2012 Volkswagen Passat Fuel system Problems

I noticed a fuel smell in the cabin area that continued to get worse. After pulling the back seat I was able to visually see the fuel pump that had lots of micro cracks which was causing a fuel leak. The leak was very dangerous and caused major foam damage to my rear seat and was a major hazard had anything caused an ignition in the cabin, it certainly would have burned the vehicle. I saved the fuel pumped after having a local shop replace it.

NHTSA ID

11671362

Incident

Jun 15, 2025

The fuel pump design to last the life of the vehicle exploded this is a 10k fix they ( extended the warranty to 120000 miles instead of replacing the bad pumps im at 1290000 miles i don’t understand how this is acceptable given the amount of issues and occurrences the fuel pump has exploded

NHTSA ID

11582945

Incident

Apr 10, 2024

Stop on middle of the freeway twice and one on the road. Be replace the hoof 24 months ago now again dealer claim need to change the whole fuel system it’s 2012 Passat to modification done 2017. For another 6900 dollars this consumer ripoff by be. Car now is in the dealer. It’s dirito brothers volkswagon. 2020 n main st Walnut Creek. Scary to stop on [XXX] with this at night with a dog onboard. Very confused vw customer who 2 other vw. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11565707

Incident

Jan 14, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power with the battery warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer who informed the contact that the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

NHTSA ID

11499015

Incident

Dec 16, 2022

Mileage

83,000 mi

The DPF keeps causing the engine light to come on when there isn’t anything wrong but it also makes the car use more fuel every time this happens

NHTSA ID

11429138

Incident

Jun 16, 2021

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11338169

Incident

Apr 1, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

WAS DRIVING FINE ONE DAY AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK I DROVE IT...STARTED TO SEE LEAKS UNDER MY CAR AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE AC ON. IT GOT HARD TO TURN...FELT STIFF. WAS NOTICING THAT I WAS STARTING TO PAY MORE IN POWER STEERING FLUID TO KEEP MY CAR GOING. CONSIDERING I ONLY HAD IT 3MONTHS SINCE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11323082

Incident

Oct 15, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE, WAS ALMOST HIT BY SEMI-TRUCK. FUEL PUMP SENT METAL SHARDS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW DEALERSHIP QUOTED COST OF $ 6000 TO REBUILD ENTIRE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. WHAT A WAY TO START MY FAMILY VACATION STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR 4 HOURS ON A SUNDAY.

NHTSA ID

11209300

Incident

May 19, 2019

Mileage

176,000 mi

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST KILLED ME AND MY DAUGHTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT BUT IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. I THINK IT COULD WELL BE THE STARTER AS MANY 2011 BUILD VW PASSATS WERE AFFECTED.

NHTSA ID

11208500

Incident

May 18, 2019

Mileage

121,000 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

FUELL PUMP CONTROL COMPUTER MODULE LOST POWER. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC! IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS ETC. CAUSING A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSSIBILITY OF DEATH SITUATION. VW HAS HAD THIS ITEM RECALLED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME! VW STILL HAS NO FIIX TO DATE!

NHTSA ID

11092391

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

I GOT A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGON STATING THAT A RECALL WAS GOING TO BE MADE ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP COULD JUST STOP WORKING ,OR MY CAR COULD JUST STOP IN MOTION WHILE I'M DRIVING OR JUST NOT START ALL TOGETHER. I GOT THIS LETTER BACK IN OCTOBER 2017 AND HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM SINCE.

NHTSA ID

11083797

Incident

Oct 1, 2017

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

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE FUEL VAPOR LEAK DETECTION PUMP IMPROPERLY WORKING CAN RESULT IN HEALTH ISSUES.DUETO THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT REDUCING ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION DUE TO HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS,

NHTSA ID

10981174

Incident

Apr 27, 2017

I HAVE A 2012 VW PASSAT TDI VEHICLE WITH 78,000 MILES AS OF OCTOBER 124, 2016. IT IS EFFECTED BY THE TDI EMISSIONS ISSUE AND QUALIFIES UNDER THE COURT SETTLEMENT THAT HAS YET TO BE APPROVED. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AD BLUE HEATER WHICH SCRUBS NOX (ALBEIT NOT VERY WELL) FROM THE EXHAUST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,100.00. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND CAME TO FIND OUT THAT APPARENTLY THIS HAS HAPPENED HUNDREDS OF TIMES TO TDI OWNERS ESPECIALLY 2012 MODELS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE FAILURE IS A FUNCTION OF TIME NOT MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN NEWER MODELS. IT IS IRONIC THAT EVEN AFTER PAYING THE $1,100 MY CAR IS STILL OUT OF EMISSIONS COMPLIANCE! I REQUEST THAT VW BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND REIMBURSE OWNERS REGARDLESS OF THE VEHICLES MILEAGE FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10916776

Incident

Sep 26, 2016

Mileage

77,500 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

MECHANIC FOUND A CODE FOR A DEFECTIVE ADBLUE LEVEL SENSOR AFTER I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO CHECK THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THEY REMOVED THE ADBLUE TANK AND INSTALLED AN UPDATE KIT. YES, UPDATE KIT, WHICH TELLS ME VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL LEVEL SENSOR EQUIPMENT. FINAL COST OF THE REPAIR: $1053.51. THIS SHOULD BE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM, OR RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10905649

Incident

Sep 8, 2016

Mileage

61,000 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FUEL VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10846466

Incident

Feb 24, 2015

GAS GAUGE WAS NOT READING FULL WHEN TAKEN TO GAS STATION, ALTHOUGH GAS DISPENSER CLICKED OFF AS FULL. HAPPENED MANY TIMES AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS. TOOK MY CAR IN TO VW DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT GAS VENT WAS NOT WORKING NOT ALLOWING MY CAR TO FILL COMPLETELY. THEY STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE GAS TANK, ~ $2000. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR. THEY STATED IT WAS NOT A SAFETY SITUATION???

NHTSA ID

10808218

Incident

Dec 3, 2015

Mileage

96,800 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

NOX SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED OUT OF RANGE CODE. WAS QUOTED 655 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. NOX SENSORS ARE NOT REQUIRED BY FEDERALLY MANDATED 80K EMISSIONS WARRANTY SO VW WON'T INCLUDE VOLUNTARILY. ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING THIS FIXED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AGAIN WITH CODE P203B, REDACTANT LEVEL RANGE/PERFORMANCE. SPEAKING A FEW TIMES WITH TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THIS LIKELY MEANS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AD BLUE HEATER UNIT AND TANK WHICH IS OVER 1000 DOLLARS. AGAIN, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10766447

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

61,000 mi

THE TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND AS A RESULT, ALSO CAUSED THE GAS LINE AND FUEL INJECTORS TO FAIL BECAUSE METAL WAS SENT THROUGH THE CAR. THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WILL NO LONGER TURN ON.

NHTSA ID

10750165

Incident

Jul 29, 2015

Mileage

84,240 mi

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING.

NHTSA ID

10745141

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi