2017 Volkswagen Passat Airbags Problems

While backing into a parking spot there was a crunching sound in the steering column. Following this noise the air bag light came on and all steering wheel control buttons nonfunctional including the horn. I reached out to a Volkswagen dealer as I had seen recalls for the clockspring, I was told my vehicle was not included in the recall. This is a 2017 Passat and had approximately 130,000 miles when this occurred. The closest dealer is over 2 hours away, and the service department is only open Monday-Friday.

NHTSA ID

11662117

Incident

Jan 3, 2024

Today, as my wife was driving home, she heard a "crunch" noise while making a turn. Afterwards, the Airbag light came on, and her steering wheel botton functions are not working, including her car horn. This all relates to the clockspring. This will be the third time we have had the clockspring replaced. This is extremely inconvenient, as the dealership is an hour away. The original clockspring didn't break until October 2023. The second broke and replaced in August of 2024. Now, we are scheduling to have the clockspring replaced again, 6 months later. I am unsure why the part is so unreliable. Whomever manufactures the part needs to do a FAR better job. This was our first new car, and now we regret the purchase due to this headache.

NHTSA ID

11655558

Incident

Apr 18, 2025

Clock spring on vehicle has failed. This is a known issue with many VW vehicles, but I have been told my vehicle is not on the extended warranty program. 2017 VW Passat - approximately 150,000 miles. This eliminates all steering wheel controls, horn, cruise control, and air bags.

NHTSA ID

11604563

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Our 2017 VW Passat had the clockspring replaced last year under warranty number [XXX] at Barnes Crossing Volkswagen in Tupelo, MS. The airbag stopped working and safety features such as adaptive cruise control were also not available. Not realizing the airbag would NOT deploy in the event of an accident, Volkswagen asked us to drive an hour to have it repaired which was considerably dangerous. As of today the clockspring they replaced once again failed with the same associated problems. I am submitting a report due to how dangerous this problem is considering they supposedly fixed the issue however it seems multiple people have reported the issue coming back. The fact the airbag could stop working at anytime due to a defective clockspring is very troublesome and make me worry in the event of an accident if the clockspring will fail thus not allowing the airbag to deploy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11584287

Incident

Apr 21, 2024

Clock spring has failed 5 times within a year. The first clock spring replacement failed two weeks after the repair. I the. took it to a different dealership to be repaired. The second clock spring broke about 6 months later. The third clock spring broke two weeks after the repair. The fourth clock spring broke two months later and I am about to have it repaired within the next week. Due to the faulty clock spring, the driver side air bag will not deploy in the event of an accident and I have no use of the horn - both of which are necessary when living in South Florida. There are only two dealerships within reasonable driving distance to have the repair done (while the part is under warranty). It takes at least a week, if not more, to get an appointment at the dealership to ensure they have the part at the time of the repair. During which time, I have no choice but to drive the vehicle without the use of the air bag. Even though I can tell when the clock spring is likely about to break, I cannot take it to the dealership for repair until it has actually broken. This is not only extremely inconvenient, but hazardous as I’d be without safety mechanisms in the event of an accident. This should not be a reoccurring issue with the vehicle. The dealership has gone as far as contacting VW support to ensure the correct part is replaced and repaired properly, yet it continues to happen. It is unrelated to my driving or the way the part has been repaired. It is simply faulty parts being supplied.

NHTSA ID

11573880

Incident

Feb 21, 2024

My clock spring has broken. It is giving major safety concerns because my front airbag will not work. The horn does not work, limiting my communication with other drivers in case of impending accidents. None of the buttons work on my steering column as well.

NHTSA ID

11523418

Incident

May 9, 2023

The following warning lights will randomly turn on & off while driving: Air Bag Malfunction, ABS Brakes, ESC, Adaptive Cruise Control, Front collision, tire pressure, power steering, blind spot detection, low Key Battery detected, and indicate they are not functional. It is a random and items will go back to work while normally driving. Key fob battery has been replaced multiple times...

NHTSA ID

11512585

Incident

Dec 14, 2022

Error shown on dashboard, at this time no incident to report. Drivers airbag disabled , ACC disabled, steering wheel functionality disabled.

NHTSA ID

11511326

Incident

Mar 11, 2023

On 1/17/23 I was parking in a parking dot by backing in as I was in reverse I had to turn my steering wheel slightly and noticed that I heard a sound like crunching leaves as I drove in the spot. I proceeded to pull forward and reverse again to make sure I was not hearing wrong. As I left work and turned out the parking lot I heard it again but I noticed that my air bag light popped on and it was saying my front assist was not working and saying air bag error. So by the time I got home I realized that my steering wheel functions were not working at all. Then on top of that my rear detection system is not working properly either I realize that today. I have checked for recalls on the car and have an appointment set for 1/19/23. But this all happened in a matter of a few minutes at (1/19/23) the car will be at the dealership on 1/19/23 for an inspection. I travel for wrk and can’t afford or risk any mishaps

NHTSA ID

11502540

Incident

Jan 17, 2023

Volkswagen has had a history of failed clock springs in which they have not resolved. 2017 Passat with the following items not working due to failed clock spring. Airbag, Horn, cruise control, and all steering wheel controls which impacts vehicle safety.

NHTSA ID

11487644

Incident

Sep 23, 2022

The Air Bag light, temperature warning, radio and information panel going wacky. The Clockspring is making clicking noises in the steering wheel.

NHTSA ID

11486761

Incident

Sep 24, 2022

The clock spring broke inside my steering and my airbags, horn and other controls on the steering wheel do not work.

NHTSA ID

11482598

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

Hit a deer head on while travelling at about 40 mph on a rural highway. Airbags did NOT deploy, despite front end damage.

NHTSA ID

11463414

Incident

May 3, 2022

no prior warnings before malfunction ,all fuses were checked to no fault. OBD scan reported car lost communication with steering column control module On steering wheel, multifunction buttons and horn stopped working. Airbag light illuminated. OBD scan reported driver airbag igniter resistance too high Emergency braking and blind spot were no longer working although front parking assist still worked.

NHTSA ID

11459938

Incident

Feb 25, 2022

I had my battery changed at the VW dealership and a week later, my horn stopped working, my airbag light came on and my front assist no longer works. There’s also a clicking noise when I turn my steering wheel. It seems this clock coil issue has been a recall issue for VW for years, but when I search my VIN it list no recalls of this nature.

NHTSA ID

11458432

Incident

Mar 26, 2022

The airbag light is on. It is an orangish color. The controls on front of the steering wheel do not work. That means the horn, cruise control, radio controls, voice controls do not work.

NHTSA ID

11455307

Incident

Feb 9, 2022

There was big impact front accident with other car, and the air bags did not function. The air bag failed.

NHTSA ID

11443492

Incident

Dec 11, 2021

My airbag light came on, the steering wheel started to make crunching noise. Now all functions are now working on the steering wheel and upon looking up online there seems to be many issues with Volkswagen cars clock spring breaking. Why is this not recalled? There is hundreds of customers commenting about the same problem?

NHTSA ID

11440419

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

ABS light, airbag light, front end assist light, steering light all on

NHTSA ID

11434736

Incident

Sep 28, 2021

Initially heard clicking sound while turning the vehicle followed by airbag warning light. Then noticed driver assistant system not available warning, loss of horn, cruise control, automatic braking, and lane departure warning. Service center has inspected and informed me that the clock spring has failed(common problem with VW).

NHTSA ID

11434295

Incident

Jun 18, 2021

Turned right after a traffic light while driving. Heard clicking noise from steering column and noticed that the airbag warning light came on. Further investigated and realized that the horn, front crash avoidance, vehicle voice control, cruise control, and all controls on the steering column were not working. No horn. No front crash avoidance. No airbag. After a short period of online research, I recognize that this is neither an isolated issue nor the first time VW has had this problem. Prior safety recalls have required repair of broken clock springs that render multiple pieces of safety equipment useless. This is a manufacturing error or part malfunction that should be repaired by VW at their expense.

NHTSA ID

11430407

Incident

Aug 24, 2021

THE DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON, THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AS SOON AS THIS LIGHT WENT ON. THE AGENCY ADVICES US THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE FOR THE CLOCK COIL I BELIEVE HE CALLED IT, AND I WANT TO VERIFY WHY MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE AND IS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLED MODELS? HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT ONLY CERTAIN MODELS WHERE AFFECTED, THIS YOU USE DIFFERENT COILS FOR DIFFERENT VEHICLES?

NHTSA ID

11407999

Incident

Mar 30, 2021

ALL THREE SENSORS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER HAVING THEM CHECKED, NO ISSUE WAS FOUND AND CODES WERE RESET. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, ALL THREE SENSORS SHOWED UP AGAIN. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THEN AGAIN IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11404095

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

ON 1/12/21 WHILE TURNING INTO A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT I HEARD CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND ERROR CODES ACROSS THE DIGITAL SCREEN AND A CLOCK EMBLEM SIGNAL CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT MY MANUAL. DROVE ON HOME AND DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE CLOCK SPRING IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH VWS. I WENT BACK OUT TO TEST THE STEERING COLUMN AND SURE ENOUGH THE HORN AND ALL CONTROLS ON THE COLUMN DID NOT WORK. CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS 2017 PASSAT SEL MODEL. THEY REPLACED 6 DAYS LATER.

NHTSA ID

11390094

Incident

Jan 12, 2021

Mileage

47,500 mi

WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. NOW MY HORN DOES NOT WORK OR ANY OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I KNOW THIS IS THE CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTION, WITH THE TAKATA AIRBAG MALFUNCTION THAT HAPPENED WITH THE 2015 PASSATS.

NHTSA ID

11378090

Incident

Dec 4, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi