2012 Volkswagen Passat Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
  4
• Frontal
  1
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  1
• Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  44%
• 25k–50k
  2727%
• 50k–75k
  3333%
• 75k–100k
  1515%
• 100k–150k
  1717%
• 150k+
  55%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking space at approximately 3 MPH and turning the steering wheel, she heard a loud clicking noise coming from the wheel. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated along with an error: air bag message on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn ceased functioning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the dealer that the clockspring was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 275,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the clock spring was replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) in 2022; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated while driving. Additionally, the steering wheel made an abnormal click sound, and the horn was inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a diagnostic testing fee. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that parts were not available to repair the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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.

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) and the recall repair was completed. The contact stated the air bag warning light illuminated after the recall. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed that the previous repair had failed and the clockspring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was no longer under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer refused to perform the repair until the contact paid for a diagnostic test for an internal communication error code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

Back in August of 2015, there has been a repair/recall for the clock spring for Volkswagen Passats. I have had it fixed and it has a warranty on it until 2027. The part has failed 4 times with the most recent failure occurring at the beginning of April. The Volkswagen dealership has had the car since 4/7/2022 and I have been driving a rental that the dealership has been paying for. I received a call earlier today from the dealership telling me that they were having to release the car back to me by EOD 6/10 because the ETA for them receiving the part is unknown. This is incredibly unsafe that Volkswagen is having the dealerships release the cars back when the issue still has not been fixed. I understand that it's not cost effective for them to keep covering the cost of rentals, but they should not be releasing unsafe vehicles back to their owners. …

The Air Bag warning light turned on and i called the VW Queensboro dealership in Queens NYC. They told me they have the clock spring part to repair the open recall on my car. However, when i came in on August 31 2021 they inspected the car for 4 hours and then told me they don't have the part on hand. I returned to the VW Queensboro dealership on September 2nd 2021 to replace the clock spring. Within 6 weeks of the clock spring replacement, the airbag sensor turned on again. I scheduled an appointment at the VW Queensboro dealership on October 26 2021, and they replaced the clock spring again. In middle of March 2022 the air bag sensor turned on again, and i have an appointment at the VW Queensboro dealership on March 21 2022. …

I received a a notice of recall from Volkswagen for my airbag. In my 2012 Passat. I made an appointment with AutoNation Mall of Georgia Volkswagen service department for repair. I brought my car in on my appointment date and was informed upon my arrival that there is a back order of these airbags. Their recall says that the airbag May deploy at any time due to temperature and or humidity changes. I was not given a solution for repair, just told" the tariffs have impacted the arrival of the airbags for this recall. " This is not the first time this has happened to my vehicle. I've even had to pay out of pocket to get the airbag replaced because Volkswagen did not have the part in stock. At this point I'm frustrated and feel that my safety is being put at risk.

Hello, I received a letter in the mail in December about safety recall 69E6 Driver Frontal Airbag Inflator. I contacted two separate VW dealers since then and both said they would get back to me and now we are almost in June and it is my family's main transportation vehicle and I have two babies under [redacted] and with the temperatures rising more and more it's extremely stressful when my wife and daughters are in the car with me. If we can please resolve this problem as soon as possible I would be so grateful. Thank you [redacted]

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Passat years