10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 11 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 8 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 13,143 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Clock spring failure after recall.
- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-15 MPH and pulling out of a parking lot, the airbag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she continued to drive the vehicle and noticed that the horn and the buttons on the steering wheel would fail to respond when engaged. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
The airbag light stayed on and the horn stopped working.
- Ocala, FL, USA
A few years ago I had my clock spring replaced as part of a recall. It just gave out again.
- Maple Valley, WA, USA
None of the functions on the steering wheel of my 2014 VW Passat work. This includes the horn, the airbag and other functions on the steering wheel. This car is what my daughter uses for college. It puts her at risk and other drivers. She cannot beep the horn if someone is driving erratically, the air bag on the steering wheel does not work and sometimes the directionals do not work. This car will not pass inspection. VW has not put a recall out on this part and after doing some research, many VW's are affected by this issue. What makes matters worse, is that she had the same issue in 2018. She had to travel to a VW dealer almost 50 miles away from her college campus to have the clock spring replaced to the price of $646 dollars. Now it's 2021 and the same problem is occurring. What is the matter with VW where they will not take responsibility for their cars.
- East Nassau, NY, USA
1. Air bag clock spring (twice) 2. No horn, no airbag driver side safety issues. 3. Yes, twice confirmed by VW Dealer 4. No other inspections, just VW Dealer 5. No warnings of the issue until none of the controls were working - now an air bag light January 29, 2020 - 82227 miles, no air bag, no horn, no steering wheel controls. brought to dealer - says there is a known issue with the clock spring and replaced it no charge. August 11, 2021, 123221 miles, no air bag, no horn, no steering wheel controls. brought to dealer - says not covered. the first clock spring lasted 80,000, the second one even more faulty - lasted barely 40000.
- North Dartmouth, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the air bag clock spring was damaged, and the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bag). The failure mileage was 86,000.
- Fruitland Park, FL, USA
I turned on my car and turned the wheel to leave my parking as I normally do every morning. I heard a crack and the steering wheel was not moving normally. Then there was an air bag error message as well as the horn and wheel button controls stopped working. I looked it up online and saw that there was a previous recall on this issue with this type of model. Though no current recalls came up. It has been an issue with VW Passats and it-??s very unsafe. Never have had any issues like this happen in other cars. I had barely turned the wheel when this happened.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
My 2014 VW Passat turbo has an issue with no horn, nothing on steering wheel works and air bag light is on the dash. The local VW dealship moses VW of barbroursville, wv told me the air bag will not deploy at this time bc the clock spring needs replaced. VW reps told me it is not a recall just an extention of warranty to 120,000 miles. My car has 131,000 of course. My wife drives this car and was almost in a bad wreck bc she had no horn and the bag will not deploy which is very scary. How is this not a recall? I have an appt to have it replaced at moses but I want this changed to a recall. It is a complete safety issue. I hold a masters degree in safety myself and am very concerned not just for myself but for others. I love the vehicle other than this issue. Enter message
- South Point, OH, USA
Car steering wheel began to click. Air bag light is on, horn does not work and lost control off all switches on the steering wheel.
- Sanford, FL, USA
While driving steering wheel began to click. Next time driving the car, I had a error airbag reading and lost all control of the buttons on the steering wheel and horn doesn't work.
- Valparaiso, IN, USA
Steering clock spring was reportedly fixed as part of the recall but has failed again. Airbag light is on. Horn does not work. Steering wheel controls do not work. Cruise control is not working. VW will not repair the recall work done without charge. Seatbelt tensioner is also now reportedly affected.
- Medford, OR, USA
My airbag sensor randomly appeared one day when turning on my car
- Stockton, CA, USA
Car gas pedal was stuck and continued to accelerate getting up to 58 mph after pressing on brakes lightly the car continued to go faster and faster. As I was getting closer to an intersection, that was red, and in fear of getting hit cause the gas would not slow down I slammed on brakes and hoped it would stop the car but the car lost control hit a curb and hit a fire hydrant in the front middle of car, the car flipped over and no airbags deployed. The vehicle was in motion prior to accident and it was on a highway then I turned on a side street going 58 mph due to gas pedal being stuck, I then lost control of car after hitting brakes to make the car slow down. Me and my friend have headache and are sore, I went to immediate car due to concussion symptoms. I am now terrified to drive or get into car, I become hysterical and can't stop crying. My friend is also not getting cars either. Scariest thing ever.
- Machesney Park, IL, USA
While turning the steering wheel, I started hearing a clicking noise. Shortly after the horn or controls are not working and airbag light is on.
- Tampa, FL, USA
While turning the steering wheel, there was a clicking noise followed by an airbag error on the dash. The steering wheel controls and horn no longer work.
- Cleveland, TN, USA
I had turned my car on and noticed my airbag light had come on and all my controls and horn had stopped working. This is a major safety issue. I took it into a repair shop and they showed me a recall that happened in 2015. The recall said the airbag clock spring may fail and that this could effect all controls, including the horn. (NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000) they asked me to look into this before fixing. So, I called the Volkswagen service center to check, and unfortunately my car was not covered under this recall, even though it says 2012-2014 Volkswagen Passat the cost of this happening to my car is over $800. Nothing I did to make this happen, it just happened. I am baffled that this was a recall in the past and only covered a certain amount of vins. Clearly, my car and others (based off of the other complaints I have read) are having this same safety issue that Volkswagen is liable for but not taking it into account. I am very upset knowing they will not cover this cost. What is the point of having a recall if they only fix a fraction of the cars? very disappointed.
- Tampa, FL, USA
The airbag control module went bad on this vehicle when the car was only five years old. Volkswagen has recalls on other vehicles air bag control modules yet has not issued one for this make and model yet. Volkswagen is charging over $800 for parts and labor to fix the control module. This is not a component that should be breaking so soon on these vehicles and Volkswagen should honor replacing them.
- Queensbury, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the vehicle due to a broken clock spring. The contact stated that upon due to the failure, the steering wheel would make a cracking noise while being turned at various speeds. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a fractured clock spring. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact also took the vehicle to winn Volkswagen woodland hills located at 21141 ventura blvd, woodland hills, ca 91364 where he was informed that the vehicle would have to have a diagnostic and that the vehicle would not be covered under warranty or the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the matter and offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was a 140,000.
- Long Beach, CA, USA
- Lafayette, IN, USA