2012 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking an unknown fluid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vacuum pump, oil pan, and the gaskets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 193,211.

NHTSA ID

11490760

Incident

Jul 12, 2022

Mileage

193,211 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 76 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND EXHAUST FLUID WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR OVER A YEAR. AN ERROR CODE STATED VEHICLE SHUT-OFF AT 200 MILES WAS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT-OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURF VOLKSWAGEN KIA (1016 WEST COLUMBIA DRIVE, KENNEWICK, WA 99336, (509-586-3185) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID

11403103

Incident

Mar 14, 2021

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL LOOSE DRIVING POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AS WELL AS EPC LIGHT. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE WHOLE THROTKE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS A DEALER ONLY PART, WHEN THE MECHANIC SHOP CALLED TO ORDER THE PART FROM THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND THAT IT COULD BE 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE A PART WAS AVALIABLE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP A WEEK LATER THE PART WAS STILL ON BACK ORDER, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD OVER 200 ON A LIST WAITING FOR THIS PART, AND TO KEEP CALLING BACK TO ASK ABOUT THE STATUS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE SINCE JULY 2020, AND AS OF TODAY 10/22/2020, ACCORDINF TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE IS STILL NO ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME THAT THIS PART EILL BE AVAILABLE. I FELL THAT IF THERE IS THAT MANY THAT IF THEY DO IN FACT HAVE OVER 200 WAITING FOR THE PART THEN THERE MUST BE SOMTHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE CURRENT PART THAT IS ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11365796

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

59,400 mi

TWICE WHILE DRIVING, THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED LEAVING THE AUTOMOBILE DISABLED ON THE HIGHWAY. ON BOTH OCCASIONS IT WAS REPORTED THAT METAL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL PUMP AND ALL COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. THE TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AFTER THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE FOR THE EXHAUST/ EMISSIONS RECALL. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND WITHIN 2000 MILES. THE SECOND WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST 10,000 MILE SERVICE AND WITHIN 9 MONTHS FROM THE FIRST.

NHTSA ID

11351480

Incident

Oct 21, 2019

Mileage

30,325 mi

HEATER COR CLOGGED. THE VEHICLE HAS 78XXX MILES. ON THE VOLKSWAGEN FORMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ALSO IN OTHER YEARS. IT IS THE SAME PART USED

NHTSA ID

11309870

Incident

Feb 10, 2020

Mileage

78,000 mi

MY 2012 VW PASSAT WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE PARKED & WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHTS WITHOUT ANY WARNING.USUALLY THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, BUT ONCE IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE WHEN THE STOP LIGHT TURNED TO GREEN.

NHTSA ID

11254529

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

93,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TEDDY VOLKSWAGEN (718-920-1400, LOCATED AT 3743 BOSTON RD, BRONX, NY 10466) WHERE THE EPC INDICATOR WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HEADED BACK TO THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND, WHEN RESTARTED, THE EPC INDICATOR TURNED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR. THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR CALLED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,500.

NHTSA ID

11132996

Incident

Sep 13, 2018

Mileage

90,500 mi

THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING ONCE IN A WHILE AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER BEGAN TO DIE WHEN IDLE WAITING AT RED LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. I WAS TOLD THE VACUUM SEAL NEEDED REPLACED BUT TO DO SO EVERYTHING WOULD NEED REPLACED AS YOU CAN'T JUST REPLACE A VACUUM SEAL. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF MY CAR STARTED TO GO HAYWIRE AND EVERY LIGHT, CLOCK WOULD GO OFF IF I TRIED TO START THE CAR. AFTER THAT AS FIXED THE BATTER WHICH WAS TESTED AND AT 99% DIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THESE ISSUES HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ON A CITY STREET DRIVING AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH PEOPLE PASSING ME AND HONKING. I GOT THE CAR FIXED AT STEVEN'S CREEK VOLKSWAGEN IN SUNNYVALE, CA IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I WAS OUT OF A CAR FOR WELL OVER A WEEK. NONE OF THESE WERE ISSUES CAUSED BY ME. I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11114092

Incident

Jun 9, 2017

Mileage

39,000 mi

ON MY 2012 TDI WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD ~ BELOW 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS MISFIRING. IT USUALLY STARTS FINE, BUT IT STUMBLES/MISFIRED FOR THE FIRST MILE OR SO. THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GET UP TO SPEED, NOR WILL IT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR, THE ENGINE WILL REV TO 3000 RPM AND MORE WHEN COLD, WHICH IS VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE. I WILL MANUALLY SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR AND THEN IT CHUGS AND MISFIRES AND STRUGGLES TO GET UP TO SPEED.

NHTSA ID

11067055

Incident

Feb 5, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

SUDDEN ENGINE HIGH VIBRATION WHILES DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE AND BATTERY FAILURE AT THE SAME TIME AND DAY. VW TECHNICIANS IDENTIFIED PIECES OF METAL FROM ENGINE IN OIL FILTER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. NOTE: CAR IS TAKEN CARE OF WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE USING VW SERVICE

NHTSA ID

10959899

Incident

Mar 8, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTERCOOLER

NHTSA ID

10938595

Incident

Oct 19, 2016

Mileage

77,000 mi

CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DIESEL FUEL ALL INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY, DEALERSHIP SAID A BOLT ON THE ENGINE HAD A STRESS FRACTURE AND BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10938593

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

VEHICLE STUMBLES AND HESITATES DURING COLD STARTS AND CLEARS UP AFTER APPROX 10 MINUTES. CONSISTENTLY OCCURS DAILY ESSENTIALLY SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DEALER, BUT THEY INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG AND NO ERRORS SEEN IN COMPUTER. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ONLINE FROM HUNDREDS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN APPEARS TO NOT BE RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THE CONCERN IS BUCKING, CHOCKING AND HESITATION BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF YOU NEED TO SPEED UP TO AVOID A VEHICLE OR CROSSING INTERSECTIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD...SAFETY IS A CONCERN AND HAS BEEN....I DID BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND LEFT WITH DEALER FOR 1 WEEK...THEY CLAIMED THE TECHN FOUND NO ISSUE....WHEN I PICKED VEHICLE UP IT IMMEDIATELY HAD HESITATION, JERKY BUCKING ISSUE....NOT ACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

10915044

Incident

Oct 18, 2012

FIRST THE GLOW PLUGS WERE BAD. WITHIN THE SAME YEAR I HAD AN ISSUE WITH DIESEL PARTICULATES AND NOW THE ADBLUE HEATING ELEMENT!!! ALL ISSUES OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, LITERALLY FELT MY LIFE WAS IN JEOPARDY. HOWEVER AFTER HAVING TO COME OUT THE POCKET WITH NOW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I FEEL LIKE THE COMPANY IS RAPING ME!!!

NHTSA ID

10908831

Incident

Sep 21, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

AFTER THE NOX SENSOR WENT IN THIS CAR EXACTLY A MONTH TO THE DAY LATER THE ADBLUE HEATER IS SHOT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE MIL LIGHT CAME ON. A SCAN SHOWED IT IS THE ADBLUE HEATER. THIS IS THE 2ND EMISSIONS RELATED PART TO GO IN THIS CAR SINCE THE DIESEL SCANDAL BROKE AND THE 2ND ISSUE IN A MONTH.

NHTSA ID

10905941

Incident

Sep 8, 2016

Mileage

93,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A 200 MI. COUNTDOWN BEGAN INDICATING THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. WE WERE OVER 500 MILES FROM HOME ON THE WEEKEND. WE HAD TO DRIVE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR HOME 10 HOURS TO NEAREST DEALER WITH THE THREAT OF STALLING IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. WE COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF, NOR STALL IT AS THE CAR INDICATED IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS THE NOX SENSOR. I PAID $625 PLUS TAX TO FIX PART OF THE FRAUDULENT EMISSIONS SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

10905559

Incident

Aug 6, 2016

Mileage

91,000 mi

AD BLUE REDUCTANT TANK FAILED. THUS MAKING THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM NOT WORK PROPERLY. PART # 561-198-970-A IS DEFECTIVE. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY 2013 PASSAT WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FROM VW. HERE IS A LINK TO A THREAD ON THE EXTENT OF THESE FAILURES. HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=438268

NHTSA ID

10896225

Incident

Jul 8, 2016

Mileage

454,031 mi

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 7/14/16. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON 7/15/16 AND LEARNED THAT THE CAR'S ADBLUE HEATER HAD GONE AND WILL COST JUST OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE. THE ADBLUE HEATER HEATS THE ADBLUE TO REMOVE NO2 FOR EMISSIONS, HOWEVER VOLKSWAGEN IS CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THE ADBLUE SYSTEM HAS NOT OTHER PURPOSE THAN FOR EMISSIONS AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL WARRANTY, AS THE EMISSIONS WOULD FALL OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS WITHOUT THIS COMPONENT. PROPER EMISSIONS HELP TO KEEP OUR ENTIRE POPULATION SAFE AND HEALTHY FROM THE HARMFUL POLLUTANTS GENERATED BY VEHICLES. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF THIS FALSE EMISSION SENSOR READING.

NHTSA ID

10886236

Incident

Jul 20, 2016

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10884091

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY. THE TURBOCHARGER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. RATHER THAN OFFER TO REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITH THE UPDATED PART THEY REDESIGNED BEFORE THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS CONTAMINATED WITH METAL FILINGS THEY ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS TO ATTEMP TO DESTROY THEIR ENGINES FIRST. IF MY CAR COULD NOT SURVIVE THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE TURBO NO CAR LIKE THIS WILL SURVIVE. AFTER RECEIVING THE WARRANTY EXTENSION I WAS RELIEVED THAT I HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING BY ALWAYS CHANGING THE OIL AT ONE HALF THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL AND ALWAYS DRIVING LIGHT FOOTED FOR OPTIMAL MILEAGE. I SUPPOSED THAT SINCE I HAD TAKEN PERFECT CARE I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR THIS TRAGIC FAILURE. I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT ON THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE AND HAD TO BE FLATBEDDED TO MY HOME AND THEN FURTHER TO THE DEALER, WHO KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND CHARGED 5000 TO TRY TO UNDO THE DAMAGE DONE BY THIS TURBOCHARGER SELF DESTRUCTING UNDER MY FEET. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF REPEATED OIL FLUSHES AND ALL NEW OIL SYSTEM PARTS WILL BE ENOUGH TO SECURE MY CAR'S MECHANICAL FUTURE. IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMOVE THE TURBOCHARGER BEFORE THE CATASTROPHIC END OCCURS YOU WILL PAY OUT OF POCKET. ONLY AFTER YOUR CAR IS RUINED WILL THEY STEP IN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE STRANDED AS PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES YOU MUST PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT OFF THE CAR WHEN THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT BLINKS. THIS WILL OCCUR WITH NO PRIOR NOTICE FROM THE CAR. MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND INJURED AFTER PULLING OVER IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HAVING DONE THE CORRECT THING IMMEDIATELY DID NOT LESSEN THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. THE LIGHT ONLY COMES ON AFTER THE DAMAGE IS DONE!

NHTSA ID

10874262

Incident

May 22, 2016

Mileage

82,000 mi

I OWN A 2012 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE FIX APPARETLY IS OVER 1000.00 AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MANY 2012 VW PASSAT TDI VEHICLES WHICH ARE RIGHT OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FIX IS A KIT FOR THE ADBLU EMISSIONS SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FREE OF CHARGE FROM VW. CODE P203B REDUCTANT LEVEL SENSOR CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE

NHTSA ID

10861119

Incident

Apr 19, 2016

Mileage

59,200 mi

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A ," LOSS OF POWER" ISSUE AT APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO AROUND 50,000 MILES. IT USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST 10- 15 MINUTES AFTER COLD START UP AND WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING BETWEEN 10 AND 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL BE OPERATING NORMALLY, THEN INSTANTLY LOSE POWER AND START SHUDDERING. WHEN MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THEN, THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES. ALONG WITH LOSS OF POWER, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE ODOR OF DIESEL FUEL WHICH COMES FROM THE OBSERVED FUEL POOLING ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD ONLY WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WILL NOT LET ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF THEIR SAFETY. MANUFACTURER DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT NOT RESOLVE IT. THE MANUFACTURER ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL DEPT HAS BEEN INVOLVED BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO SOLVE AFTER 1.5 YEARS AND NUMEROUS SHOP VISITS.

NHTSA ID

10794309

Incident

Jun 15, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

TURBO FAILURE, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURBO FAILURE. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD SAFELY.

NHTSA ID

10781502

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

78,994 mi

DESPITE PERFORMING THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED (VERY EXPENSIVE) MAINTENANCE FOR THIS VEHICLE, WE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH OUR 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THIS CAR WAS A COMMUTER VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVEN 110 MILES/5 DAYS PER WEEK AT 55-65 MPH. WE THOUGHT THAT WITH PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE THIS CAR WITH ITS DIESEL ENGINE WOULD LAST MORE THAN 111,000 MILES... WE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED AND FRANKLY IRATE. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY. OUR ISSUES WERE: AT NUMEROUS MILEAGES, OUR HEAD, TAIL AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $50/INSTANCE. AT 104,738 MILES, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE WINDOW PIN WAS REPLACED FOR $184.05. AT 101,019 MILES, THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,260.76. AT 111,166 MILES, OUR 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND LOUD ON TRIP. WE MADE IT HOME AND MY HUSBAND BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE VOLKSWAGEN SHOP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT BEARINGS BROKE OFF AND DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF OUR ENGINE. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT A WHOPPING $6,865.76. AT 127,115 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE STARTER HAD GONE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE SOLD THE PASSAT ON THE SPOT TO THE DEALER BEFORE FIXING THIS ISSUE. WE COULD NOT BEAR TO SELL THIS CAR TO A PRIVATE PARTY.

NHTSA ID

10767581

Incident

Nov 8, 2014

Mileage

112,000 mi

WAS ON RAMP ENTERING I-5 SOUTH OFF CLAIREMONT (SAN DIEGO) WHEN ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR PREVIOUS SIGNS. STEERING AND BRAKES STOPPED BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE. THE CAR DID NOT START RIGHT UP RIGHT AWAY. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND I HAD JUST STOPPED TO GET GAS; SHE GOT OUT OF CAR TO CHECK GAS CAP. IT WAS ON TIGHTLY. SHE GOT BACK INSIDE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, DOORS UNLOCKED ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO DEALER 8.21.2015 AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND NOTHING RECORDED IN THE CAR'S SYSTEM. THEY KNOW I AM VERY CONCERNED AND THIS IS VERY DISTURBING.

NHTSA ID

10758637

Incident

Aug 11, 2015

Mileage

27,811 mi