Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 15% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 11% | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 11% | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 8% | 2,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 4% | 46,000 miles |
| 2017 | 16 | 15% | 48,000 miles |
| 2016 | 19 | 18% | 46,000 miles |
| 2015 | 26 | 11% | 48,000 miles |
| 2014 | 44 | 7% | 40,000 miles |
| 2013 | 51 | 7% | 65,000 miles |
| 2012 | 46 | 10% | 69,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 13% | 66,000 miles |
| 2010 | 15 | 9% | 92,000 miles |
| 2009 | 20 | 13% | 59,000 miles |
| 2008 | 12 | 7% | 90,000 miles |
| 2007 | 15 | 5% | 66,000 miles |
| 2006 | 112 | 19% | 64,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% | 142,000 miles |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% | 96,000 miles |
| 2003 | 10 | 2% | 21,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% | 27,000 miles |
| 2001 | 13 | 3% | 59,000 miles |
| 2000 | 25 | 5% | 51,000 miles |
| 1999 | 76 | 11% | 65,000 miles |
| 1998 | 52 | 16% | 59,000 miles |
| 1995 | 4 | 4% | 110,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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. …
Our 2017 VW Passat had the clockspring replaced last year under warranty number [redacted] 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.
I purchased this car brand new Oct 2016. Since then I have experienced multiple sensor failures year after year... At first we thought this was a one time failure but as more and more issues came our concerns grew. I have changed out the radio, 3 speed sensors, and now am having more issues with different symptoms. For example my epc light is no and my check engine is on along with the other typical light i have seen with my speed sensor issues. I can not confidently pass any cars because the car stalls at 3000 rpms. I consider this car a safety issue on the road and i do not want this car anymore because i do not know what hidden failures will appear later on after fixing these.
During sharp turn would hear cracking sound coming from steering wheel, after some days air bag warning light appeared on dahsboard and honk and steering wheel buttons stopped working. Dealer replaced the clockspring under warranty that fixed airbag warning issue, but still had honk and steering wheel buttons persisted. Dealer recommended replacing steering wheel control button module to fix both honk and steering wheel buttons. It appears all the problems are related and should have been fixed under warranty
For about 2 years my vehicle has been vibrating at the steering wheel. I have replaced the tires twice, have done multiple tire balances, rotations, road force tests, alignments, and have requested multiple inspections of all components associated with the steering assembly. All possible solutions have apparently been insufficient or they have been found inconclusive. The technicians at the dealership have been unable to identify the cause of the vibration. Due to this, my steering wheel has continued to vibrate for about 2 years. The vibration occurs around highway speeds as well as when braking. I have recorded multiple videos that show this as well as having testament from multiple people, including dealership staff. The vibration has slowly but surely gotten worse over time and I am afraid that something will break and cause me to have an accident or severe injuries.
Failed part: Clock spring. Yes, the work was appropriately installed. This is my fourth replacement within less than 100k miles. No additional inspections as of yet. No warning lights, just a faint click coming from the steering wheels while making turns two days prior to hearing a snapping noise. My air bag light illuminated and my dash notified me of an air bag error. Lost all connection to steering wheel controls and horn. This is the same thing that has happened every time prior. The car is inoperable, once again, due to clock spring failure. I cannot drive my vehicle as I am concerned about not having safety features of an air bag and a horn. This has been an ongoing issue with VW. I have been the only owner of this vehicle for almost nine years.
The contact owns 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that puddles of oil could be found on the ground after parking the vehicle. The contact also stated that while making a turn in either direction the vehicle would wobble causing him to lose control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the tread in the driver's and passenger's side front tires were wearing excessively. The contact stated that the front tires had been replaced multiple times; however, the failure persisted. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on multiple occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,103.
On Saturday October 30, 2021 my car was parked on the driveway. I tried to put the key in the ignition and the key would not go in. There is a white plastic piece in the ignition that will not allow the key to go in. My steering wheel and front tires locked. I called AAA and had a tow truck come so that I could have the car towed to the dealership. The driver was able to wiggle the key and start the car. I dropped off the car at the dealership on Saturday Oct 30th. I was told by the dealership that the key cylinder and steering wheel lock housing plus keys need to be replaced. I contacted VW of America and was told that they will not replace the part because the car is out of warranty. This is obviously a defect as there have been many recalls with this part in different model VW's. The dealership is trying to charge me $934.03 for this repair which I believe is a defect. …
Related recalls (4)
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Vw is recalling 130 my 2009 passat, passat wagon, and passat cc vehicles. Some vehicles May have an electromechanical steering gear control unit that can malfunction due to a damaged capacitor.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear in the affected vehicles. The recall began on December 5, 2008. Owners May contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
On certain passenger vehicles, the left and right tie rod securing nut May be insufficiently torqued.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and install new left and right tie rod securing nuts at the proper torqued specification. The recall began on December 7, 2005. Owners May contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals May not seal properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals May not seal properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
NHTSA investigations
Alleged premature tie rod failure
On August 2, 2005, odi received a petition submitted by ms. Miriam schneider of olney, md, requesting an investigation of allegedly defective tie rods in certain model year (my) 1999 Volkswagen passat vehicles not included in two previous safety recall campaigns (identified henceforth as the subject vehicles).in a September 1999 letter, Volkswagen of America, inc.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Passat years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (112), 1999 (76), 1998 (52), 2013 (51) and 2012 (46) model years. Steering complaints make up 19% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Passat steering problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 08V-577 (gear box (other than rack and pinion), Nov 3, 2008); 05V-540 (tie rod assembly, Nov 30, 2005); 00V-414 (connecting, Dec 6, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Passat steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 34% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages › tie rod assembly (88 mentions), followed by the rack and pinion (18).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.