2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Electrical System Problems

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.

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)

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

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.

CLOCK SPRING FAIL AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON HORN IS NOT WORKING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE CAR LIKETHIS

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?

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, c

Lost power reconnect batter n steering locked

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!

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.

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.

Mileage: 76,000

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.

Mileage: 120,000

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.

Mileage: 77,000

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.

Mileage: 109,000

WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FWY MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY DOOR LOCK ARE KEEP GOING OFF AS IF IM HITING THE LOCK BUTTON

Mileage: 152,000

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.

Mileage: 50,000

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

Mileage: 105,000

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.

Mileage: 93,100

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.

Mileage: 66,000

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.

Mileage: 120,000

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.

Mileage: 67,000

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.

Mileage: 142,000

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.

Mileage: 70,000

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.

Mileage: 85,000

DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAIL TO LOCK CAR DOORS. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON A 2012 VW PASSAT OVER APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS. THERE IS NO OPTION TO LOCK THE DOOR WITH A KEY OR MANUALLY FROM WITHIN CAR. THE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK WHEN USING KEY FOB OR LOCK SWITCH. THE CAR ALARM DOES NOT GO OFF WHEN DOOR IS OPENED AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN LOCKED WITH FOB. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, AFTER EVERY STOP, THE DOORS TRY TO LOCK AGAIN WHEN CAR MOVES. SAFETY ISSUE THAT DOOR IS NOT LOCKED WHEN DRIVING AND ALSO SAFETY ISSUE CANNOT LOCK CAR TO KEEP PEOPLE AND PROPERTY SAFE FROM SOMEONE OUTSIDE..

Mileage: 81,301

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.

Mileage: 78,000

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.

Mileage: 90,500

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.

Mileage: 1

THE EPC LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND EVERYTIME THE CAR IS TAKEN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP THE REPLACE PART BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND IT STALS. SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.

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.

IN MARCH OF 2016 OUR CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED DUE TO A NHTSA MANDATED RECALL. IN OCTOBER OF 2017 OUR AIRBAG WAS REPLACED IN THE TAKATA RECALL. IN JANUARY OF 2018 THE HORN STARTED MALFUNCTIONING WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND AT TIMES WHILE GOING STRAIGHT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN. FUSE WAS PULLED AND THEN REPLACED BY DEALER WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. COULDN'T DUPLICATE ISSUE. SAME ISSUE OCCURRED END OF APRIL. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY INFORMED US THE CLOCK SPRING WAS BROKEN. IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD BE $741 TO FIX. WE DECLINED. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE A RECALLED REPLACEMENT PART HAS FAILED AGAIN IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON DASH WHEN DRIVING. IT APPEARS TO ONLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT OVER 50 MPH. I HAVE HAD CURRENT TAKATA RECALL WARRANTY WORK COMPLETED ALREADY. VOLKSWAGEN SAID THIS IS A SEPARATE ISSUE AND WOULD NOT COVER UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. SPECIFICALLY, THEY SAID THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHILE THIS WARNING LIGHT IS ON IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 46,000

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

Mileage: 47,789

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

Mileage: 80,000

GOT A RECALL ON CLOCK SPRING IN 2016 HAD IT REPAIRED. WENT OUT AND LIGHT IS NOW ON. TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CLOCK SPRING FOR OVER $500. I WAS TOLD IT HAPPENS, BUT I JUST SAW THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION. DEALER TOLD ME THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE.

HAD A CLOCKSPRING FAILURE IN 2012 PASSAT, CAUSING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, AND FAILURE OF ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. HAVE NOTED RECALL FOR THIS ITEM FOR CARS PRODUCED JUST PRIOR TO MINE BASED ON VIN SEQUENCE. VW APPARENTLY DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE IN PRODUCTION BECAUSE I HAVE HAD THE EXACT ISSUE COVERED IN THE RECALL, YET MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. COST WAS OVER $600 FOR REPAIR. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED BASED ON THESE FAILURES AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON REPEAT FAILURES AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE ON MANY CARS. IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS THAT THEIR INITIAL FIX IS NOT A TRUE FIX FOR THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 65,000

CLOCK SPRING FAILURE AFTER RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. 2-8-2018 - UPON STARTING TO DRIVE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL I HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING AIR BAG NOT WORKING, ALL CONTROL SWITCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HORN WAS NOT WORKING. I HAD THE RECALL FOR THE PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING INSTALLED AT THE VW DEALER IN MARCH 2016. VW DEALER AND THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TELL ME THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CLOCK SPRING IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE SINCE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED OVER 12 MONTHS AGO. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THE COVER RECALL FIX WAS NOT THE CORRECT FIX AND POSSIBLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM I NOW HAVE WITH THE CAR. SINCE VW KNEW THERE WAS A RE-DESIGN OF THE CLOCK SPRING TO CORRECT A DESIGN FLAW THE COVER RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO AUTOMATICALLY REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING WITH THE IMPROVED DESIGN. I'M BEING TOLD I'LL HAVE TO PAY $500 TO MAKE THE REPAIR WHICH I FIND VERY UNFAIR IN LIGHT OF THE RE-DESIGN FOR THE PART OR THE POSSIBILITY THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT CORRECT AND MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBELM NOW.

Mileage: 70,900

IN 2016 MY CLOCK SPRING BROKE AND WAS REPLACED AS PART OF THE 2015 CLOCK SPRING RECALL. IN JANUARY 2018 MY CLOCK SPRING WENT OUT AGAIN. I CURRENTLY HAVE AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON, THE HORN IS NOT WORKING, AND ALL CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. THE CLOCK SPRING THAT WAS REPLACED AS PART OF THE RECALL HAS FAILED AND VW REFUSES TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT. THANK YOU

CLOCK SPRING FAILURE AGAIN AFTER RECALL WAS DONE

Mileage: 97,000

I WAS PART OF A RECALL TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM BEFORE, NOW ABOUT THREE MONTH AFTER WE HAD IT DONE THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONICS DO NOT WORK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. ALSO ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS STARTED I NOTICED THE AIR IS NOT BLOWING AS MUCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS ALSO BLOWING COLD WHEN WE ARE CALLING FOR HEAT.

Mileage: 123,000

CLOCK SPRING BROKE AGAIN ON 2012 PASSAT, VW REFUSES TO FIX STATING IT WAS OUT OF THE SPARE PART WARRANTY WHEN THE FIRST RECALL WAS COMPLETED. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS DO NOT WORK, AND FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG PROBABLY WON'T GO IF I AM IN A CRASH. VW IS PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO FOOT THE BILL FOR A BAD PART IN THEIR VEHICLES.

Mileage: 44,000

TWICE THE CLOCK SPRING HAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED UNDER THE 2015 CLOCK SPRING RECALL. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW, FIRST REPLACEMENT AT APPROX 60,000 MILES IN DECEMBER 2014, SECOND REPLACEMENT AT 119,000 MILES TODAY. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD. 5 TIMES (INCLUDING CLOCK SPRING REPAIR) I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR DUE TO WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS

Mileage: 65,000

CLOCK SPRING ON MY VEHICLE BROKE FOR A SECOND TIME DISABLING MY HORN AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON. NOT ONLY IS THIS A COSTLY FIX, BUT MY SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY AGAIN DUE TO A PART THAT IS WIDELY KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR YEARS. FOR SOME REASON MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL AND IT IS VERY UPSETTING. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS VIN IN YOUR RECALL OR EVEN THE DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENTS. I DON'T WANT TO DIE OVER A CAR PART.

Mileage: 125,000

DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSED THE LOCKS TO INITIATE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE PASSED 10 MPH. CAUSED THE DRIVER DOOR TO NO LONGER LOCK, AND DISENGAGED THE ALARM EVEN WHEN OTHER DOORS LOCKED.

Mileage: 60,000

I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO GET THE SPRING WIRE REPLACED BACK WHEN THE RECALL CAME OUT. I WASNT HAVING ANY TROUBLE WITH IT THEN. THEY FIXED IT WITH WHAT I ASSUME WAS A FAULTY SPRING WIRE. SO NOW ALL MY COMPONENTS ON MY STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK, MY HORN DOES NOT WORK AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON WITH IT READING AIRBAG ERROR. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND IT SAYS FAULTY SPRING WIRE, WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY REPLACED IT WITH A GOOD PART AND NOW BECAUSE IVE ALREADY GOTTEN THE RECAL DONE THEY WONT DO IT AGAIN UNDER RECALL.

AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT ON ON DASH. NO HORN, CLOCK OR STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORKING; MAYBE AIR BAG NOT WORKING.STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH CLOCK SPRING. WINTER/SPRING 2017.

Mileage: 72,000

BATTERY GROUND CABLE IS MARKED RED INSTEAD OF BLACK. THE NEW BATTERY WAS HOOKED UP WITH THE RED TO THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND BLEW THE MAIN FUSE AND RUINED THE AMPLIFIER TO THE SOUND SYSTEM. THE BATTERY WAS STATIONARY IN SEARS ROEBUCK SHOP AS THE BATTERY WAS BEING REPLACED BY A MECHANIC. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP SO I HAVE NO PICTURES AS YET. THIS COULD PRODUCE SERIOUS PHYSICAL DAMAGE IF THE BATTERY SHOULD BLOW UP BECAUSE OF THIS WIRING. REPORTED TO VW ON JANUARY 20, 2017.

Mileage: 40,000

ELECTRONIC LOCKS ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO RE-LOCK WHEN VEHICLE REACHES ABOUT 10 MPH. FOR EXAMPLE, IF BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP AT A STREET LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THEN PROCEEDING FORWARD, THE LOCKS WILL TRY TO RE-LOCK AGAIN ONCE VEHICLE REACHES ABOUT 10 MPH. IF YOU ARE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THIS CAN GO ON LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TIMES DURING A SINGLE COMMUTE.

Mileage: 75,000

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 105,000

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!!!

Mileage: 65,000

"TAKATA RECALL" WE ARE DRIVING AROUND IN A DEATH TRAP!! WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS REPAIRED OR GIVEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE IN THE INTERIM?????!!!! ELECTRICAL - ANOTHER DEATH TRAP!! WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS REPAIRED OR GIVEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE?????!!!!! SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER LAWSUIT!!!

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

Mileage: 40,000

I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN A SPACE AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER, AS I WAS ABOUT 18-24 INCHES FROM THE MEDIAN SEPARATING THE CARS IN THE ROW ACROSS FROM ME, MY CAR STARTED REVVING UP, JUMPED THE MEDIAN SIDESWIPED A CAR THAT WAS PARKED ONE SPACE OVER, I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NOT A CAR OPPOSITE ME, IN THAT ROW AND WAS HEADED TOWARDS A THE NEXT ROW OF CARS. I SWIFTLY THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR, SO I HAD TO QUICKLY JERK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, IT STOPPED 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND CUT OFF. I HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED THAT JUST REPAIRED A CHRYSLER CAR THAT DID SOMETHING SIMILAR. THAT CAR AND MINE HAVE A DRIVE - BY - WIRE DESIGN. CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED THEIR CARS TO REPROGRAM THEM. I CONTACTED MY VW DEALER AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I AM JUST I ONLY HIT A CAR AND NOT A PERSON WALKING IN THE PARKING LOT! WHY IS THAT SOMEONE HAS TO DIE BEFORE THESE CAR COMPANIES WILL RECALL A VEHICLE?

IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND I AM TRYING TO LEAVE AND LOCK IT UP BY USING EITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SWITCH OR THE REMOTE, IT WILL NOT LOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, BUT THEY WILL BOTH LOCK THE OTHER THREE DOORS. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND MOVING ONLY A FEW YARDS, THE DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE AS NORMAL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND BOTH REAR SIDE DOORS. BUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SLOWING DOWN TO 5 - 10 MPH (STOP & GO TRAFFIC), ALL THREE OTHER DOOR LOCKS OPENED ON THEIR OWN AND RELOCKED AGAIN AS I SPEEDED UP. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STILL REMAINED UNLOCKED. I FEEL THIS CAN BE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT IF ALL THE DOORS DON'T REMAIN LOCK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

Mileage: 59,400

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER A RECALL, IT BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE EPC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING AND HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND RECALL DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/22/16*LJ *CN

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.

Mileage: 41,000

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.

Mileage: 43,000

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.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

SAFETY RISK: A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIRBAG WILL PREVENT THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH MY LIGHT HAS COME ON WARNING ME MY AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING

OCTOBER 2014 WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY FROM THE STREET AT SLOW SPEED AND HEARD A CRUNCH WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL . AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TURN THE LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG CAME ON AND NONE OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORKED.HAD DEALER REPAIR CLOCK SPRING AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS IN COLUMN.NOVEMBER 2015 WE WERE MAKING A U-TURN ON A PUBLIC ROAD,AT SLOW SPEED , AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN THERE WAS A RESISTANCE IN THE COLUMN AND A CRUNCH , FOLLOWED BY THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND NO STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORKING . THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON , THERE IS CONSTANT CRUNCHING SOUNDS FROM THE COLUMN AND THE DEALER SAYS ITS BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY(THE PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT AT MORE THAN $500.00) AND THAT THEY KNOW OF NO RECALL OR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING OR AIRBAG ON THESE CARS .

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE AIR BAGS AND ENGINE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPSTARTED AND TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE, BUT CLEARLY STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) BUT HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Mileage: 83,000

TURNING THE CORNOR WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN AND BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL STOP WORKING. WAS TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A CLOCK SPRING. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED DID NOT KNOW IT WAS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOPE IT WILL GET RESOVLED SOON. I WAS TOLD IF I WOULD GET IN A ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT COME OUT.

Mileage: 50,000

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.

Mileage: 112,000

THIS CAR HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND FROM DAY ONE I WASN'T UN-HAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT YOU COULD TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WITHOUT HAVING SWITCHED THE TRANSMISSION TO P. EVERY AUTOMATIC CAR I EVER HAD AND I HAVE DRIVEN MANY INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF RENTAL CARS OVER THE YEARS. I REPORTED THIS IN 2012 TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AS DESIGNED. I, IN BETWEEN, MOVED AND DID THE SAME AT 2 OTHER DEALERS AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. IN 99% OF THE CASES I WILL NOT FORGET TO PUT THE CAR IN P, BUT OVER THE YEARS SEVERAL TIMES I DID. WHEN I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND SAW IT STARTED TO MOVE I ALWAYS WAS SO LUCKY TO JUMP BACK IN THE CAR AND BUT IT IN P, OR PULLED THE HAND BREAK OR PUSHED THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY 2 WEEKS AGO I HAD IT AGAIN, TRIED TO JUMP BACK IN THE CAR (I WAS AT THE TRUNK) WAS HALF IN THE CAR BIT IT ACCELERATED INTO A DITCH (IN FRONT OF THE CAR) AND MY LEFT LEG WAS PULLED OVER THE ROAD WITH VERY SERIOUS SCRAPE WOUNDS. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS PRETTY BAD DAMAGED. I HAVE NEVER REPORTED THIS TO VW USA SERVICE BECAUSE THE DEALERS TOLD ME IT HAD NO SENSE. THIS MUST BE A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX, BECAUSE THE CAR HAS DST TRANSMISSION WHICH MEANS EVERYTHING IN COMPUTER CONTROLLED.

Mileage: 67,000

THIS CAR IS BUILT WITH REVERSED COLOR CODED BATTERY CABLES WITHOUT PROPER, EASILY IDENTIFIABLE POLARITY IDENTIFICATION. THE FACTORY BATTERY HAS CONVENTIONAL MARKINGS, RED +, BLACK -, HOWEVER THE BLACK CABLE IS DESIGNED TO GO ON THE "+" TERMINAL AND THE RED CABLE IS DESIGNED TO GO ON THE "-" TERMINAL ON THIS MODEL. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS POLARITY MARKINGS ON THE CABLES. IF ONE LOOKS VERY CAREFULLY YOU CAN FIND A TINY - STAMP ON THE RED CABLE TERMINAL AND THE TINY + STAMP IS HALF COVERED BY INSULATION AND HIDDEN ON THE BLACK CABLE TERMINAL.

HEARD A SMALL SNAP IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS QUIT WORKING. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CLOCKSPRING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE INCLUDING NTSB LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AS A RECALL. IF ACCIDENT OCCURRED RIGHT NOW THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE

Mileage: 75,000

MY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT ON. ALL IT SAYS IS "ERROR: AIR BAGS" "ERROR: BRAKES"

Mileage: 55,000

ALL STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS HAVE STOPPED WORKING INCLUDING THE HORN. THE AIRBAG ICON SHOWS AN "ERROR" MESSAGE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CRACKING SOUND WHEN IT TURNS. IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION #PE15010. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE: STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING/STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE (SCCM). DEALER WANTS OVER $ 500 TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 58,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2012. UPDATED 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ UPDATED 11/22/2017*CN

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.

Mileage: 72,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Mileage: 41,000

I HEARD A WEIRD NOICE IN MY STEERING COLUMN WHILE BACKING OUT, LIKE A SCRAPING NOISE. I TURNED THE WHEEL THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. ALL ELECTRICAL ON MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT WORK AFTER THIS, EVEN THE HORN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A WIRING HARNESS THAT COULD HAVE BROKE POSSIBLY DEPLOYING THE AIR BAG, IT COULD ALSO BE A BAD CLOCKSPRING WHICH VW DEALERS WANT HUNDERDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH VW VEHICLES. THE HORN NOT WORKING AND THE AIR BAG POSSIBLY DEPLOYING IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER TRYING TO PAY MY CAR PAYMENT LET ALONE GO PAY VW TO REPLACE A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT IN THIER VEHICLES. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ASK THEM TO DO IT IF VW FEELS THEY HAVE NO RESPONSABILITY TO DO IT ON THIER OWN. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THIS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT OTHER VEHICLE MANUFACTURES HAVE ORDERED A RECALL FOR THESE SAME ISSUES ON THEIR VEHICLES.

Mileage: 44,150

DRIVING ON MAY 24.2015 MAKING A LEFT TURN, I HEARD A LOUD CRACK IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I LOST ALL OF THE FUNCTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN MESSAGE SHOWED AIR BAG ERROR, CHECK ENGINE, NO CONTROL. I LOST ALL FUNCTION OF MY STEERING WHEEL, AND EVERY MOVE MADE A CRACKING SOUND. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE ANYMORE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY. I HAVE TRANSPORTED IT TO A VW DEALER TO CHECK ON IT AND FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG, STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. I KNOW AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE WAS FILLED PE15010 AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE DEFECT. I WAS VERY AFFRAID AND AM WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF TODAY.

Mileage: 37,000

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.

Mileage: 40,000

ON APRIL 14, 2015, I WENT TO VW KENNEDY SERVICE CENTER IN PUERTO RICO BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2012 PASSAT DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK AND REAR DOOR'S LOCKS, THAT SOMETIMES FAILED TO OPEN OR LOCK, AND HAVE WEIRD SOUNDS WHEN I OPEN THEM WITH THE POWER LOCKS BUTTON OR WHEN THE CAR REACH 10 MILES. ON APRIL 16, THEY MADE A DIAGNOSTIC OF A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LEFT DOOR LATCH BUT THEY ONLY MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO IT. ON APRIL 21, I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE CENTER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE REAR LEFT DOOR LATCH, BUT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS DOOR LOCK CONTINUES ON A RANDOM BASIS, SOMETIMES FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE, BUT THE VW SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEMS. I THINK THAT A DOOR LOCK THAT FAILED TO CLOSE OR OPEN ON A RANDOM BASIS REPRESENTS A SECURITY PROBLEM.

Mileage: 17,931

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO WORK AND THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE15010 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,283. UPDATED 7/9/15*CN UPDATED 9/18/15 *JS

HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING IN A PARKING LOT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NONE OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL INCLUDING THE HORN WOULD WORK. AFTER INVESTIGATING ONLINE I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING A FAILURE THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AT ABOUT 50,000-60,000 MILES 9 I HAD ABOUT 58000 AT THE TIME). AFTER DISCOVERING THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED HERE JUST DAYS BEFORE MINE FAILED I CONTACTED THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE INVESTIGATION OR THE ISSUE.... HOWEVER THEY WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY TELL ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $700 TO FIX, AND IF VW ISSUES A RECALL LATER I COULD TRY TO GET IT REFUNDED FROM CORPORATE AT THAT TIME. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS INFORMED US ON THE INFORMATION CLUSTER HORN NO LONGER WORKS AND NONE OF THE STEERING WHEEL PUSH BUTTON CONTROLS WORK DEALER SAID IT WAS A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING AND THAT WE NEEDED TO BRING IT IN IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY POTENTIALLY THE ONLINE FORUMS THAT I'VE LOOKED FOR INFORMATION STATED THAT MULTIPLE VEHICLES WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MILES HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL COMING IF THE AIRBAG POTENTIALLY DOESN'T WORK. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

CLICKING NOISE STARTED INSIDE STEERING WHEEL. TURNING ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT POPPING NOISE WITH AIRBAG ERROR MESSAGE. NOW NO HANDS FREE CONTROLS, HORN. ...UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF UPDATED 6/18/2015 *JS

Mileage: 62,000

NO ACCIDENT. A PREMATURE FAILURE OF PART 39462 - ELECTRIC DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE WHICH CONTROLS AIRBAGS, HORN AND OTHER ITEMS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Mileage: 39,462

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH DOOR UNLOCKED. SPOKE TO VW SERVICE AND THEY SAID IT'S A COMMON ISSUE ON THIS CAR. COLD TEMPERATURES FREEZE UP THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM. HAD TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. VW SERVICE ADVISED ME TO STOP OPENING THE DOOR BECAUSE THE LATCH MECHANISM COULD FAIL COMPLETELY AND THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH TO CLOSE. THEY SAID BRING THE VEHICLE IN SO THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY SAID YES IT'S A FAILING DOOR LATCH MECHANISM AND THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $480.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH MANY CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING. A DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THAT WON'T OPEN AND WON'T LATCH TO CLOSE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 49,865

THIS CAR IS BUILT WITH REVERSED COLOR CODED BATTERY CABLES WITHOUT PROPER, EASILY IDENTIFIABLE POLARITY IDENTIFICATION. THE FACTORY BATTERY HAS CONVENTIONAL MARKINGS, RED +, BLACK -, HOWEVER THE BLACK CABLE IS DESIGNED TO GO ON THE "+" TERMINAL AND THE RED CABLE IS DESIGNED TO GO ON THE "-" TERMINAL ON THIS MODEL. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS POLARITY MARKINGS ON THE CABLES. IF ONE LOOKS VERY CAREFULLY YOU CAN FIND A TINY - STAMP ON THE RED CABLE TERMINAL AND THE TINY + STAMP IS HALF COVERED BY INSULATION AND HIDDEN ON THE BLACK CABLE TERMINAL. THE BATTERY TERMINALS ARE OF SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIAMETERS TO GUIDE YOU TO THE PROPER INSTALLATION BUT THE DIAMETER DIFFERENCE IS NOT LARGE AND IS EASILY ADJUSTED WITH A SCREWDRIVER WHICH I HAVE HAD TO ADJUST TO FIT ON CABLES THAT WERE NOT IMPROPERLY REVERSED IN THE PAST. NOT NOTICING THE REVERSED COLOR CODED CABLES PRIOR TO REPLACING THE BATTERY I HOOKED UP A NEW VW OEM REPLACEMENT BATTERY WITH REVERSED POLARITY AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER/REVERSED BATTERY CABLE COLOR CODES. THE CABLES WERE NOT TIGHTEND, JUST PLACED ON THE TERMINALS AT WHICH POINT THE HORN SOUNDED AND WOULD NOT GO OFF AT WHICH POINT I REMOVED THE CABLES AND LOOKED VERY CLOSELY FOR MARKINGS INDICATING THAT I MIGHT HAVE HOOKED THEM UP IMPROPERLY AND NOTICED THE AFOREMENTIONED VERY HARD TO FIND TINY HIDDEN STAMPINGS ON THE TERMINALS REVEALING THAT I HAD HOOKED UP THE BATTERY WITH REVERSE POLARITY. THIS RESULTED IN $3000 OF ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR - AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE, MELTING SOME OF THE HARNESS AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES. ADDITIONALLY 2 OF THE 3 PROTECTIVE FUSIBLE LINKS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THIS CIRCUITRY MELTED TOGETHER SHORT CIRCUIT (INSTEAD OF FUSING OPEN CIRCUIT) NOT PROTECTING ANYTHING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MULTIPLE DEFECT DESIGN THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE INJURY AND FIRE IN ADDITION TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND COSTLY REPAIRS. *JS

Mileage: 37,860

UNABLE TO UNLOCK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH KEY FOB. NO MECHANICAL SOUND HEARD ON DRIVERS DOOR WHEN KEY FOB PRESSED. ALL THREE (3) OTHER DOORS UNLOCKED WITH NO ISSUES. ON A COUPLE OF OTHER OCCASIONS, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE AND COULD NOT EXIT THE CAR (HANDLE ONLY MOVED A SMALL AMOUNT AND SEEMED 'JAMMED'). AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF PRESSING THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED. ONCE I HAD TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE INABILITY TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN MY MIND. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

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

Mileage: 41,000

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

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

Mileage: 15,140

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.

Mileage: 500

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

Mileage: 41,000

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

Mileage: 32,000

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

Mileage: 39,755

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

Mileage: 18,000

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER ACTUAL SPEEDS. IT IS PESSIMISTIC BY 4 MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VW'S OWN CLIMATIC CONTROL DIAGNOSTIC READOUT INDICATES A SPEED THAT IS 2 MPH GREATER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER READS. FURTHERMORE, THE TRIPOMETER AVERAGE SPEED READS 3 MPH GREATER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER. MULTIPLE GPS UNITS ALL AGREE TO WITHIN A TENTH OR TWO MPH AND INDICATE A SPEED THAT IS 4 MPH FASTER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER. (I.E. SPEEDOMETER READS 70 MPH, DIAGNOSTIC READOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY SHOWS 72 MPH, TRIPOMETER AVERAGE SPEED SIMULTANEOUSLY SHOWS 73 MPH AND GPS SIMULTANEOUSLY SHOWS 74 MPH WHILE CRUISE IS SET AT 70 MPH). VW SAYS IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH AND THAT AT 70 MPH READINGS BETWEEN 65 AND 75 MPH ARE ACCEPTABLE! *TR

Mileage: 10

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

Mileage: 8