2012 Volkswagen Passat Steering Problems

Any time it rains and the car goes through a deeper than surface level puddle/wet area where the nose of the car has to dip down (think by railroad tracks, high water retention areas with lack of drainage, etc) as soon as the car dips down into the water, the steering wheel will lock up and I am unable to turn. It's severely dangerous as there is no give at all to the wheel as it is solidly locked and if you happen to be taking a curve or changing lanes etc, you will not be able to turn the car. My husband and myself have narrowly escaped severe car accidents as this is random and there is nothing you can do except try to force the wheel to turn. When I say the wheel is locked, it's a good 15-20 seconds of desperation trying to turn the wheel before it finally unlocks and I am able to correct the direction of the car. Living in FL with high rainfall chances, including sporadic downpours that unfortunately leave situations like this to occur often, it is a severe safety risk for myself and for other drivers. I have been lucky so far that when this has occurred I have been able to eventually correct the steering, however there have been several severe near misses that are completely out of my control. Please help find a solution, as there doesn't seem to be a fix for this anywhere that I've looked. I do not want to spend money I don't have taking it from dealership to dealership for them to be just as stumped as we are. I have two young kids and not only do I not feel safe letting them in the car, I seriously dread any time it rains because of this issue. I'm not talking about driving through deep bodies of water, but normal rainy weather situations on everyday roads that are otherwise uneventful. Unfortunately I am in an area where water seems to gather quite a bit on the everyday roads I need for work and this situation is truly unavoidable. I put one date below as when it occurred, but it has happened several times in the last week alone due to heavy rains

NHTSA ID

11543082

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a clicking sound was coming from the steering column. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated, with the cruise control feature inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clockspring was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the failure was repaired on two previous occasions. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11517807

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

Mileage

120,000 mi

Lost power reconnect batter n steering locked

NHTSA ID

11462325

Incident

Apr 26, 2022

I was driving this particular day through a busyfour way stoplight intersection around time school was dismissing so 3:30ish PM. And I lost all power to my vehicle with just the battery light flashing once. I barely made it out of the i intersection and to the shoulder of the road as there was no power steering and i had to pump my breaks to stop. I called the local police and let them know it would be towed tomorrow morning. The tow bill was 100 dollars and i had replaced the battery thinking it was the problem. The brand new battery drained in two minutes tops after install alternator was tested and fuses were in working order all except for one that went to my12 volt charging port which was replaced as well as serpentine belt was replaced with alternator test. The battery still drains instantly and when speaking with volkswagon suntrup in sunset hills st. Louis which is the nearest Volkswagen dealership about 30 minute drive my car still is under a dealership warranty for the national emissions recall that was just fixed after i purchased the vehicle. The dealership refuses to come get/ fix/ diagnose or rectify vehicle although admitting to knowing this year has parasitic draws instally killing a brand new battery even while driving was/is a very dangerous situation for me and my family. This car has been sitting in my drive way now for 6 months while nothing is being by vw and i am without safe or working transportation for my family. Ive also been told by vw. That they cant find some parasitic draws and are confused as me!

NHTSA ID

11453736

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

The clock spring has went out on my 2012 VW Passat, but VW does not have them in stock, nor do they know when they'll have them in stock. This means that the drivers air bag will not work in the event of an accident. They are not doing a recall, but are doing an "extended warranty". They are knowingly putting unsafe vehicles out on the road.

NHTSA ID

11453648

Incident

Feb 2, 2022

THIS VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE I BOUGHT IT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON I DON'T THINK THE RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY CAUSE I HAVE SAME ISSUE AS IT WAS STATED BY OTHER DRIVER'S AIRBAG LIGHT ON STEERING MAKING NOISE IT'S RIDICULOUS

NHTSA ID

11415765

Incident

May 9, 2021

Mileage

165,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL HAD A SLIGHT TUG AND A NOISE. LOST ALL FUNCTIONS ON STEERING WHEEL. WAS ON A COUNTRY RD. TOOK IT TO A VW MECHANIC IN QUINCY PA ON SEPT 4 2020. THEY SAID THE CLOCK SPRING BROKE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. I LOOKED IT UP AND RECALL NUMBER 15V483000 CAME UP. IT WAS ALREADY FIXED EVIDENTLY. I GUESS I SHOULD NOT HAVE IT DONE NOW IT IS COSTING 800 DOLLARS.

NHTSA ID

11360343

Incident

Jul 15, 2020

Mileage

109,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD VERY WEIRD NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL EVERYTIME I TURN IT IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE NEXT DAY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. BY THE TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, MY HORN STOPS WORKING. SO THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE 2012 VW PASSAT. WHAT CONCERNS ME MOST IS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL FAIL IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A NON WORKING HORNE

NHTSA ID

11354614

Incident

Sep 11, 2020

Mileage

98,000 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

MY VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF ONCE STARTED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND THE IGNITION BECOME STUCK AND I CAN NO LONGER TURN MY CAR OFF. SINCE MY CAR CAN'T TURN OFF, IT WILL BE ON FOR HOURS ON END UNTIL THE GAS RUNS OUT OR UNTIL I GET SOMEONE TO CUT THE BATTERY TO MAKE THE CAR STOP RUNNING. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE I WAS AFFRAID TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE AND NOT BE ABLE TO TURN MY CAR OFF FOR HOURS ON END. I FEEL I AM NOT ABLE TO USE MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND IS NOT EVEN 10 YEARS OLD. I FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO USE.

NHTSA ID

11253040

Incident

Aug 27, 2019

Mileage

66,000 mi

MY STARTER HAS BEEN NOT WORKING IVE REPLACED IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH ORIGINAL PARTS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC & HE TOLD ME THIS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH IS WHY MY STREERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED UP THAT IT DOESNT READ THE KEY. ALSO RECENTLY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING ON & OFF TELLING ME ERROR CHECK BRAKES , ERROR CHECK TIRES & MY RADIO KEEPS TURNING ON & OFF, ALSO MY LIGHTS FROM INSIDE THE CAR DONT WORK. YESTERDAY MY CAR DIDNT WANT TO PUT THE WINDOWS UP & AFTER MY CAR DIDNT WANT TO TURN ON & MY KEY WOULDNT COME OUT OF THE KEY HOLE. IT TURNED OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A STREET GOING UP A HILL I HAD TO BREAK SO FAST BECAUSE IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. SO I TOWED IT HOME & NOW IT DOESNT TURN ON AT ALL OR WORK.

NHTSA ID

11203808

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

FEB 2018 VW REPLACED THE AIRBAGS AND CLOCK SPRING. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON TOGETHER WITH THE ABS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS. I HAVE NO POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, NO HORN ETC. MY STEERING IS GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER TO TURN. I'M SURE THIS POSES SOME SORT OF A SAFETY RISK ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE. I WISH VW WOULD CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A NATIONWIDE REMEDY TO CURE THIS DEFECT. THE SOONER THE BETTER SINCE VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE 2011. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED. I GOT INTO IT TO GO TO WORK AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. PLEASE HELP YOUR CONSUMERS TO CURE THIS DEFECT AND NOT PUT A BAND-AID ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11186575

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO O'STEEN VOLKSWAGEN (904-322-5100, LOCATED AT 11401 PHILIPS HWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256) WHERE THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SAME DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING AGAIN. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SAME PART WAS REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11184891

Incident

Jun 5, 2016

AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE AFTER PREVIOUS RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. ENCOUNTERED STEERING WHEEL RESISTANCE TO CORNERING AND HEARD CRUNCHING NOISE AS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS INCLUDING HORN WERE LOST. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SERVICE STATED OVER PHONE THAT THIS WAS UNRELATED TO PREVIOUS RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED.

NHTSA ID

11145080

Incident

Sep 20, 2018

Mileage

85,000 mi

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECAL 69L2 STATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING IN MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT COULD FAIL. THE CLOCK SPRING DID FAIL AND WAS REPAIRED IN 2015 UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. ON OCT 5TH 2018 THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING FAILED AGAIN AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE 2015 RECALL. WITH A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING THE DRIVER AIR BAG IS DISABLED. THE HORN IS DISABLED AND ALL CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ARE DISABLED. THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING BROKE AS I WAS MAKING A NORMAL RIGHT HAND TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11139057

Incident

Oct 5, 2018

Mileage

78,000 mi

LAST MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2018, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON SURFACE STREETS, I STARTED TO HEAR A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER I TURNED THE WHEEL. MY AIRBAG LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, I WAS WORRIED THAT MY STEERING WOULD FAIL FROM ALL THE NOISE I WAS HEARING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ONCE I GOT HOME, I RESEARCHED ONLINE WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE AND I ALSO VERIFIED WITH THE VW DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING COIL AND MY AIRBAG AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT THE MAIN SAFETY FEATURE WHICH IS THE AIRBAG. I WENT TO THE VENTURA VW DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 20,2018 TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING COIL. THEY KEPT MY CAR OVERNIGHT AND I HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FROM THEM. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, VW KNEW THAT THE CLOCK SPRING COIL COULD BREAK AND THEREFORE THEY ISSUED THE VW RECALL # 15V483000 IN 8/14/2015, TO PLACE A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING. I HAD THIS RECALL ALREADY DONE TO MY CAR PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE HAPPENING. THEREFORE IT SEEMS THAT VW'S RECALL FIX DID NOT PREVENT THE CLOCK SPRING FROM BREAKING IN MY CAR. THE VENTURA VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ATTEMPTED TO HAVE VW REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THEY WOULD NOT. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY VW SINCE THEY KNEW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT WITH A RECALL IN 2015 WHICH FAILED. MY CAR'S CLOCK SPRING BROKE DESPITE HAVING THE VW RECALL PROTECTIVE COVER IN PLACE AND IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11138937

Incident

Sep 16, 2018

Mileage

46,750 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY CAR 14 MONTHS AGO, AND IMMEDIATELY GOT IT FIXED. THE RECALL WAS FOR MY STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING- THIS AFFECTS MY HORN, AIRBAGS, AND HANDS FREE PHONE OPTION. I GOT IT FIXED IN JULY 2017. 14 MONTHS LATER (TODAY) IT BROKE AGAIN. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FAULT ON VOLKSWAGEN'S PART. BECAUSE ITS AFTER 12 MONTHS, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE BROKEN PART AND FIX IT. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE PART THAT COST $300.00. THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I AM AFRAID MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK, LET ALONE MY HORN ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT WORK. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD HONOR THIS ISSUE, AND MAKE AN EXCEPTION, SINCE IT IS A TWO MONTHS DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ID

11131963

Incident

Sep 26, 2018

MY CAR HAS 59900 MILES, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, I CAN NOT TURN OFF MY CAR NOW. I SEARCHED ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE TO VW CARS, MANY VW OWNERS COMPLAIN THE KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION AND CAN NOT TURN OFF ENGINE, THEY HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO DEALER TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID

11119761

Incident

Aug 12, 2018

Mileage

59,900 mi

ON 01/10/18 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SOME RECALLS. ON 05/22/18, I HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALL OF THE STEERING-MOUNTED CONTROLS FAILED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND CAN HEAR THE NOISES MOST WHEN TURNING. BASED ON MY RESEARCH AND TALK WITH OTHER VW DRIVERS, IT APPEARS TO BE THE CLOCK SPRING (WHICH HAD A RECALL ON IT, AND WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED). I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, DOES THIS NOT INDICATE THE RECALL PERFORMED FAILED? THAT BEING SAID, I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AROUND IN A VEHICLE THAT SAYS MY AIRBAG WONT DEPLOY IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11097914

Incident

May 22, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

CLOCK SPRING FAILED AFTER BEING "FIXED" BY PREVIOUS RECALL. IN EARLY 2016 I HAD THE RECALL ON MY CLOCK SPRING. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHERE THEY PUT ON THE COVER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE CLOCK SPRING ISSUE. TWO DAYS AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND TODAY I NOTICED MY HORN AND THE CONTROLS ON MY STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. VW WILL NOT FIX THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T ACTUALLY REPLACED DURING THE PREVIOUS RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11097068

Incident

May 19, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR 2 RECALLS AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY CLOCK SPRING. ONE OF THE RECALLS THEY ARE DOING REPLACES THE CLOCK SPRING COVER. THEY QUOTED ME A NEW CLOCK SPRING FOR ~$500. THEY ARE REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING COVER FOR A CLOCK SPRING THAT IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

11093654

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING NOISE. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NIELLO VOLKSWAGEN (2701 ARDEN WAY, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIRS WERE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED; THEREFORE, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,789. *JS *TT

NHTSA ID

11080741

Incident

Mar 17, 2018

Mileage

47,789 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ONTARIO VOLKSWAGEN (701 SOUTH KETTERING DR, ONTARIO, CA, 91761) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CARFAX NOT ABLE TO DISPLAY VIN RECORDS UPDATED 9/26/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11075259

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

GOT A RECALL ON CLOCK SPRING IN 2016 HAD IT REPAIRED. WENT OUT AND LIGHT IS NOW ON. TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CLOCK SPRING FOR OVER $500. I WAS TOLD IT HAPPENS, BUT I JUST SAW THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION. DEALER TOLD ME THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ID

11073090

Incident

Feb 15, 2018

CLOCK SPRING FAILURE AFTER RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. 2-8-2018 - UPON STARTING TO DRIVE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL I HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING AIR BAG NOT WORKING, ALL CONTROL SWITCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HORN WAS NOT WORKING. I HAD THE RECALL FOR THE PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING INSTALLED AT THE VW DEALER IN MARCH 2016. VW DEALER AND THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TELL ME THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CLOCK SPRING IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE SINCE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED OVER 12 MONTHS AGO. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THE COVER RECALL FIX WAS NOT THE CORRECT FIX AND POSSIBLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM I NOW HAVE WITH THE CAR. SINCE VW KNEW THERE WAS A RE-DESIGN OF THE CLOCK SPRING TO CORRECT A DESIGN FLAW THE COVER RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO AUTOMATICALLY REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING WITH THE IMPROVED DESIGN. I'M BEING TOLD I'LL HAVE TO PAY $500 TO MAKE THE REPAIR WHICH I FIND VERY UNFAIR IN LIGHT OF THE RE-DESIGN FOR THE PART OR THE POSSIBILITY THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT CORRECT AND MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBELM NOW.

NHTSA ID

11071933

Incident

Feb 8, 2018

Mileage

70,900 mi