Volkswagen PASSAT steering problems
768 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
Key facts
7,514 owner complaints analyzed
54 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 4,671 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Steering behavior evidence
768 of 7,514 complaints match this topic (10.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 480626 · 1995-01-14 (January 14, 1995)
MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 856016 · 2000-02-02 (February 2, 2000)
THERE IS FUEL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING: -AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION, THROTTLE STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING -HEATER CORE EXPLODED -BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR -CV JOINTS BAD -TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT OPEN -OIL LEAK -TRANSMISSION FAILURES -EXHAUST PROBLEMS -STARTING PROBLEMS, IGNITION -FRESH AIR CONTROL DOES NOT WORK -STEERING WHEEL LOST SCREWS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 856016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062619 · 2004-03-19 (March 19, 2004)
I WAS STARTING MY 1995 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VR6 (MANUAL), AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE, BUT AS I STARTED TO GET GOING, THE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR INITIATED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH, INCLUDING POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, AND HEADLIGHTS. I FOUND OUT THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA ([phone removed]), AND THEY TOLD ME THAT A RECALL WAS OUT FOR THE 1996 AND 1997 MODELS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO MODEL YEARS AND MY MODEL YEAR IS THE SWITCH IN THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FROM…
Owner-reported narrative. 121,870 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073989 · 2004-05-20 (May 20, 2004)
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. AS RESULT STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. HOWEVER TCONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255029 · 2009-01-14 (January 14, 2009)
BACKUP LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE ACCENT LIGHTS (LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES, WINDOW, A/C & HEATER CONTROLS AND LOCK BUTTONS ETC.) WOULD TURN ON. ALSO IF THE CAR IF THE KEYS WERE TURNED TO THE FIRST NOTCH (STEERING WHEEL UNLOCK) AND THE HEATER VENTS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION BUT NOT BLOWING (DUE TO NO POWER) WHEN YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AIR WOULD START BLOWING... I TRACED IT DOWN TO AN IGNORANT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER DESIGNING THE CAR. THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE LOOMED ON TO THE TRUNK ARM, EVERYTIME THE TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255029 at NHTSA ↗