2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,300 miles

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problem #111

May 102020

Passat 4-cyl

  • 128,000 miles
Trying to start car and won't turn on with key all my keys don't work says steering wheel lock defective can't get my car to turn my radio on I am parked in my drive way and can't even tow it to dealer now because it won't go into neutral.

- Odessa, TX, USA

problem #110

Sep 082019

Passat

  • 212,000 miles
My VW has been hard to start and getting the steering lock fault warning. I understand there was a voluntary recall, but I was the original owner and do not remember getting the recall notice.

- White Bear Mn, MN, USA

problem #109

Feb 062018

Passat

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated while driving. The contact was concerned that the air bag might deploy while driving. The vehicle was taken to joseph Volkswagen of cincinnati (located at 3813 montgomery rd, cincinnati, oh 45212, (513) 914-1785) where it was diagnosed that the curtain air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 18V247000 (air bags). In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel seized when attempting to drive. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and provided case numbers: 180151960, 181324957, and 08125390. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #108

Oct 162017

Passat

  • 80,000 miles
Have been getting steering lock malfunctions when trying to start the car for about two weeks. Today, the steering wheel locked while driving. Unable to steer the vehicle at all. Was able to stop and turn the vehicle off. Seems this is/ was a common problem for this model Volkswagen and a voluntary recall was available until 2013. Unfortunately, the previous owners of the car never did any recalls or even remembers ever being notified of any recalls. This problem is one of many for this model. I called Volkswagen and they were no help. This is a major safety issue. My 17 year old son drives this car. I cant allow him to drive it now after this. How can Volkswagen allow this" they basically dont care if we crashed and hurt others because of this issue. A voluntary recall for a steering issue?? does that sound safe?"

- Wallkill, NY, USA

problem #107

Sep 102017

Passat

  • 66,100 miles
For a couple of weeks now the car starts and suddenly turn off. I went to start the car on 09/10/2017 and a message appeared on the mfd: "steering column lock" and the key is unable to be removed from the ignition. I have been reading about the steering column lock on various forums and found that VW issued a voluntary recall which expired somewhere around February 28, 2013. Since it was voluntary, and many people did not have the problem myself included, it would seem that this should be a mandatory recall. It is certainly a safety concern because the steering column can lock up and cause a major accident if this should occur while driving. It has been several years later and I have read many of the newer VW models are expiriencing the same issue. I certainly believe that this should merit a recall.

- Guaynabo, PR, USA

problem #106

Feb 092017

Passat

  • miles
Car will not start after flashing sign or it could stop anywhere which could cause crash: Steering - inspect for steering concern - comfort control module need to be replaced at no cost to the owner of the car - steering column control module: Electronic steering column lock, hardware need to be replaced and program correctly at no cost to the owner of vehicle as it is VW programing is defaulted.

- Mason, OH, USA

problem #105

Dec 242016

Passat

  • 194,000 miles
Car is immobilized at this time w/ key stuck in ignition, defective steering wheel appears before this happens. Car was stationary in my drive way, cold weather, first start. It's intermediate & has happened multiple times. Steering has been fixed a few years ago for issues of the same sort. Car has approximately 194,000 on it but the issue is there has been multiple problems, cam (replaced 2 X's; once under warranty other time had to pay out of pocket), turbo, sensors, pvc, steering, converter (out of pocket), rear axle (out of pocket), etc. Have all documents but do not have a way to provide them in this forum. Problems started under certified warranty but continued after. Bought car w/ approximately 23,000 miles on it. Been nothing but a big headache. Car is well taken care of but continues to have issues.

- Lebanon, ME, USA

problem #104

May 152012

Passat 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Takata recall first I would like to say my sunroof opens and closes it self then. Sometimes when I turn car on it shuts off says steering defected then its takes a couple seconds to come on. My wind shield wipers keep sayin I need water but its full then my daytime lights are off this car has many problems I keep getting the same parts fixed over and over. And then I have no recalls what the only way if we crash and die then we will get it fixed im putting so much money into car so can you please help thank you. This happen in different places the car shuts off different times.

- Woodbridge, NJ, USA

problem #103

Jun 302016

Passat

  • 106,000 miles
We have had trouble for the past week with our car not cranking in the afternoon. We figured it was the alternator causing the battery to die. We replaced the alternator. So the car did great for only a few minutes, then when backing out of the driveway, the steering column light came on, the steering wheel locked up, and the car continued to run. If we had been going down the road like I have read hundreds of other complaints for this, we could have been killed. Why has this not been recalled as many complaints have been made" the steering column light comes on going down the road and everything locks up for someone to die. Will Volkswagen then decide its time to recall it" now the key will not come out of the ignition and it will not crank at all.

- Hartford, AL, USA

problem #102

Apr 012016

Passat

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V613000 (steering) 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Fulton, CA, USA

problem #101

Nov 022010

Passat

  • 39,556 miles
My Volkswagen Passat has a steering wheel lock warning light come on.. manual says the steering could be compromised... Volkswagen of America did want acknowledge the fact that many cars had this problem all over the world.. the problem was eventually fixed. Now, less than 10,000 later, I have the problem again. This is a known issue that VW doesn't not want to acknowledge or take care of. There should be a safety recall done on this matter as it could be very dangerous. In my case not only did it affect the steering, but it also would not let me start the car at all. The problem was intermittent at first but got progressively worst. It got to where I could not start the car at all.

- Safety Harbor, FL, USA

problem #100

Oct 262015

Passat

  • 86,000 miles
Attempted to start my vehicle by pressing the key fob into the ignition. Car did not start and the message "steering column defective" was displayed. Attempted to start the car again, but this time the car failed to even turn the engine over. In addition, the key fob cannot be extracted from the ignition. Now the car is immobile. I researched this issue and quickly discovered that this is a prevalent issue with this make and model. Many other's have voiced their complaint with VW regarding this issue but despite this, VW still has yet to even acknowledge that there is a manufacturing defect. The car, being bought through a VW dealership pre-owned, was not under warranty. The car has less than 80K miles on it and had only accrued 10K miles since it was purchased, by me and from the dealership, 14 months ago.

- Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA

problem #99

May 142015

Passat

  • 92,585 miles
My car suffers from a "steering column lock defective" issue for which VW of America has issued a recall as it is a very common problem on this year of the car. For some reason my car was not included in the recall (by VIN), and now that the piece is starting to fail they will not cover it. It is a clear defect and it is well documented, but they still want me to pay out of pocket ($800) to cover the repair costs. If this part fails, I will be left stranded with no way of turning the car on. A lot of money has already been spent fixing this car as this was a problematic year for this model. I do not want to spend more money fixing what is clearly a defect and something that VW has recognized is a problem and is fixing in other calls from the same year. Thank you.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #98

Mar 012015

Passat

  • 74,900 miles
Steering column lock defective -just like all the other complaints that are listed. Does someone have to die in order for this to be investigated? I don't know how many more pages of complaints you need.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #97

Nov 232014

Passat

  • miles
Steering lock defective - should be a recall on the part of VW - I have a VW Passat 06 and keep on getting this problem.

- Elmhust, NY, USA

problem #96

Oct 172014

Passat 4-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
Steering column lock defective light came on and the car would randomly die out turn back on and randomly die out again. Almost causing an accident.

- Canterbury , CT, USA

problem #95

Apr 042014

Passat 4-cyl

  • 103,000 miles
The problem started off small. My Passat one day started and shut off. Over the next couple months the problem got much worse. First it took a couple tries to start and now typically takes about 15 minutes to start. The steering wheel light pops up and the cars warning states "steering column lock defective". today 6/8/14 I was driving 60 mph on the highway and the car stalls. Luckily we made it to the side of the highway. With a crying baby in the backseat, I finally got the car to start after 2 hours of trying!

- Anoka, MN, USA

problem #94

May 132014

Passat

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that when attempting to start the vehicle, the steering colum lock defective warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Potomac , MD, USA

problem #93

Jan 182014

Passat 4-cyl

  • 145,990 miles
Electronic emergency brake fault; was driving on January 18,2014. My daughter was driving about 35 mph when this emergency brake light started flashing yellow. Also there was a red brake light that was flashing and beeping three times. She got the car under control mind you she is only 17 and she just bought this car from campus auto here in fort Dodge, ia on the 10th and he told her nothing was wrong with the car. Everything has went wrong with this car that can go wrong. She pulled over and read in her manual that with the beeping 3 times and the red light indicator said that she was suppose to get it to a trusted mechanic right away. So she did the smart thing and called me to have the car taken to a mechanic. But what if she would have been on the highway and this would have happened. She would have lost control of this car on a highway. Please look into these Passat. There is something seriously wrong with them. Wheel bearings are bad in the rear. Fuel pump went bad. Coils burn. These are all dangerous things. Please help.

- Fort Dodge, IA, USA

problem #92

Nov 262013

Passat 4-cyl

  • 139,765 miles
I have code steering lock column defective this is my second VW Passat with same problem.

- Arlington, MA, USA

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