Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 75 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 75, in the owner's own words
Clockspring Recall. Horn not working, buttons on steering column not working, when turning steering wheel it makes a clicking noise, sounds like spring being pulled, driver side air bag light is illuminated on dash.
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated and remained illuminated. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there were false DTC codes displayed while performing the diagnostic test. The vehicle was then taken the dealer and the contact was informed that a diagnostic test was needed to determine the cause of the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
Driver side headlight showing as out, but not fixable by replacing bulb; wiring issue.
The component that failed is in the official dealer report. I am not an expert however definitely an issue with electrical, engine, steering and acceleration meter. The car shakes/jolts aggressively. Once the shaking of the vehicle begins it accelerates with the breaks being pressed in under a red light and also under parked mode. In the red light case the vehicle then turns off the steering wheel freezes and all power comes off. The shaking/jolting takes place as I am driving as well. Which I then have to pull to the right to ensure my safety and others. This is major safety concern as it accelerates /jolts forward which can cause harm to pedestrians crossing the street, having me enter crossing traffic causing a major accident to myself and others. I have the brakes pressed in having no control of the vehicle. The vehicle turning off as I am driving is a major safety concern as I can cause an issue specially going on higher speed like freeways. The steering wheel comes into a complete freeze once the vehicle turns off as I’m operating the vehicle which then does not allow me to control the movement of the vehicle if I want to pull to the right away from traffic to avoid collisions. Once the car looses electricity and the steering wheel freezes I have to force my car to the right or a safe space. I then have to take my car key off the ignition and then turn it back on in hopes that it does turn on. No warning lamps have turned on. My dashboard is cleared with no lights. The dealer in downtown Los Angeles was informed of this issue, inspected and the report did come back reporting manufacturing issues. My vehicle did have a steering wheel recall before which I assumed was resolved as I did previously visit their center to ensure I was safe driving and leaving the dealer I trusted that the issue was resolved by their expert and experienced personnel. I am not sure or it’s unknown if this might have anything to do with the current issue I have.
To Whom It May Concern. Good afternoon. I really need your help on this. This particular vehicle has a defective DEF emission system that renders the car inoperable when the DEF sensors start acting up. Between 2022-2023, I took this vehicle to the Volkswagen dealership on numerous times, over ten different times. This vehicle was still protected under a factory emissions DEF extended warranty. The engine mounted diesel injection pump was changed by me when the Volkswagen dealer refused to honor the defective diesel injection pump. The DEF emissions systems has had numerous issues including shutting off on the freeway due to defective DEF sensors. Between 2022-2023 I was forced to keep the vehicle on for up to 96 hours costing me considerable expenses in fuel, and abnormally high mechanical wear and tear on my vehicle because I was unable to turn the vehicle off due to a Volkswagen diesel no-restart emissions issue that can only be repaired at the Volkswagen dealership. VWOA has acted in extremely bad faith causing unnecessary hardship on their customers that erroneously purchased a Volkswagen Passat diesel with the DEF emission system. Volkswagen ripped me off by selling a defective vehicle, then refusing to honor their factory extended emissions warranty on the defective DEF systems. Please intervene. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The clock spring is out on the vehicle again
Hi , My 2014 Passat driven by a family member struck a parked truck. Luckily, nobody was hurt! The parked car was not occupied and the driver of the Passat was able to exit the vehicle unharmed. The speed was about 35 mph and the air bags deployed. This front collision resulted in a major fire that totally destroyed the car. The insurance company (Progressive) is currently in the possession of the car. And one other important thing to note is that, about 2 years ago, this car was also involved in a different accident when it reared a car. That collision did not result in the deployment of the air bags but caused lots of damage. The radiator and lots of the plastic in the front needed replacement at that time. I don't recall the exact amount for the damage, but we ended up paying the full 2k deductible to get the car back.
Please see attached uploaded file.
Check engine comes on 2014 VW Passat TDI 68,000 miles. Dealer code shows NOx sensor is bad. This car is covered through 2024 and 120000 miles by VW extended emissions warranty due to Diesel emissions fraud settlement with US Government. VW refusing to honor warranty and make repair.
A faulty clockspring in the steering wheel failed so the driver air bag and the horn do not work. The car can’t pass a safety inspection. This is a faulty part that the NHTSA issued a recall for some years back (I believe in 2015). The replacement part has been back order for upwards of 9 months for 1000s of VWs in the US. If the cars cannot pass a state safety inspection there should be a safety recall issued immediately.
The clocksping in the steering wheel is broken, but the part has been backordered for over a year. The broken clockspring makes the horn and buttons on the steering wheel unusable and the airbag will not deploy.
I belive the clock spring has malfunctioned on my car, the air bag light won't go off and the horn does not work. This has put my safety at risk because twice last week a car almost side swiped me and I have no horn. I called the dealer and they said my particular model isn't covered under the recall but It says volkswagen passat models 2010-2014. I have not taken my car to the dealership yet. The airbag light and horn stopped working at the same time about a month ago and I have replace the the fuse and relay switch and the air bag light is still on and the horn still doesn't work.
Clock spring is broken, and no one has replacement parts. They have been backordered with Volkswagen for MONTHS. Air bag, horn, and steering wheel radio control do not work. Won't pass safety inspection.
The clock spring within the steering wheel has failed and is no longer functional. The airbag sensor warning light has come on. The horn no longer works, and I cannot warn drivers crossing over into my lane who may not see me in their blind spot. And as far as I understand, the main steering wheel airbag no longer works either. The idea that my main airbag system will not deploy in an event of accident is worrisome. I went to a dealership and informed them that its most likely a clock spring issue as I googled the issue; it’s quite common in their cars. They confirmed it for me, after taking a $139 ‘inspection’ fee which was no more than a tech scanning my car and checking the three main indicative problems I already reported to them. I was at about 120,090 miles at the time. I was informed that their clock spring warranty only covers up to 120,000 miles but was assured they will most likely be able to cover it after talking with the Volkswagen representative. It wasn’t covered. I was then told it would be another $600 to use their services, and the part would take a few weeks to come in. I later called the parts department as I did not want to pay an exorbitant labor fee; the inspection fee was insult enough. I was informed the parts department is five months backordered. So now, I’m either forced to pay for their service to get the part within a few weeks or wait five months from the parts department all the while driving with no horn or wheel airbag. I'm now forced to use their services, which run at a premium compared to normal mechanics, if I wish to have basic safety features on my car. This seems exploitative of the consumer on a safety problem that has persisted for years, and one Volkswagen is responsible for causing with their faulty manufacturing.
I bought an extended warranty on this car and it does not cover ESC light coming on . Car is burning oil. I’m afraid to drive due to the ESC also car misfires hardly
MY 2014 VW PASSAT TURBO HAS AN ISSUE WITH NO HORN, NOTHING ON STEERING WHEEL WORKS AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE DASH. THE LOCAL VW DEALSHIP MOSES VW OF BARBROURSVILLE, WV TOLD ME THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AT THIS TIME BC THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS REPLACED. VW REPS TOLD ME IT IS NOT A RECALL JUST AN EXTENTION OF WARRANTY TO 120,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 131,000 OF COURSE. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND WAS ALMOST IN A BAD WRECK BC SHE HAD NO HORN AND THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHICH IS VERY SCARY. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL? I HAVE AN APPT TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT MOSES BUT I WANT THIS CHANGED TO A RECALL. IT IS A COMPLETE SAFETY ISSUE. I HOLD A MASTERS DEGREE IN SAFETY MYSELF AND AM VERY CONCERNED NOT JUST FOR MYSELF BUT FOR OTHERS. I LOVE THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE. ENTER MESSAGE
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IN ARIZONA. IT HAS ONLY EVER BEEN SERVICED BY VOLKWAGEN DEALERSHIPS. SINCE HAVING THE CAR, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE ITS TURBO REPAIRED, NEW FUEL LINES PUT IN, SEVERAL ELECTRONIC PARTS, AND FINALLY ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL FROM BOSTON TO PITTSBURGH, MY ENGINE STARTS SMOKING. AFTER THIS INCIDENT IT WENT TO 'MINUTEMAN VOLKSWAGEN' JUST OUTSIDE OF BOSTON, WHERE THE ISSUE WAS STILL NOT ABLE TO BE RESOLVED. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE CAR SHIPPED OUT OF POCKET TO A VOLKWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN PITTSBURGH WHERE A NEW ELECTRONICS UNIT WAS PUT IN. I WAS ASSURED AFTER THIS ELECTRONIC UNIT WAS INSTALLED, MY CAR WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL, AS THIS WAS NOT AN ENGINE ISSUE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TODAY I RECEIVE A CALL INFORMING ME THAT THE ELECTRONICS UNIT WAS INSTALLED AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT IS, IN FACT, AN ENGINE ISSUE. I WAS IN SERIOUS DANGER AT THE TIME MY ENGINE STARTED SMOKING. MY FAMILY HAS FUNDS AND ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE WHATEVER STEPS NECESSARY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MY MOTHER DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN 2018 IN A CAR ADVERTISING EXCEPTIONAL SAFETY (JUST LIKE THIS ONE). IT HAS PROVIDED ME WITH THE OPPOSITE. I FEEL CONSTANTLY UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE SMOKING ENGINE WAS THE TIPPING POINT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. THIS ISSUE WILL BE ADDRESSED.
CAR STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO CLICK. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN DOES NOT WORK AND LOST CONTROL OFF ALL SWITCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO CLICK. NEXT TIME DRIVING THE CAR, I HAD A ERROR AIRBAG READING AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HORN DOESN'T WORK.
STEERING CLOCK SPRING WAS REPORTEDLY FIXED AS PART OF THE RECALL BUT HAS FAILED AGAIN. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. HORN DOES NOT WORK. STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS DO NOT WORK. CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. VW WILL NOT REPAIR THE RECALL WORK DONE WITHOUT CHARGE. SEATBELT TENSIONER IS ALSO NOW REPORTEDLY AFFECTED.
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING NOISE. SHORTLY AFTER THE HORN OR CONTROLS ARE NOT WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.
BACK UP CAMERA, RADIO DO NOT WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS. HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A WEIRD BLIP. BLUE TOOTH DISABLES MY ABILITY TO MAKE OR RECEIVE A CALL WHILE IN THE CAR. RADIO CUTS OFF OR NEVER COMES ON WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. TELEPHONE VOICE COMMAND IS STUCK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND EVEN DEALER COULDN'T GET IT TO CHANGE BACK TO ENGLISH COMMANDS. DRIVERS DOOR LOCK STICKS AND WON'T OPEN FROM OUTSIDE AND SOMETIMES INSIDE. NEED TO GET OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SOMETIMES GETTING IN I HAVE TO GO TO PASSENGER SIDE AND CAN OPEN FROM INSIDE. DAYS CAN PASS AND THINGS WORK OK AND THEN OUT OF NO WHERE, THEY DON'T WORK?? MAYBE ELECTRICAL OR SOFTWARE ISSUE??
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY AN AIRBAG ERROR ON THE DASH. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND HORN NO LONGER WORK.
IT WAS TELLING ME IN THE MESSAGE CENTER THAT MY REAR LEFT BLINKER WAS OUT I REPLACED IT THEN MY BLINGER BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT AND TAIL LIGHT ON THE OUTTER LEFT WUATER I REPLACED THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY AND STILL NOTHING BUT I'M NOT RECEIVING ANYTHING IN THE MESSAGE CENTER
I HAD TURNED MY CAR ON AND NOTICED MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME ON AND ALL MY CONTROLS AND HORN HAD STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I TOOK IT INTO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SHOWED ME A RECALL THAT HAPPENED IN 2015. THE RECALL SAID THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING MAY FAIL AND THAT THIS COULD EFFECT ALL CONTROLS, INCLUDING THE HORN. (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000) THEY ASKED ME TO LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE FIXING. SO, I CALLED THE VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER TO CHECK, AND UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS 2012-2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THE COST OF THIS HAPPENING TO MY CAR IS OVER $800.00. NOTHING I DID TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, IT JUST HAPPENED. I AM BAFFLED THAT THIS WAS A RECALL IN THE PAST AND ONLY COVERED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF VINS. CLEARLY, MY CAR AND OTHERS (BASED OFF OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ) ARE HAVING THIS SAME SAFETY ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS LIABLE FOR BUT NOT TAKING IT INTO ACCOUNT. I AM VERY UPSET KNOWING THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS COST. WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A RECALL IF THEY ONLY FIX A FRACTION OF THE CARS? VERY DISAPPOINTED. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .