NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
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
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.
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.
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
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 36900 MILES, 900 MILES PASSED THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. THE ERROR CODE READ: P205C (REDUCTANT TANK TEMPERATURE SENSOR). IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE ADBLUE TANK FROM A TDI CAR. ALREADY LOTS OF OWNERS HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL THE OTHER ELECTRONICS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ *JS
TDI ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, HAD THE DEALERSHIP CHECK IT OUT, IT INDICATED A SENSOR FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $1,100.00 DEALERSHIP REDUCED IT TO $430, SAID VW PITCHED IT BECAUSE IT MAY END UP AS A RECALL AND WE WOULD RECEIVE OUR MONEY BACK IF THAT HAPPENS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND HEARD A LOUD POP LIKE A TIRE BLEW OR BELT BROKE OR SOMETHING, THEN I SAW A LOT OF SMOKE, SO I PULLED IN A PARTY STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES BURNT THE ENTIRE ENGINE UP TO A CRISP. I HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THIS TRAUMATIC EVENT. SO PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I NEED ANOTHER CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANKS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO VYLETEL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN. *TR
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
CAR WAS SLUGGISH TO GO WHEN ACCELERATING, JERKING. *TR
HEARD A WHISTLE SOUND FOLLOWED BY SOME SORT OF PUFF AND LOSS OF POWER. TON OF WHITE SMOKE, THOUGHT CAR ON FIRE, PULLED OVER. PEOPLE PASSING BY CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. AFTER CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNED OIL, EXHAUST PIPE COVERED IN OIL, AND OIL DROPS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP NEW TURBOCHARGER IS NEEDED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED SURGING AND REVVING HIGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EPC LIGHT CAME ON. ITS DRIVABLE BUT NOT SAFELY AND NEEDS FIXED ASAP. *TR
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
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
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
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
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ONTARIO VOLKSWAGEN (701 SOUTH KETTERING DR, ONTARIO, CA, 91761) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CARFAX NOT ABLE TO DISPLAY VIN RECORDS UPDATED 9/26/18*JB
EVERY TIME IT IS COLD OUTSIDE MY DOOR LATCH STOPS FUNCTIONING SO I CANT OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. I SPRAYED LUBRICANT IN IT WHICH HELPS SOMETIMES BUT I THINK A NEW CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE A ISSUE LIKE THAT. ALSO WHEN I CAN GET IT OPEN SOMETIMES IT WONT CLOSE. THE ISSUE IS THE ACTUAL LATCH WHICH OF COURSE ISN'T COVERED. PRETTY EMBARRASSING CLIMBING THROUGH A PASSENGER DOOR TO GET IN THE DRIVER SEAT . WHAT HAPPENS IF IM IN A WRECK AND MY DOOR WONT OPEN? WILL I OWN A PART OF VOLKSWAGEN? *TR
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
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
I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST US WHERE IT TENDS TO GET COLDER THAN 0 DEGREES CELSIUS CONSTANTLY DURING WINTER. EVERYTIME IT IS BELOW FREEZING MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH GETS STUCK. THIS IS DEFINITELY A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR VW PASSATS, BUT VW RESPONSE TO FIXING IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO DECEMBER 16TH AND EXPLAINED THAT I NORMALLY WARM UP THE CAR FOR OVER 20 MINUTES(WHILE I WALK MY DOG). THE INITIAL RESPONSE WAS THAT ITS NOT AN ISSUE AND I SHOULD EITHER PARK THE CAR IN A GARAGE WHERE IT WON'T FREEZE OR WARM UP THE CAR LONGER (I FIND THAT ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS). SO I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE GARAGE FOR DECEMBER 16TH. LUCKILY THE WEATHER FORCAST FOR TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 CELSIUS ALL WEEK. HAD THE TEMPERATURE BEEN ABOVE 0 CELSIUS THE LATCH WOULD HAVE WORKED FINE AND YOUR GARAGE WOULD HAVE SAID THERE IS NO ISSUE. THE REASON WHY I HIGHLIGHT THE TEMPERATURE HERE IS BECAUSE THAT IS THE MAIN ISSUE, AND YOUR GARAGES TROUBLESHOOTING AND DIAGNOSTIC METHODS ARE MY BIGGEST CONCERN. I GUARANTEE THAT THERE ARE EVEN MORE CASES OF THIS ISSUE THAT ARE BEING DISMISSED. THE FACT THAT THERE IS NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10559530, FILED BY SOMEONE ELSE PROVES IT. I'M SURE THE FACT THAT I CAN FIND THIS ON NHTSA (NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10559530) MEANS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO ARE JUST NOT REPORTING IT OR DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO. I WILL ALSO BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA, AS WELL. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH, AND THE SERVICE GARAGE TELLS ME THERE IS NO PARTS AVAILABLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS AND IF ITS TRUE I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I ALSO HOPE THAT DURING THE WINTRY WEATHER THE NORTHEAST HAS EXPERIENCED THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS NO ONE WAS INJURED IN A PASSAT WHERE EMERGENCY WORKERS WERE NOT ABLE REACH THE VICTIM (POSSIBLY DUE TO A STUCK DOOR LATCH). THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND THE LACK OF RESPONSE IS CONCERNING. *TR
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
PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, I FELT A CLICK VIBRATION ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASH SCREEN: AIRBAG: ERROR NONE OF THE ELECTRONIC SWITCHES ON THE STEERING COLUMN FUNCTION, NO AIRBAG AVAILABILITY, NO HORN. I TOOK IT TO THE ONION CREEK DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN, TX AND THEY QUICKLY FOUND WHAT WAS A QUICK, BUT EXPENSIVE FIX CAN BE DONE. $700 TO FIX. WHEN I INQUIRED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUESTED THEY COVER THE COST, THEY BALKED. I CONTACTED VW USA, THEY EVENTUALLY AGREED TO COVER 75% OF THE COST, THEN LATER RESCINDED THE OFFER BECAUSE THE LADY AT VW USA DECIDED SHE DIDN'T WANT TO COVER IT AND I HAD NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER. WHEN THEY DID OFFER TO PAY THE 75%, I HAD AGREED TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO NEGOTIATE FOR GREATER COVERAGE, I SUPPOSE SHE DID NOT LIKE THAT. *TR
MY BULB HOLDER MELTED INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CAUSING IT NOT TO WORK AND HAVING ME BUY A NEW BULB SOCKET AND OTHER PARTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING FROM SAN DIEGO, CA TO LOS ANGELES, CA ON I-5 AT 9PM ON OCTOBER 20TH, THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND ONLY LIGHT UP ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE READ ON CAR FORUMS, PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS. ONE INDIVIDUAL FRONTED $800 TO HAVE THE OEM FOG LIGHTS ADDED TO HIS PASSAT, WHICH HE CLAIMED HELPED. VW NEEDS TO FIX THIS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS OR ADD THE FOG LIGHTS TO EVERY 2012+ PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING DURING THE NIGHT ON STREETS WITH LIMITED STREET LIGHTS, ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY PEDESTRIANS, UNLESS I DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON, WHICH I CANT BECAUSE OF ON COMING CARS. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MORE THAN FIVE TIMES FOR AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITH A REPAIR KIT, CONNECTOR, BUMPER, WASHER CAP, FILTER ELEMENT, REFILLED THE OIL AND REPLACED A SCREW HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CHECK OIL, CHECK ENGINE, NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND THE CHECK COOLANT SENSOR WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MADE MULTIPLE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS WITH A MECHANIC TO OBTAIN A DIAGNOSIS TO DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A FUSE OR THE BATTERY. THE POLICE ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT AT FAULT, BUT I WAS T-BONED WITH ALMOST OVER $11,000 IN DAMAGE. THE CASE WAS SETTLED BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF IN THE ACCIDENT AND I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL FOR A STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC CLOCK ISSUE THAT COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM GOING OFF. I ACCRUED OVER $7,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS, AND I OWE OVER $15,000 ON THE VEHICLE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I FEEL I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT ISN'T SAFE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE UPPER AND LOWER BACK WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE BULBS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V125000(HEADLIGHT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,925.
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
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
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
LOSS OF EITHER DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMP(S) AND/OR LOWBEAM HEADLAMP(S) DUE TO LAMP SOCKETS MELTING IN HOUSINGS. 3 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED, ONCE WITH THE DAYTIME LAMPS AND TWICE WITH THE L/S HEADLAMPS. *TR
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
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
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
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
VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT FOUR TIMES ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASTIONS WHEN I COME TO A STOP. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND VW REPORTS CAR CHECKS OUT FINE. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026