Worst 2012 Volkswagen Passat Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
AIR BAGS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STEERING
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 289 | 8 | — | 64,404 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 92 | 2 | — | 64,312 mi | |
| STEERING | 45 | — | — | 72,956 mi | |
| ENGINE | 40 | — | 2 | 103,320 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 32 | — | 1 | 73,440 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 31 | 1 | 1 | 128,479 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 16 | — | — | 40,257 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 15 | 1 | 1 | 56,577 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 14 | — | — | 33,195 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 13 | 1 | — | 172,405 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 11 | — | — | 37,322 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 11 | 2 | — | 52,741 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 5 | — | — | 47,100 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE | 4 | — | — | 181,667 mi | |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 4 | — | — | 59,667 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 3 | — | — | 37,344 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 | — | — | 34,103 mi | |
| SEATS | 3 | — | — | 21,299 mi | |
| WHEELS | 3 | — | — | 42,923 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 | — | — | 60,000 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 | — | — | — | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | 1 | — | — | — | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | 1 | — | — | 38,415 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 | — | — | 10 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 | — | — | 47,789 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:SEALS/GASKETS | 1 | — | — | 193,211 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 | — | — | 46,667 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 | — | — | — |
Recalls for 2012 Volkswagen Passat
19 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,498,654 vehicles.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
+ 9 more recalls
Other Volkswagen Passat Years
Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Passat reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Volkswagen Passat
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