2013 Volkswagen PASSAT: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVING MY PASSAT TURBO DIESEL ON I-81 NOTED A LOSS IN POWER; DROVE THE CAR HOME (ABOUT ANOTHER 3 MILES) AND NOTED A STRANGE HUMMING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NEXT DAY THE SOUND WAS STILL THERE, WITH A BLINKING GLOW PLUG LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SPOKE WITH DEALER AND CAR WAS TOWED IN; TWO WEEKS LATER THE CAR WAS BACK WITH A NEW TURBO IN IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,703 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497969 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CRASH FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE WALL A SECOND TIME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE SCENE AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE HOSPITAL. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498037 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR VIEW CAMERA TAKES 10-15 SECONDS TO START UP NEGATING THE SAFETY IT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE. VW USA NOTIFIED AND WERE NOT HELPFUL AND SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504475 at NHTSA ↗

THE BACKUP CAMERA IS VERY SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE (15-25 SECONDS). FREQUENTLY, THE CAMERA WILL NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETED BACKING UP AND THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, HAVING IDENTIFIED IT IN A VW TECHNICAL BULLETIN. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE IN AUBURN, MI, ABOUT RESOLVING THE ISSUE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM[XXX], DATED 22 APRIL 2013, WHICH STATED: ". . . YOUR VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS PER ITS DESIGNED INTENT. AS SUCH, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A REP…

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510360 at NHTSA ↗

AS MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED ON THIS SITE AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THE BACK-UP CAMERA IS RIDICULOUSLY SLOW TO COME ON. MOST TIMES, I CAN BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, STOP, AND BE GOING FORWARD DOWN THE STREET BEFORE THE BACK-UP CAMERA EVEN COMES ON. AT THAT POINT, I'M DRIVING UP TO A BLOCK AWAY WITH MY BACK-UP CAMERA STILL ON. WHILE MOST OF THE TIME THIS IS SIMPLY AN ANNOYING INCONVENIENCE, IT IS ALSO A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE. ONE OF THE REASONS I BUY CARS WITH BACK-UP CAMERAS IS TO MAKE SURE I'M ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING SMALL (LIKE A CHILD, BIKE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511419 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED THE VW PASSAT IN DECEMBER 2012. I NOTICED WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THE SLOW RESPONSE OF THE NAVIGATION BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN. WHEN SPRING CAME AROUND I STILL SAW THE SLOW RESPONSE AND IT WAS AGITATING ME. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND THE CAMERA STILL DOESN'T COME ON TILL AFTER. AT THE SAME TIME MY SEAT WAS SQUEAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SEAT IS FINE AND THEY WILL ASK ABOUT THE NAVI UNIT. AT ONE POINT THE NAVI RESTARTED WHILE I WA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10512945 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW CAR AND THE PLASTIC OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG IS CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATING. IT HAS FORMED A CRACK THAT IS STARTING AT THE BOTTOM AND FORMING A CIRCLE AROUND THE EMBLEM IN THE CENTER. RESEMBLES A QUESTION MARK. PICTURE OF IT STARTING SHOWN HERE IN THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE EMBLEM. HTTP://S191.PHOTOBUCKET.COM/USER/LIGHTFLYER1/MEDIA/2013%20PASSAT%20TDI%20SEL/IMG_20130603_122923_ZPS5DBE1CA3.JPG.HTML OTHER REPORTED OCCURRENCES AT WWW.TDICLUB.COM HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4206936#POST4206936. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515528 at NHTSA ↗

CAR OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 60MPH REACHED ACROSS THE SEAT THE CAR SWERVED SHE OVER CORRECTED TWICE DUE TO VERY "TOUCHY" STEERING. THE CAR THEN CAREENED ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND DOWN A 30FT EMBANKMENT BOUNCING OFF SEVERAL TREES. THEN STRIKING ONE HEAD ON WITH ENOUGH FORCE AS TO BEND AND PUSH BACK THE FRAME. NONE OF THE FIVE AIR BAGS THIS CAR IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MANY BUMPS AND BRUISES ALONG WITH A SHATTERED ANKLE WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY TO PLACE TWO STEEL PLATES IN HER ANKLE. RECOVERY IS EXPECTED…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523998 at NHTSA ↗

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: 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.