10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,121 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #19

Mar 132018

Passat

  • 56,000 miles
The horn, airbag on drivers side, and bluetooth. All the components in the steering wheel stopped working. The airbag light came on in the dashboard, and the rest stopped working after a few days of light clicking noise from the steering wheel when turning. I had to take it for repair 3/13/18.

- Camden, NJ, USA

problem #18

Feb 092018

Passat

  • 41,000 miles
Takata inflator replaced, 2 months later, while driving, and turning the corner at low speed, on a city street, into my subdivision at approximately 3-5 miles per hour, during a snow storm. The air bag light illuminates, hear crunching sound coming from steering column, immediately following, I have no horn or steering wheel control buttons. I now hear the same crunching sound coming from the steering column every time I turn the wheel. Called dealer, advised it sounds like the clock switch which commonly fails and would cost around $900 to repair and was not under warranty, since I had 40K at the time of incident. I was advised that my air bag will not work without repair.

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

problem #17

Jan 292018

Passat

  • 66,000 miles
Turned car on to pull out of a parking spot in a parking lot, hear loud crack, airbag light came on, now steering wheel buttons don't work, horn doesn't work, and I hear something rattling around in my steering wheel and it makes noise when I turn

- Denver, PA, USA

problem #16

Jan 152018

Passat

  • 40,000 miles
I was turning right at a speed of 30 when I heard a loud pop sound and the air bag light went on and all components on steering wheel stopped working. The horn does not work either. I brought car to VW dealer the same day and they ran a diagnostic test and said I need a new clockspring. I have heard many Passats have this issue but my cars VIN was not on the recall list. It's a safety hazard. Now I have a car with a broken clockspring. Amongst many other VW owners. Please help

- Missouri City, TX, USA

problem #15

Jul 132017

Passat

  • 23,890 miles
I have a recalled takata air bag in my vehiclke. I dodged a dog in the road and hit the guard rail where it is buried in the ground. My passet traveled 15-20 feet up the gaurd rail. The car was very damaged and my air bag did not deploy. The state patrolman and the tow truck were confused why the airbag didn't deploy. I was in motion about 75 ft from where I turned left onto the jhwy 96. The speed limit is 45mph. I as going about 20 mph. I turned from a county street onto co 96.

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #14

Sep 202017

Passat

  • 34,000 miles
Steering wheel clock spring defective, disabling air bag and other controls. VW has recalled this condition on other us-built 2014 Passat models, just not mine, since the recall is VIN-specific, and by chance, doesn't include my particular vehicle.

- Boyne City, MI, USA

problem #13

Aug 152017

Passat

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. Upon starting the vehicle, the air bag indicator illuminated and the horn failed to sound. On other occasions, the steering wheel clicked when turned. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the clock spring failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also taken to savannah Volkswagen (50 eisenhower dr, savannah, ga 31406) where the diagnosis was confirmed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #12

Jul 192017

Passat

  • miles
Airbag clock spring broke while I was driving. Why wasn't my vehicle covered under recall for the airbag clock spring recall number 15V483000? obviously more vehicles are affected. My airbag and instrument controls do not work now due to this safety issue.

- Virginia, MN, USA

problem #11

Feb 092016

Passat

  • miles
Takata recall I received a recall notice in the mail more than a year ago but in numerous calls to VW service they said they didn't have the parts to fix my car & that it isn't a safety issue in California. Now VW service dealership in salinas said there is no recall on my car even though www.safergov still shows an incomplete recall. Now my horn stopped working, the airbag light is lit on the dashboard and my steering wheel is making noises when I'm steering. This is a dangerous situation. I can't honk as warning and I don't think the airbag will deploy and if it does it can cause injury or death.

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #10

Apr 202017

Passat

  • 30,416 miles
I drive a manual transmission. I have a 3 year old car with 30, 000 miles on it. The transmission jammed while the car was on the highway. It was due to a clutch that had broken into pieces and needed replacement. As a seasoned driver of manual cars, having driven ones with >100, 000 miles on them I have never faced such a dangerous and unexpected disintegration of the clutch in a car that has only 30, 000 miles on it. Keeping in mind the kind of tampering and mishandling that it would need to break a clutch I complained to VW about this and they have done nothing to help. Instead I am left with a heft bill to pay for the repairs, and, will probably need to buy a new car anyway as I would not endanger my life and that of my children driving a car with some serious engineering and/design issues that VW will not take responsibility for. The car also has electrical issues which I informed VW about; the parked car with the parking breaks on while turned off rolls off on the most gradual slopes and onto the street.

- Dublin, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 072016

Passat

  • 51,000 miles
Clock spring in the steering wheel broke, not covered in the known recall.

- Lawton, MI, USA

problem #8

Jan 042016

Passat 4-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,500 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact heard a clicking and popping noise whenever the steering wheel was turned. The air bag warning light illuminated, which notified the contact of an air bag deployment failure; however, the contact was not involved in a collision. The contact continued to drive the vehicle when the controls on the steering wheel malfunctioned. The contact parked the vehicle and called the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was experiencing a fractured clock spring that needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,500. Updated 04/06/16 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired at no cost. Updated 11/21/2017

- Elizabeth City, NC, USA

problem #7

Oct 082014

Passat 4-cyl Diesel

  • miles
2014 Volkswagen Passat. Consumer writes in regards to steering wheel malfunction and requests a buy back of vehicle. The consumer stated the first steering malfunction occurred on October 8, 2014, which caused her to loose control of the vehicle which resulted in her and another vehicle running off the road. The dealer informed the consumer the issue was due to corroded wires in the steering box, a computer update was needed and it was due to normal wear and tear. On October 22, 2014, the steering wheel malfunctioned occurred again and she almost hit a parked vehicle and a light pole. The dealer replaced the power steering rack and harness. On November 6, 2014, the steering wheel malfunction again. However, the dealer was unable to find a problem after having the vehicle for a week. The incident happened again on December 18, 2014. The dealer was unable to find anything wrong. The amplifier and radio were replaced.

- Crown Point, IN, USA

problem #6

Nov 102014

Passat 4-cyl

  • 7,500 miles
When steering the vehicle, with minor lane correction inputs, there is a counter force from the VW electromechanical active steering system that will not let me turn the wheel unless I apply harder pressure. When the steering wheel frees up, it?S as if it broke free of some sticky substance. At times this force has been so hard that the passengers were jostled in the car. VW mechanic has described the issues as a dead spot in the steering.. the issue occurs under the following conditions; 1) on an interstate highway with relatively minor camber angles. 2) on new very smooth dry payment ? important - does not occur on rougher newer pavement. 3) set speed control at 64 mph - occurs at higher speeds as well. Have not experienced the issue under 60 mph. 4) occurs in all lanes but I drive mostly in the right lane. 5) in a straight line run of 1/8 of a mile or so where the steering angle is center-lined. 6) turn the wheel with minor driver steering inputs/angles to stay in the lane - not trying to change lanes. VW tried to repair the issue with a software fix. It didn't work. They now say the car is functioning as designed.

- Clinton, MA, USA

problem #5

Jun 192013

Passat 4-cyl Diesel

  • 200 miles
My 2014 Passat tdi vehicle pulls to the right...on highway, in right lane, will move right off the road in less than 7 seconds if hands are not on the wheel. Dealer made some improvements....ie before it would run off the road in less than 3 seconds. VW field representation claims this is normal effect of road crown and refuses to correct the condition. I drove a Passat ( non diesel ) that drove fine... I drove a 2015 Passat diesel that was better but still had excessive pull from road crown. I'm constantly fighting the vehicle to stay on the highway....especially while driving in the right lane. This is a safety issue to me.....vehicle will not stay on the road!

- Norton Shores, MI, USA

problem #4

Jul 022014

Passat

  • 7,855 miles
While approaching a stop sign and slowing down, the vehicle completely shut down, could not steer as steering wheel locked, lost all power, could not apply brakes as they did not work, then the same thing happened a 1/2 hour later coming out of a parking lot, called the VW national number, explained what happened and how dangerous this could have been if it happened at faster speeds, they did not seem overly concerned, told me to tow it to the nearest VW dealer for service, this vehicle is unsafe to drive, I don't feel safe in taking it back from the dealer, what do I do?

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #3

Jun 162014

Passat

  • 10,288 miles
While driving the car on 2 separate occasions went from the "on" position to "accessory" or in basic terms it shut off causing a loss in control of the vehicle. After a few minutes I was able to start the car again and drive it normally.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #2

Apr 092014

Passat 4-cyl Diesel

  • 6,565 miles
I was driving about 40mph when a car tried to merge into my lane. I tried to blow the horn and the horn failed to work. This has happened several times but not at a point where I have been this close to being crashed into. When this happens, the change track and volume buttons do not work, as well as the hands free calling button. It's like the whole steering wheel goes dead.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #1

Sep 232013

Passat

  • 7 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the engine was slow to start upon depressing the accelerator pedal and would accelerate without warning. The vehicle would also drift to the right when traveling various speeds. Additionally, the steering wheel was not centered. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that an alignment was needed. The dealer replaced four tires but the failure still recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the authorized dealer, who was then unable to diagnose the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 7.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA