNER THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. VW DEALER NEAR BY ESTIMATES THE REPAIR AT $400 AND REGULARLY KEEPS THE PART IN STOCK DUE TO THIS ISSUE.
Nov 04, 2020
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
1 complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL LOOSE DRIVING POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AS WELL AS EPC LIGHT. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE WHOLE THROTKE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS A DEALER ONLY PART, WHEN THE MECHANIC SHOP CALLED TO ORDER THE PART FROM THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND THAT IT COULD BE 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE A PART WAS AVALIABLE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP A WEEK LATER THE PART WAS STILL ON BACK ORDER, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD OVER 200 ON A LIST WAITING FOR THIS PART, AND TO KEEP CALLING BACK TO ASK ABOUT THE STATUS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE SINCE JULY 2020, AND AS OF TODAY 10/22/2020, ACCORDINF TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE IS STILL NO ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME THAT THIS PART EILL BE AVAILABLE. I FELL THAT IF THERE IS THAT MANY THAT IF THEY DO IN FACT HAVE OVER 200 WAITING FOR THE PART THEN THERE MUST BE SOMTHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE CURRENT PART THAT IS ON THE VEHICLE.
Oct 22, 2020
STEERING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
WAS DRIVING FINE ONE DAY AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK I DROVE IT...STARTED TO SEE LEAKS UNDER MY CAR AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE AC ON. IT GOT HARD TO TURN...FELT STIFF. WAS NOTICING THAT I WAS STARTING TO PAY MORE IN POWER STEERING FLUID TO KEEP MY CAR GOING. CONSIDERING I ONLY HAD IT 3MONTHS SINCE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM.
May 03, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
1 complaint
HEATER COR CLOGGED. THE VEHICLE HAS 78XXX MILES. ON THE VOLKSWAGEN FORMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ALSO IN OTHER YEARS. IT IS THE SAME PART USED
Feb 18, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
THE ABS/ESC AND/OR BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AT VARIOUS TIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THEN WOULD TURN OFF AFTER AN IGNITION KEY CYCLE. (THESE ARE THE EXACT PROBLEMS THAT VW HAD WITH ABS MODULES IN EARLIER MODELS. I AM NOT POSITIVE IF THIS IS TRUE BUT WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THOSE MODELS, I READ THAT THESE ABS MODULE ISSUES TYPICALLY CAME UP AFTER 105,000 TO 110,0000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS JUST NOW WITH IN THAT RANGE) AFTER TAKING IT TO A SHOP, THE MECHANIC NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE, TOTALING AROUND $1200. NOTE: DATE LISTED IS AN APPROXIMATE DATE
Dec 19, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST KILLED ME AND MY DAUGHTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT BUT IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. I THINK IT COULD WELL BE THE STARTER AS MANY 2011 BUILD VW PASSATS WERE AFFECTED.
May 19, 2019
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaint
MY STARTER HAS BEEN NOT WORKING IVE REPLACED IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH ORIGINAL PARTS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC & HE TOLD ME THIS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH IS WHY MY STREERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED UP THAT IT DOESNT READ THE KEY. ALSO RECENTLY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING ON & OFF TELLING ME ERROR CHECK BRAKES , ERROR CHECK TIRES & MY RADIO KEEPS TURNING ON & OFF, ALSO MY LIGHTS FROM INSIDE THE CAR DONT WORK. YESTERDAY MY CAR DIDNT WANT TO PUT THE WINDOWS UP & AFTER MY CAR DIDNT WANT TO TURN ON & MY KEY WOULDNT COME OUT OF THE KEY HOLE. IT TURNED OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A STREET GOING UP A HILL I HAD TO BREAK SO FAST BECAUSE IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. SO I TOWED IT HOME & NOW IT DOESNT TURN ON AT ALL OR WORK.
Apr 25, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
TAKATA RECALL. 2017 HAD AIRBAG RECALL COMPLETED, NO ISSUES PRIOR TO RECALL. AFTER RECALL, HORN SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, AND CAN'T BE SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX, IDENTIFIES AS NEW PROBLEM. CHANGED CLOCK SPRING TO FIX HORN ISSUE FOR $500, HORN NOW INTERMITTENTLY SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, AND CRUISE CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK.
Jan 22, 2019
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
MY CAR HAS 59900 MILES, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, I CAN NOT TURN OFF MY CAR NOW. I SEARCHED ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE TO VW CARS, MANY VW OWNERS COMPLAIN THE KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION AND CAN NOT TURN OFF ENGINE, THEY HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO DEALER TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH.
Aug 13, 2018
STEERING,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
ON 01/10/18 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SOME RECALLS. ON 05/22/18, I HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALL OF THE STEERING-MOUNTED CONTROLS FAILED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND CAN HEAR THE NOISES MOST WHEN TURNING. BASED ON MY RESEARCH AND TALK WITH OTHER VW DRIVERS, IT APPEARS TO BE THE CLOCK SPRING (WHICH HAD A RECALL ON IT, AND WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED). I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, DOES THIS NOT INDICATE THE RECALL PERFORMED FAILED? THAT BEING SAID, I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AROUND IN A VEHICLE THAT SAYS MY AIRBAG WONT DEPLOY IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT.
May 25, 2018
STEERING,AIR BAGS,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING NOISE. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NIELLO VOLKSWAGEN (2701 ARDEN WAY, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIRS WERE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED; THEREFORE, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,789. *JS *TT
Mar 21, 2018
WHEELS
1 complaint
CAR BEGAN VIBRATING AND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.
Jan 13, 2018
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
TAKATA RECALL: I PHONED VW CUSTOMER CARE ON 08/10/2016 REQUESTING A RECALL LETTER BUT NEVER RECEIVED IT. I REPORTED THIS TO JONATHAN BRADLEY/HALLMARK VW USED CAR SALESMAN. I REPORTED TO GOSSETT VW SERVICE AGENT JEFF WHO SAID MY RECALL DATE WAS 09/30/2017. 08/25/2017 AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED THIS ONE TIME. THE LOW TIRE INDICATOR CAME ON 09/13/2017 SO I DROVE TO GOSSETT TO HAVE MY TIRES INFLATED. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT RE-SET THE INDICATOR IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT PER JENNIFER OSBOURN/SERVIDE AGENT AS IT WAS LOCKED. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR AGAIN ON 09/16/17 THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, SEAT BELT PRETENSIOR & LOW TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. GOT APPOINTMENT ON 09/22/17 TO HAVE THEIR WORK INSPECTED. I ALSO ASKED FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REPAIR THE TAKATA AIRBAG. ON 09/22/17 GOSSETT REFUSED TO TOUCH THE CAR UNLESS I PAID THEM $140.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. FOLLOWING THE DIAGNOSTIC I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ANOTHER $140.00 TO CLEAN DIRT FROM THE SHORT TO THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. NO PROBLEMS EXISTED PRIOR TO THE 09/13/ VISIT TO INFLATE THE TIRES. TOTAL PAID WAS $340.41. FOLLOWING THIS VISIT THE RE-SET IS INOPERABLE, THE LOW TIRE INDICATOR, SEAT BELT, AIRBAG AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND FLASH IN AND OUT DURING DRIVING. THE ESP/ABS LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE PANEL ON THE DASH COMES ON, THE FUEL FILLER FLAP DOOR IS MALFUNCTIONING IN THE REVERSE ORDER FOR THIS YEAR VEHICLE, ERROR AIRBAG AND ERROR ESP/ABS WARNINGS COME ON. ON 09/22/17 MY VEHICLE WAS RETURNED WITH BROKEN OFF PART # VW 8E038813348E>ABS< FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. REPORTED VIA MAIL TOAL GOSSETT/CEO, VW CUSTOMER CARE LIVE CHAT, TELEPHONE TO JENNIFER OSBORN/SERVICE AGENT, DWAYNE HILL/SERVICE MANAGER GOSSETT GERMANTOWN. TUESDAY, 10/17/I RECEIVED A CALL FROM JASON TRIPP BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM TO DATE.
Oct 19, 2017
VISIBILITY,VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 complaint
WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY DEFROST/DEFOG FAILURE: DEFROST FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. NO HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. CAUSES ICE ACCUMULATION ON WINDSHIELD AND FOGS UP DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAT. CAUSES SAFETY AND DRIVE-ABILITY ISSUES IN COLD AND EXTREME COLD WEATHER. HEATER CORE FAILURE MATCHES SIMILAR FAILURE REPORTED NHTSA ID #10079822. REPAIR IS THE EXACT SAME AS NHTSA ID #10079822 AS WELL AS SAME REPAIR REPLACEMENT PART. SHOP ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SAME PART MANUFACTURE FAILURE EXISTS BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VIN. VW NEEDS TO EXPAND PART FAILURE TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES WITH SAME FAILING PART. FAILED PART NUMBER 561.819.031.A AND REPLACED WITH 561.819.031.B. DIAGNOSIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE 2013 GASOLINE PASSAT. I HAVE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THIS REPAIR IS ONLY BEING OFFERED FOR GASOLINE CARS AND NOT THE DIESEL CARS. I CANNOT CONFIRM BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DIESEL RECALL. THIS IS ROTTEN I AM NOT OFFERED A FIX FOR THE EMISSIONS AND THEY WILL BUY MY CAR BACK BUT I WOULD TAKE A LOSS OF $3000. IN THE MEAN TIME THEY ARE NOT OFFERING EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIRS OR ARE ONLY OFFERING THEM ON GASOLINE FUELED CARS. *TR
Jan 27, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
VEHICLE STUMBLES AND HESITATES DURING COLD STARTS AND CLEARS UP AFTER APPROX 10 MINUTES. CONSISTENTLY OCCURS DAILY ESSENTIALLY SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DEALER, BUT THEY INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG AND NO ERRORS SEEN IN COMPUTER. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ONLINE FROM HUNDREDS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN APPEARS TO NOT BE RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THE CONCERN IS BUCKING, CHOCKING AND HESITATION BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF YOU NEED TO SPEED UP TO AVOID A VEHICLE OR CROSSING INTERSECTIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD...SAFETY IS A CONCERN AND HAS BEEN....I DID BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND LEFT WITH DEALER FOR 1 WEEK...THEY CLAIMED THE TECHN FOUND NO ISSUE....WHEN I PICKED VEHICLE UP IT IMMEDIATELY HAD HESITATION, JERKY BUCKING ISSUE....NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Oct 10, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
1 complaint
FIRST THE GLOW PLUGS WERE BAD. WITHIN THE SAME YEAR I HAD AN ISSUE WITH DIESEL PARTICULATES AND NOW THE ADBLUE HEATING ELEMENT!!! ALL ISSUES OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, LITERALLY FELT MY LIFE WAS IN JEOPARDY. HOWEVER AFTER HAVING TO COME OUT THE POCKET WITH NOW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I FEEL LIKE THE COMPANY IS RAPING ME!!!
Sep 22, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
MY 13 PASSAT SE 2.5 STARTED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE LOCKS IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS 10MPH THE DOOR WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. AFTER THIS HAS HAPPENED AND I COME TO A STOP LIGHT OR SLOW DOWN BELOW 10MPH AND THEN SPEED UP AGAIN, THE REAR PASSENGER LOCK TRIES TO LOCK ITSELF AGAIN.
Jun 03, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
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.
Mar 14, 2016
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
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.
Nov 17, 2015
POWER TRAIN,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1 complaint
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.
Nov 09, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE
1 complaint
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.
Sep 22, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaint
MY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT ON. ALL IT SAYS IS "ERROR: AIR BAGS" "ERROR: BRAKES"
Sep 12, 2015
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
1 complaint
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
Aug 06, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
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.
Jul 08, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
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 $750.00 TO REPLACE. ALL THE EFFICIENCY OF TDI JUST WENT UP IN SMOKE. HAPPENED AT 4,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY 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. *TR
Apr 17, 2015
STRUCTURE,ENGINE
1 complaint
2012 VW PASSAT WITH NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS BEGINS SPUTTERING/FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT. CAR WAS DRIVEN APX. 1/4 MILE BACK HOME, WHERE IT BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE. ENTIRE ENGINE BURNT OUT. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NHTSA INVESTIGATED PASSAT'S FAULTY IGNITION COILS YET DID NOT ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE...BUT IF THE ENGINE CATCHES ON FIRE...WITH ALL THE COMBUSTIBLES IN A CAR...ONE WOULD THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE UNSAFE. GLAD MY 4 YEAR OLD WAS NOT WITH ME. *TR
Jan 20, 2015
STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1 complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 03/04/15*LJ UPDATED 10/15/2015*JS
Jan 07, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
VW HAS NO TRACTION CONTROL (NOT STABILITY CONTROL) BUTTON TO DEFEAT THE SYSTEM AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEN THERE IS SNOW AND ICE ON AN INCLINE OF ANY DEGREE, THIS IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. IT RETARDS THE POWER THE CAR DELIVERS BY APPLYING BRAKES TO WHEELS THAT ARE SLIPPING. I WAS ON A HILL AND THE CAR WAS REDUCED TO 3-6 MILES PER HOUR WITH CARS BEHIND ME AND ONCOMING. IT IS DESIGNED AS A SAFETY SYSTEM BUT IS DOING THE OPPOSITE ON SLICK INCLINES. PROBABLY A MONEY SAVING MEASURE, BUT PUTS DRIVERS AT RISK. *TR
Jan 05, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
FOLLOWING A 40K SERVICE FOR MY 2012 PASSAT TDI MY WIFE CALLED ME AND SAID WHEN SHE PUSHED THE START BUTTON, IT TOOK AN EXTRA TRY BEFORE IT STARTED. I DISMISSED THIS AS I THOUGHT MAYBE SHE DIDN'T HAVE HER FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE. THEN LATER IN THE WEEK SHE SAID IT TOOK 4 PUSHES OF THE BUTTON BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START. I TOLD HER NEXT TIME VIDEO TAPE THE ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING WEEK HER CAR BROKE DOWN AT THE MALL - NOTHING WOULD WORK. WHEN I GOT THERE, I PLAYED WITH THE PARKING LEVER, NO GOOD. THEN I PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR STARTED. I DROVE TO VW AND THEY SAID THE CLEAN ALL THE CONNECTERS ON THE START/STOP SWITCH AND DIDN'T SEE ISSUE AS CAR WAS WORKING FINE, BUT WOULD ORDER NEW SWITCH AND COVER FOR ME. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DID IT AGAIN, AND I VIDEO TAPED THE INCIDENT AS WELL TO SHARE WITH THE DEALER. AGAIN, IT STARTED IN NEUTRAL. I TOOK A CHANCE AND WENT OUT AGAIN THAT EVENING FIGURING THIS NEUTRAL THING WOULD WORK AND GUESS, WHAT - WAS COMPLETELY STUCK AFTER THE DEALER TOLD ME THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART WAS JUST PRECAUTIONARY. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR A WEEK. THEY CHANGED THE SWITCH THIS MORNING AND GUESS THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY ARE NOW ORDERING A HPFP!!!! I KNOW IT IS POSSIBLE THAT 2 ISSUES COULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON, BUT THE WHOLE TIME I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T THINK THE SWITCH MADE SENSE. ANYWAY, CHALK UP ANOTHER HPFP FOR VW. FRUSTRATED CUSTOMER! *TR
Oct 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE
1 complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN...UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF UPDATED 6/18/2015*JS
Aug 26, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MULTIPLE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. *TR
Aug 13, 2014
TIRES,WHEELS
1 complaint
WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2012 VW PASSAT WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H426 TIRES. THE OPTIMO H426 TIRES THAT CAME INSTALLED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE THE TIRES HAVE A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OF 60,000 MILES. SEE LINK BELOW. HTTP://WWW.HANKOOKTIREUSA.COM/SERV/WARRANTY.ASPX?PAGENUM=3&SUBNUM=1&CHILDNUM=1 HANKOOK WARRANTY DEPARTMENT IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY STATE THAT THE PRODUCT ONLY HAS WARRANTY WHEN PURCHASED THROUGH A TIRE SHOP. MY LIMITED WARRANTY PAMPHLET THAT CAME WITH MY CAR DOES NOT STATE THAT THE MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE PRODUCT DOES NOT APPLY. A COPY OF THE WARRANTY CAN BE FOUND AT THE LINK BELOW. HTTP://HANKOOKTIREUSA.COM/SERV/ORIGINALEQUIP.ASPX?PAGENUM=3&SUBNUM=1&CHILDNUM=2 I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IN ASSISTING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS MY TIRES ARE WORN BELOW THE 2/32NDS INCH AND THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY AND I. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Jul 17, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,POWER TRAIN
1 complaint
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF TURBO POWER DURING LOW SPEED ACCELERATION. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO VW OF QUAD CITIES IN DAVENPORT, IA ON 2 MAY 2014. SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED BY A VW SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ON 5 MAY 2014 AND WAS REPORTED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. AGAIN, THE PROBLEM COULD BE REPLICATED AND WAS RETURN TO ME. I DEPARTED THE VW SERVICE AREA AND WHILE DRIVING AWAY THE PROBLEM RESURFACED IN THE VICINITY OF THE VW DEALERSHIP. I RETURNED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND ASKED TO HAVE A TECHNICIAN RIDE WITH ME TO EXPERIENCE THE FAULTY CONDITION. THE VW SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS THEN ABLE TO RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM WITH THE TURBO LOCKING UP A LOW SPEEDS. UPON RETURN FROM THE TEST DRIVE, PARTS WERE ORDERED TO MAKE REPAIRS. I WAS ALLOWED TO DEPART WITH MY IMPAIRED VEHICLE WHILE AWAITING PARTS. THE CAR'S TURBO FAILED AGAIN ON 8 MAY 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:20 AM WHILE APPROACHING THE I-74 BRIDGE OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM IOWA INTO ILLINOIS. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO NOTIFY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I WAS BRINGING THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FOR SERVICE SINCE THE VEHICLE'S PROPULSION WAS SEVERELY RESTRICTED WITHOUT THE TURBO BOOST. *TR
May 15, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
GLOW PLUG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD STARTED BLINKING. MAJOR LOSS OF POWER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP IN FAYETVILLE, NC. PROBLEM REPORTED TO BE FAILED TURBO. *TR
May 12, 2014
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
1 complaint
WHINING SOUND WHEN DRIVING FORWARD NOT WHEN IT'S COASTING AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SLIPPING. CAUGHT BEFORE COMPLETE TURBO FAILURE. CAUSE REPORTED BY DEALER: VERIFIED, FOUND METALLIC WHINE NOISE UNDER BOOS. RAN GFF AN FOUND P02900 - TURBO UNDER BOOST. *TR
Apr 01, 2014
VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
1 complaint
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT NIGHT. NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME TO KICK UP A ROCK, NO OVERPASSES FOR SOMETHING TO BE THROWN FROM. COMPLETELY RANDOM EXPLOSION. I HEARD A LOUD GUNSHOT SOUND, THEN SMALL GLASS PIECES RAINED DOWN ON MY HEAD AND FACE AND ALL OVER MY THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. LOOKED UP AND HEARD THE SOUND OF WIND AND SAW THE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THEY WON'T REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO VW DIRECTLY AND THEY ARE DENYING THE CLAIM AS WELL. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEY ARE NOT STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT. THEY ARE LUCKY NOBODY WAS INJURED OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. HOPEFULLY THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Jan 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
I WAS IN VERY SLOW BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE AND NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. LIGHTS, RADIO AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS DID NOT SEEM TO BE IMPACTED. AFTER A MINUTE, I TURNED THE CAR ON AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 3 MONTHS. *TR
Nov 08, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 complaint
THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY/HESITATION UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION (2.5L). THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING INTO OR ACROSS TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Oct 20, 2013
SUSPENSION,WHEELS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE "WHEEL HOP" UPON STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ESPECIALLY ON A WET ROADWAY AND A HILL. THE TIRES JUST CANNOT GET TRACTION AND SPIN. AS WELL ONCE THE WHEELS START TO SPIN THE ECS (STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM) CUTS POWER AND APPLIES BRAKING WHICH HAS LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO ECS DISABLE SWITCH AS WITH PREVIOUS MODELS, SO I CANNOT TEMPORARILY DISABLE THE SYSTEM FOR TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE ISSUE. LOSING POWER WHILE PULLING OUT INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND EXPERIENCING A POWER LOSS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR CAME WITH HANKOOK OPTIMA H426 TIRES AND I SWITCHED TO YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR (V RATED) TIRES BELIEVING THE ISSUE WAS THE TIRES. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH 33 YEARS OF DRIVING AND HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING FROM LIGHT ACCELERATION, FEATHERING THE ACCELERATOR, USING THE S MODE OF THE TIPTONIC TRANSMISSION AND USING THE TIPTRONIC CONTROL IN D MODE TO HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN THE LOWER GEAR AND TRYING TO START IN A HIGHER GEAR TO REDUCE THE TORQUE TO THE WHEELS, BUT THE TIPTRONIC WILL NOT ALLOW UPSHIFTING WHEN STOPPED. I RAISED THIS CONCERN WITH THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE WHEEL HOP CAUSING BANGING OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AGAINST THE TRAVEL STOPS. THIS THUMPING AND EXTREME MOVEMENT OF THE SUSPENSION CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE LONGEVITY OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATES "IT IS PERFORMING TO SPECS AS DESIGNED." WELL THEN I THINK THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Jan 10, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
VEHICLE STALLED ON BUSY SURFACE STREET, LOST ALL POWER. REFUSED TO RESTART. TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS FAILED HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Oct 30, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1 complaint
OUR NEW PASSAT HAS PROBLEM CONTROLLING THE CAR WHILE USING REVERSE ON A HILL. IT APPEARS THAT VW HAS TIED THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKING FUNCTION TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE. IF THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE ACCELERATOR IS DISENGAGED THUS ALLOWING THE ENGINE FALL TO AN IDLE AND NOT DEVELOP ANY THRUST. IF THE DRIVER IS USING BOTH FEET TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, RIGHT FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE DEVELOPS NO POWER EVEN IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FULLY. BY RELEASING THE BRAKE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FULLY, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH AT FULL THROTTLE IN REVERSE IN AN OUT OF CONTROL CONDITION UNTIL THE DRIVER REALIZES WHAT IS HAPPENING AND REMOVES THEIR FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME OR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN INJURY OR EVEN A FATALITY. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE VW ENGINEERING STAFF HAS NEVER TRIED PARALLEL PARKING THE PASSAT ON A HILL IN SAN FRANCISCO. VW ENGINEERS SHOULD REMOVE THE SOFTWARE CODE THAT TIES THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE FUNCTION TOGETHER WHILE IN REVERSE OR AT LEAST ACTIVATE IT WHEN THE SPEED IS GREATER THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. IF YOU DONT USE TWO FEET AND ONLY USE ONE, THEN THE HILL HOLD WILL BE EFFECTIVE AND GENERALLY YOU CAN CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS IMPLEMENTATION EXISTS AND WHEN PARKING ON A STEEP HILL, IN A VERY TIGHT SPOT, YOU ALMOST ALWAYS USE TWO FEET TO HAVE TOTAL CONTROL. VOLKSWAGEN ENGINEERS, IN GOOD FAITH, IMPLEMENTED THE NHTSA RECOMMENDATION FOR "BRAKE THROTTLE OVERRIDE". DOCKET NO. NHTSA-2012-0038. PAGE 16 HAS SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON INTENTIONAL "TWO FOOTED USE". THE VW DEALER INVESTIGATED AND OFFERED US A FULL RETURN AND REFUND. WE ARE HOPING THE NHTSA WILL WORK WITH VW TO HELP RECONCILE THIS SOFTWARE ANOMALY.
May 15, 2012
VISIBILITY
1 complaint
MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT S HAS POWER WINDOWS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO OR THREE DAYS OF COLD TEMPERATURES (NIGHTS DOWN TO 5 DEGREES F., AND DAYTIME HIGHS IN RANGE OF 25 DEGREES ON 12/3/11; 20 DEGREES ON 12/4, AND 15 DEGREES ON 12/5), MY POWER WINDOWS HAVE NOW "FROZEN UP", AT ALL FOUR DOOR POSITIONS. THE MOTORS OPERATE--WINDOWS MAKE ABOUT A 1/16TH INCH UP OR DOWN MOVEMENT WHEN YOU TRY THE WINDOW SWITCHES, BUT THE WINDOWS ARE "STUCK" IN THE UP POSITION. I HAVE CALLED THE VW DEALER, AND THEY HAVE SAID "THERE MAY BE SOME MOISTURE IN THERE." NO ICE OR SNOW IS VISIBLE NEAR THE WINDOWS OR THE JOINT WHERE THEY ENTER THEIR RESPECTIVE DOORS. COLORADO WEATHER CONDITIONS OF INTERMITTENT COLD, DRY SNOWS HAVE CALLED FOR BRUSHING OFF SNOW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT SEVERAL INTERMITTENT TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS. THE NEIGHBORS ON MY BLOCK IN A RESIDENTIAL SECTION OF DENVER HAVE NUMEROUS CARS WHICH ARE AND HAVE BEEN SIMILARLY PARKED ON THE SAME CURB IN THE SAME WEATHER AND CONDITIONS-- BMW. NISSAN(S), TOYOTA(S), INFINITY, HONDA, OLDER VW, AND NONE OF THEIR CARS HAVE HAD ANY ISSUE. LIKEWISE, MY PREVIOUS CAR, A 2001 VW PASSAT WAS REGULARLY PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT OVER THE YEARS IN MANY SIMILAR WEATHER CIRCUMSTANCES, WITHOUT SUCH A FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS 2012 VW PASSAT, WHICH IS ALL NEW, AND BUILT IN A NEW US PLANT MAY HAVE UTILIZED SOME TYPE OF INADEQUATE MOTOR SIZE (TOO WEAK TO OVERCOME A SMALL AMOUNT OF FROZEN MOISTURE?) OR POORLY DESIGNED WINDOW RUB STRIPS IN THE DOOR CHANNEL THAT EITHER ADMIT TOO MUCH MOISTURE DOWN INTO THE WINDOW CHANNEL, OR OVERREACT TO ANY FREEZING. IN ANY CASE, HAVING A BRAND NEW CAR THAT CAN'T OR WON'T ALLOW WINDOWS TO OPEN IS VERY FRUSTRATING, AND ALONG MOUNTAIN AND OTHER COLORADO ROADS, A CRASH COULD END UP WITH THE CAR IN RIVER OR LAKE WATER, IN WHICH CASE, LOWERING A WINDOW MAY SAVE A LIFE. *TR
Dec 05, 2011
Frequently Asked Questions
How many problems does the 2012 VOLKSWAGEN Passat have?
The 2012 VOLKSWAGEN Passat currently has 478 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.
What are the most common problems with 2012 VOLKSWAGEN Passat?
The most common problems reported for the 2012 VOLKSWAGEN Passat are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.
Where does this 2012 VOLKSWAGEN Passat problem data come from?
All problem and complaint data for the 2012 VOLKSWAGEN Passat comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.
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