2012 Volkswagen PASSAT: complaints, problems and recalls

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 THER…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438686 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10443169 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHARP OBJECT LOCATED NEAR A HANDLE, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE ROOF ON THE INTERIOR, THAT CUT HIS FINGER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THE CUT ON HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER. THE RENTAL FACILITY WAS NOTIFIED AND REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM ITS FACILITY. A REPORT ABOUT THE INCIDENT WAS ALSO FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE RENTAL FACILITY SINCE THE INCIDENT AND DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10445445 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE DOE NOT SHOW THE TRUE SPEED OF THE CAR. SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY 7-8 KMH. @ 100 KMS. VW DOES NOT ACCEPT THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446884 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449528 at NHTSA ↗

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 PASSAT TDI. I REALLY LIKED THE CAR. HOWEVER, I HAVE A SAFETY SUGGESTION THAT MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE IN THE FUTURE. LET ME TELL YOU MY EXPERIENCE. I TOOK POSSESSION ON FEBRUARY 9, 2012. ON MARCH 15, I CAME HOME TO LUNCH AND PULLED IN MY GARAGE. APPARENTLY, I DID NOT HAVE THE BACK TIRES ALL THE WAY IN. OUR DRIVEWAY HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND WAS WATERING SOME FLOWERS. IN A FEW MOMENTS MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE, CURVED AND WENT OFF AN EMBANKMENT AND HIT TREES ON THE WAY DOWN. IT WAS TOTA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10455240 at NHTSA ↗

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 MANUFAC…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,074 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457438 at NHTSA ↗

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 D…

Owner-reported narrative. 32 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459414 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-04-05 (April 5, 2012)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PASSAT VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 18, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 1, 2011. DURING ASSEMBLY, THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENT THAT MAY NOT SEAL CORRECTLY.

Consequence: OVER TIME, OR AFTER CERTAIN DRIVING DISTANCES, THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)

Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

Consequence: A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

Reported: 2015-08-04 (August 4, 2015)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Consequence: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Reported: 2016-03-24 (March 24, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.

Reported: 2017-05-11 (May 11, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

Consequence: If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

Reported: 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Reported: 2018-05-16 (May 16, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Reported: 2019-05-22 (May 22, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

Reported: 2019-12-04 (December 4, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

Reported: 2024-10-30 (October 30, 2024)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.