2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 481 complaints · 11 recalls
Most-reported system: AIR BAGS (229 complaints · 47.6%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 14
  • Fires 3
  • Injuries 10
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2011 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution AIR BAGS appears in 229 of 481 owner complaints (47.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. AIR BAGS: 229 complaints, 47.6% of reports AIR BAGS 229 · 47.6% · 7 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 54 complaints, 11.2% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 54 · 11.2% · 2 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 38 complaints, 7.9% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 38 · 7.9% STEERING: 33 complaints, 6.9% of reports STEERING 33 · 6.9% ENGINE: 22 complaints, 4.6% of reports ENGINE 22 · 4.6% · 1 fire reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 17 complaints, 3.5% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17 · 3.5% STRUCTURE: 13 complaints, 2.7% of reports STRUCTURE 13 · 2.7% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 11 complaints, 2.3% of reports POWER TRAIN 11 · 2.3% · 1 crash reports SERVICE BRAKES: 10 complaints, 2.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 10 · 2.1% · 2 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 74 complaints, 15.4% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 74 · 15.4% · 2 crash reports 2 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
AIR BAGS 229 47.6% 7 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 54 11.2% 2 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 38 7.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 33 6.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 22 4.6% 0 crashes · 1 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17 3.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 13 2.7% 1 crashes · 1 fires
POWER TRAIN 11 2.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 10 2.1% 2 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 74 15.4% 2 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2011; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2012. 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2014-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2014-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2015-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2015-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2015-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2015-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2016-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2016-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2016-Q3: 37 owner reports 37 2016-Q4: 36 owner reports 36 2017-Q1: 53 owner reports 53 2017-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 2017-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2018-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2018-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2019-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2022-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2022-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2025-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Oct 2011 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 12V146000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V146000 Recall campaign 14V125000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V125000 Recall campaign 15V483000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V483000 Recall campaign 16V078000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V078000 Recall campaign 16V171000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V171000 Recall campaign 17V309000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V309000 Recall campaign 18V148000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V148000 Recall campaign 18V329000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V329000 Recall campaign 19V389000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V389000 Recall campaign 19V862000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V862000 Recall campaign 24V834000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V834000 Investigation PE15010 ● Investigation PE15010 Investigation RQ17009 ● Investigation RQ17009 Investigation EA18003 ● Investigation EA18003
  • Campaign 14V125000 was reported 488 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V483000 was reported 629 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V078000 was reported 819 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V171000 was reported 1,508 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V309000 was reported 1,567 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V148000 was reported 1,574 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V389000 was reported 2,380 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V862000 was reported 2,212 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V834000 was reported 4,004 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 4
2012-Q2 Owner reports 5
2012-Q3 Owner reports 2
2012-Q4 Owner reports 4
2013-Q1 Owner reports 3
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 5
2014-Q1 Owner reports 12
2014-Q2 Owner reports 11
2014-Q3 Owner reports 10
2014-Q4 Owner reports 6
2015-Q1 Owner reports 9
2015-Q2 Owner reports 17
2015-Q3 Owner reports 20
2015-Q4 Owner reports 11
2016-Q1 Owner reports 9
2016-Q2 Owner reports 32
2016-Q3 Owner reports 37
2016-Q4 Owner reports 36
2017-Q1 Owner reports 53
2017-Q2 Owner reports 22
2017-Q3 Owner reports 13
2017-Q4 Owner reports 6
2018-Q1 Owner reports 15
2018-Q2 Owner reports 16
2018-Q3 Owner reports 6
2018-Q4 Owner reports 11
2019-Q1 Owner reports 6
2019-Q2 Owner reports 6
2019-Q3 Owner reports 3
2019-Q4 Owner reports 7
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 3
2020-Q3 Owner reports 5
2020-Q4 Owner reports 4
2021-Q1 Owner reports 3
2021-Q2 Owner reports 3
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 3
2022-Q1 Owner reports 5
2022-Q2 Owner reports 6
2022-Q3 Owner reports 7
2022-Q4 Owner reports 4
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q1 Owner reports 4
2025-Q2 Owner reports 8
2025-Q3 Owner reports 6
2025-Q4 Owner reports 2
2026-Q1 Owner reports 2
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
2026-Q3 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 12V146000
Recall campaign 1 14V125000
Recall campaign 1 15V483000
Recall campaign 1 16V078000
Recall campaign 1 16V171000
Recall campaign 1 17V309000
Recall campaign 1 18V148000
Recall campaign 1 18V329000
Recall campaign 1 19V389000
Recall campaign 1 19V862000
Recall campaign 1 24V834000
Defect investigation 1 PE15010
Defect investigation 1 RQ17009
Defect investigation 1 EA18003
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (11)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V146000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    OVER TIME, OR AFTER CERTAIN DRIVING DISTANCES, THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V125000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V483000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V078000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V171000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V309000

    Report date
    Component:
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
    Consequence:
    If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V148000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V329000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V389000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V862000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V834000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 481 complaints · page 1 of 20

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources