2010 Volkswagen Passat Steering Problems

I purchased a used vehicle but have found out the oxygen sensor is feeding false error codes to the main OBC causing leaks into driver compartment causing engine to stall while auto in motion and most importantly causing steering wheel to lock, have spoken with VWoA but they have no direct influence with VW or dealerships even if a warranty issue because all parties are independent contractors and all they are able to do is try and help. My name has not been transferred to registration because of smog requirements so you may call me [XXX] my telephone number is [XXX] my case# with VWoA is [XXX], I myself have learned to deal with defects but should this matter be more widespread which I cannot find out because the last case regarding the sensors was sealed in an agreement made by the California ARB, EPA and VW and Audi through a settlement signed in December 2021. Once again my hands are tied from taking much more action but I believe your department whether is able to enforce this matter or not should at least investigate and issue warnings to advise people of what can happen so if they can even at own cost seek appropriate repairs before more damages accrued. Also if this sensor is effecting more models and manufacturers an appropriate temporary fix should be seeker since no long term solutions are available at this time INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11621633

Incident

Oct 13, 2024

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

THE SECOND TIME IN ONE WEEK I LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. LOSS OF POWER STEERING DUE TO CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTION? IF THAT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IT VERY DANGEROUS TO ME AND OTHER MOTORISTS. I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE 9 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA ID

11253997

Incident

Sep 7, 2019

Mileage

92,400 mi

MY CLOCK SPRING FAILED ON MY STEERING WHEEL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE FIRST TIME. SYMPTOMS WERE: THE WHEEL LOCKED UP, A CRUNCHING SOUND WAS HEARD, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11151687

Incident

Sep 20, 2014

Mileage

51,816 mi

THE CLOCK SPRING ON MY CAR'S STEERING HAS FAILED TWICE NOW IN A 4 YEAR PERIOD. VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S A PROBLEM AND CLAIMS MY MODEL IS NOT IMPACTED BY OTHER RECALLS FOR THAT PART. THIS LAST TIME THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED, THE RIBBON CAME UNDONE AND PREVENTED ME FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEELING, NEARLY CAUSING A WRECK. AFTER FORCEFULLY JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE RIBBON CAME LOOSE AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE LOSS OF STEERING CAN RESULT IN A WRECK.

NHTSA ID

11151024

Incident

Nov 9, 2018

Mileage

93,000 mi

"TAKATA RECLL"I PUT A NEW MOTOR IN NOW THE POWER STEER LIGHT CAME ON IT IS HARD TO TURN. I WAS DRIVER ON I-10 COMING FROM DR.OFFICE IN TALL.IT RUN GOOD JUST "POWER STEER" HARD & JUST GOT THE OTHER "RECALL FIX ,AIR BAG,FUEL PUMP,THIS MONTH AND LORD PLEASE LET ME GET HELP WITH THIS I WAS OUT A LOT OF MONEY FOR MOTOR.PLEASE JESUS.

NHTSA ID

11121233

Incident

Aug 13, 2018

Mileage

100,637 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING CONTROLS AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ID

10559016

Incident

Jan 8, 2014

Mileage

51,000 mi

HEARD A LOUD "WHIRRING" NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN CAR WAS STATIONARY - LIKE IT NEEDED STEERING FLUID - BUT IT DOES NOT USE FLUID. ALSO HAVING SPORADIC TROUBLE WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING WHEN THE KEY FOB WAS PUT INTO THE IGNITION. VW REPLACED CLOCK SPRING, STEERING RACK & PINION, AS WELL AS THE STEERING RACK 3 TIMES SO FAR. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THESE PARTS, THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T TEST DRIVE IT. CARS FRONT TIRES MADE LOUD NOISE - LIKE I HAD ON SNOW TIRES. I BROUGHT IT BACK IN FOR STEERING NOISE (STILL) AND NOW THE TIRES, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT TIRES DUE TO "CUPPING" WHICH WAS CAUSED BY INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE STEERING RACK. 20,000 MILES LATER I STILL HEAR THE NOISE, BUT NOW THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN "ESCALATED" BY VW, THEY NOW CLAIM THAT THIS NOISE IS NORMAL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10397670

Incident

Aug 19, 2010

Mileage

9,587 mi