Electrical complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2012 Volkswagen Passat has 69 NHTSA electrical complaints and 1 electrical-related recall.
69
Complaints
1
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 10, 2026
16V171000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly...
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 25, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | We would have been in a life threating situation (very cold) if we would have not walked down highwa... |
| Sep 14, 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Volkswagen Passat 2012 Passat key won't go into ignition - Trying to fit my key into ignition will ... |
| Aug 31, 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | CLOCK SPRING FAIL AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON HORN IS NOT WORKING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE CAR LIKETHIS |
| Jul 20, 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The electrical system failed. It has been to numerous mechanics many refusing to do the work. The ca... |
| May 7, 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I heard a loud crack while turning my steering wheel and now I have an "Airbag Error" message and th... |
| Mar 1, 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | Clock spring was replaced then went out again. Daughter now has a car with no air bag, no horn and ... |
| Jan 29, 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | On the 29th of January, upon turning on my car and turning my steering wheel, I heard a "clicking" n... |
| Oct 15, 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | Although this site has my car listed with ZERO unfixed recalls, that is not true. I received a rec... |
| Mar 14, 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 76 MPH, THE CHECK EN... |
| Nov 17, 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | FAILED STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING AS DESCRIBED IN 2015 RECALL 69L2. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AN... |
| Oct 1, 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BREAKS WITHOUT THE OPERATOR REALIZING IT, RESULTING IN A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF ... |
| Jul 15, 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FWY MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY DOOR LOCK ARE KEEP GOING OFF AS IF IM H... |
| Feb 23, 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO RUN ERRANDS BUT WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION,... |
| Sep 11, 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | THE ABS/ESC AND/OR BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AT VARIOUS TIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE... |
| Sep 10, 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | MY 2012 VW PASSAT WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE PARKED & WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHTS WITHOUT ANY WAR... |
| May 1, 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTION. WE HAD THE CLOCK SPRING COVER INSTALLED DUE TO RECALL, BUT THE CLOCK SPRIN... |
| Sep 13, 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILE... |
| Jun 29, 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | CLOCK SPRING FAILURE RESULTING IN AIRBAG, STEERING WHEEL CONTROL, AND HORN MALFUNCTION. THIS SEEMS ... |
| May 30, 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE EPC LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND EVERYTIME THE CAR IS TAKEN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP THE REPLACE PART BU... |
| Apr 21, 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON DASH WHEN DRIVING. IT APPEARS TO ONLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIG... |