2010 Volkswagen Passat Electrical Problems

My 2010 Volkswagen CC became completely inoperable because of the active fuel pump control module recall (NHTSA 17V509). The vehicle stalled and nearly caused an accident. The check engine light came on just before I noticed a burning smell coming from the backseat of my car immediately after smelling that the car suddenly stalled out in the middle of a busy intersection and the engine would not start back up. I had to push it to a gas station parking lot across 3 lanes of traffic. I lifted up the backseat and found that the fuel control module was overheated and melting on top of the fuel pump so I carefully and properly disconnected it from the vehicle. The next day I had the vehicle towed to Lokey Volkswagen in Clearwater, FL. Today 3/14/2026 They did the recall repair and told me my vehicle is safe to drive. Today 3/14/2026 I drove the car 1 mile from the dealership when the exact same thing happened again the car stalled out, and I had to carefully maneuver to the shoulder of hwy us 19 s narrowly missing vehicles in the other lanes. The vehicle was then towed back to lokey Volkswagen. It is pretty clear that the issue was not resolved, and that this fuel control module failing may have affected other parts of the fuel system/wiring and or the fuel control module failed again. I have pictures of the fuel control module, and I gave the initial melted/failed fuel control module to the service department and they took it. The dealership service department is stating that this may be to do something other than the recall repair and that I may be liable for the diagnostic and towing charges. This is a very serious safety issue that almost cost me to get in accidents on the highway twice. I feel that they (Volkswagen) needs to be held responsible for rectification and to find out if there is a connection between this recall and the continuing failure of the vehicle to operate safely.

NHTSA ID

11724256

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

Replaced cracked fuel pump 3 times. Electrical problem to fuel pump ; also all were cracked from pressure. Thx !! Dr.

NHTSA ID

11535981

Incident

Jul 13, 2022

As the trunk hatch opens and closes, the wiring to the hatch wears down, frays, and then shorts or breaks. This killed our rear view camera, which is a safety issue. This also can cut off light to the license plate. The rear hatch also cannot then be opened from the rear of the car, as the handle is electrical and gets disconnected, possible causing another safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11535909

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

There is a short in the wiring for the tail lights the short in the wires also effects the trunk wiring. The design of the wiring in the trunk bends the tail light wires and wears them out so now there is a short in the tail light, reverse light , fog light and the trunk release. It is very unsafe to have these lights not work and to have a faulty wiring.

NHTSA ID

11486836

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

I got all types of misfires and fuel pump and electrical problems the car almost has me in car wrecks every time I drive it the speed thermometer jumps up and down causing me to have no push in the gas I have to turn the car on and off on the highway

NHTSA ID

11429717

Incident

Jan 4, 2020

THERE IS A GAS LEAK BY REAR TIRE. THE MECHANICS THAT CHANGED MY TIRES SAID IT WAS WATER. WENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND THEY REFUSED TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S A GAS LEAK. THEY CAN'T TELL WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.

NHTSA ID

11385729

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

Mileage

156,000 mi

VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 1 BLOCK ON THIS STREET AFTER HAVING TURNED ONTO IT FROM ANOTHER STREET. WHEN THE CAR DIED, "STEERING WHEEL LOCKED" DISPLAYED ON DASH PANEL. CAR WOULD NOT START, STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE BEYOND ABOUT 1" TO THE RIGHT. MESSAGE WOULD DISPLAY "STEERING WHEEL STILL LOCKED" OR "MOVE STEERING WHEEL." AFTER 40 MINUTES OF THIS ROTATION OF MESSAGES AND TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN. CAR FINALLY STARTED BUT ONLY FOR 3 SECONDS. BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES DOING THIS AND MOVING IT 30 FEET TO SAFELY PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ABOUT 30 DEGREES F. FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THIS, I WOULD PERIODICALLY HEAR A TICKING SOUND AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER THE TICKING STOPPED, A MESSAGE WOULD DISPLAY ON THE DASH PANEL "STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. VISIT WORKSHOP!" IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME I TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND THE CAR STARTED FINE EACH TIME AFTER. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS IN THE TEENS (F) WHEN THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11301347

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

99,900 mi

AFTER REPLACING MY CAR BATTERY ON 2010 VW CC, THE RED STEERING WHEEL ICON APPEARED ON THE DASH FOLLOWED BY 3 CHIMES TO MAKE KNOWN OF PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOST ALL POWER STEERING. PRIOR TO OCCURANCE THERE WAS NEVER ANY WHINING NOISE, ABNORMAL SHAKING THAT COULD POINT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING RACK. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NO EASY FIX BUT TO TOW TO THE SHOP AND GET A RIDICULOUS QUOTE ON PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK.

NHTSA ID

11265767

Incident

Oct 2, 2019

BROUGHT THE CAR FOR AIRBAG SIGN-ON ON 07-14-2018. PEABODY MA VW DEALER SAID THAT CLOCK SPRING NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $731. HORN, BUTTON ON THE HANDLE NOT FUNCTIONING. IT LOOKS LIKE VW TRYING DODGE THE REAL ISSUE ON RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11111312

Incident

Jul 3, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

SO WE JUST PAYED OFF OUR CAR AND THE PROBLEMS STARTED, FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE IT ACTED AS IT WAS IN NEUTRAL THEN IT STARTED DOING IN WHEN DRIVING SO WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER THAT THE A/C STOPPED WORKING AND WE STARTED GETTING A LOUD TICKING NOISE SO WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS TIME THEY TELL US THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED , A SEAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING ALSO, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE IF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS IT CAN SEIZE THE WHOLE MOTOR! I PAID ROUGHLY 22K FOR THE CAR IT HAS LESS THEN 70K MILES AND THEY WANT AROUND 9K FOR THE REPAIRS THERE HAS TO SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS THEY SHOULD NOT GET AWAY WITH RIPPING PEOPLE OFF

NHTSA ID

11100084

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, THE HORN INADVERTENTLY SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO DISENGAGE THE HORN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON JANUARY 25, 2016 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER (AUDI BOISE, 8400 WEST FRANKLIN ROAD BOISE, IDAHO 83709, (208) 377-5400) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE HORN RELAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

11089578

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

52,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS A PART OF THE CLOCKSPRING RECALL FOR VW IN 2015. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW ON AND ALL STEERING WHEEL ELECTRICAL CONTROLS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11062551

Incident

Jan 10, 2018

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR AIR BAG/CLOCK SPRING REASON TWICE IN JUST OVER A YEAR. NOW, SHORTLY AFTER BOTH OF THESE REPAIRS, WE HAD A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AS WELL AS AN AIR BAG FAILURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATE. WE CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL THIS IS RELATED TO THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THESE RECENT RECALLS AND FEEL VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE MAKING A TURN. ATTACHED IS A COPY OF THE SERVICE RECORD.

NHTSA ID

11056793

Incident

Dec 13, 2017

Mileage

71,000 mi

DURING THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT COMES ON AND DISABLES THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE NORMALLY. I'VE INCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM AT ALL SPEEDS AND ALSO DURING IDLELING AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. PLEASE HELP AS THIS MAY CAUSE ME TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11035580

Incident

Oct 23, 2017

Mileage

190,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS 32,000 MILES AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. HORN DOES NOT WORK SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL. HORN WORKS BUT AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE "PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM" AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3,000.00. CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND OPENED A CASE WITH THEM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIME (NOT MILEAGE) THEY REFUSE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT OCCUR HAVING OWNED THE VEHICLE 5 YEARS AND DRIVEN IT 32,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10924034

Incident

Apr 25, 2016

Mileage

32,051 mi

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AFTER OWNING IT FOR 4 YEARS. IT STARTED WITH THE TAIL LIGHT BULB ALWAYS BURNING OUT. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS BEFORE AND HAD IT REPLACED. LAST YEAR I PAID ALMOST $2200 FOR WINDOW WHICH WON'T ROLL DOWN AND THE DOOR WHICH WON'T LOCK, WATER PUMP, OIL LEAK AND OTHER MINOR ISSUES. THE KEYPAD WILL LOCK 3 DOORS ONLY AND THE LIGHTS WON'T COME ON WHEN LOCKED BUT WHEN UNLOCKED IT'LL COME ON. I HAVE PURCHASED 3 BATTERIES THUS FAR BECAUSE THE CAR CONSTANTLY DRAINS THE BATTERY. I'VE HAD THIS CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON MAJOR STREETS AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. MY PASSENGER RIGHT REAR DOOR DOES NOT LOCK AND WINDOW DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS CAR BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE MIGHT CAUSE MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE TAIL LIGHT WILL WORK IF I TAP THE OUTSIDE COVER TO THE LIGHT. I HAVE GOTTEN PULLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS AND ONCE I SHOW THE COP THAT IF I TAP IT IT'LL COME ON, THEN THEY UNDERSTAND. AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT I CAN NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THAT WILL COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN AUGUST 2009 AND I HAVE 62,043 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT MISTREAT THE CAR BUT IT'S REALLY NOT WORTH IT AND VW DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A POORLY BUILT VEHICLE. IT FEELS AS IF THIS IS WAS A TRIAL AN ERROR MODEL CAR. I AM CONFIDENT THAT IF THIS CAR WASN'T AS OLD AS IT IS NOW IT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW. I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY VW CC OWNER EXPERIENCING THESE HEADACHES BUT IF I AM AT LEAST I AM MAKING IT KNOWN OF SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WHILE BEING A FIRST TIME AND LAST TIME VW OWNER.

NHTSA ID

10920020

Incident

Oct 26, 2016

Mileage

61,899 mi

FUEL MANIFOLD UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS PLACEMENT AND PRESSURE FROM OCCUPANTS IN THE BACK SEAT CAUSED THE MANIFOLD TO CRACK AND SPEW FUEL ALL OVER THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. POOR PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FOR THE FUEL PUMP OR POOR ENGINEERING CAUSED THIS MANIFOLD TO CRACK. VERY DANGEROUS HAVING FUEL LEAKING OUT AT A HIGH VOLUME ONTO THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE FUEL PUMP. FIRE AND OR EXPLOSION DANGER!!!!

NHTSA ID

10909755

Incident

Aug 31, 2016

Mileage

100,300 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CENTER CONSOLE RADIO HEAD-UNIT STOPPED WORKING. THE SPEAKERS STOPPED PLAYING MUSIC, THE DISPLAY ON THE HEAD-UNIT BLACKED OUT, THE BACK-LIGHTING FOR THE UNIT WENT OUT, AND MY BLUE TOOTH CAPABILITIES CUT OUT AS WELL. MY RADIO HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND I AM UNABLE TO USE HANDS-FREE BLUE TOOTH WITH MY PHONE. I NOW HAVE TO USE MY PHONE BY HAND IF I WANT TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHILE DRIVING. I'VE BEEN NOTICING INCREASED DRAIN ON MY BATTERY (EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF) WHICH WAS CONFIRMED TO BE COMING FROM MY DEAD RADIO ACCORDING TO DIAGNOSTICS RUN AT AN AUTO SHOP. I HAVE HAD TO JUMP AND REPLACE MY BATTERY TWICE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY BATTERY WILL DRAIN AGAIN FROM THE DEFECTIVE RADIO UNIT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP, THE ONLY OPTION THEY OFFERED TO ME WAS TO PAY $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THEN ANOTHER $800 TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SAME BRAND. I REFUSE TO PAY $800 FOR A REPLACEMENT PART THAT I AND MANY OTHERS BELIEVE IS A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714169

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

40,000 mi

IGNITION COIL GOING BAD. DEALER TOLD ME VW WAS ON ITS 4TH REVISION OF THESE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10711897

Incident

Apr 9, 2015

Mileage

74,762 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE SWITCHED LANES AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE THROTTLE. AFTER 15 SECONDS OR MORE THE CAR FINALLY RESPONDED. UPON REACHING OUR DESTINATION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT INTO PARK, WHEREUPON THE ENGINE RPM'S BEGAN TO CLIMB PAST 4000. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT PUSHED DOWN. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE DRIVER'S INPUT AND COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND WE ARE AWAITING A RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10421405

Incident

Aug 24, 2011

Mileage

22,000 mi

DRIVING ON 267 EAST VIRGINIA IN MORNING PARKING BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME THEN CAR IMMEDIATELY WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING NEAR LIFE ENDING ACCIDENT, NAVIGATED TO SIDE OF TOLL ROAD BASED ON FORWARD MOTION IN CAR AT WHICH TIME CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. AT TIME OF PICK UP ASS SERVICE MANAGER AT VW INDICATED THEY ARE AWARE THIS IS OCCURRING BUT HAVE NOT ISSUED A FULL RECALL. WHILE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER ALMOST BEING IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT CAR WAS ALMOST CLIPPED AS IT LOOKED LIKE I WAS A LANE. REQUESTED VEHICLE BUYBACK VW REFUSED. VW WAS ARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT INFORMED CUSTOMERS PRIOR TO PURCHASE OR ONGOING. LETTERS FOR 2009 CUSTOMERS ISSUED. TURNING OVER TO LEGAL, EXPLORE CLASS ACTION

NHTSA ID

10371410

Incident

Nov 30, 2010

Mileage

23,101 mi