2012 Volkswagen Passat Review

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Recall Number: 

24V834000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

69EG,69GQ,

Number of vehicles affected: 

248330

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

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.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Recall Number: 

19V862000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

69R6,69Q8,

Manufactured from: 

2010-06-16 to 2013-10-02

Number of vehicles affected: 

226

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

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.

Exterior lighting:headlights

Recall Number: 

19V389000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

94L9

Manufactured from: 

2010-12-23 to 2015-10-02

Number of vehicles affected: 

662185

Defect Description: 

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."

Defect Consequence: 

Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Corrective Action: 

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.

Unknown or other

Recall Number: 

18V329000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

01C5/01C6

Manufactured from: 

2011-02-16 to 2015-04-02

Number of vehicles affected: 

252

Defect Description: 

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Defect Consequence: 

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Corrective Action: 

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. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 13, 2018. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Air bags:frontal:driver side inflator module

Recall Number: 

18V148000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

69Q9

Manufactured from: 

2006-11-02 to 2009-05-13

Number of vehicles affected: 

363713

Defect Description: 

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Defect 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.

Corrective Action: 

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.

Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel

Recall Number: 

17V309000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

23W5

Manufactured from: 

2011-04-11 to 2014-07-25

Number of vehicles affected: 

84262

Defect Description: 

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

Defect 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.

Corrective Action: 

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in July 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

Electrical system:wiring

Recall Number: 

16V171000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

23T3

Manufactured from: 

2011-04-06 to 2014-07-25

Number of vehicles affected: 

91442

Defect Description: 

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

Defect Consequence: 

An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Corrective Action: 

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.

Air bags:frontal:driver side inflator module

Recall Number: 

16V078000

Number of vehicles affected: 

659493

Defect Description: 

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf and Jetta SportWagen, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2010-2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Defect 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.

Corrective Action: 

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. 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.

Air bags:frontal

Recall Number: 

15V483000

Manufactured from: 

2011-02-28 to 2014-02-26

Number of vehicles affected: 

420000

Defect Description: 

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Defect 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.

Corrective Action: 

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.

Exterior lighting:headlights

Recall Number: 

14V125000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

94G8/7V

Manufactured from: 

2011-01-01 to 2012-11-30

Number of vehicles affected: 

150201

Defect Description: 

Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

Defect Consequence: 

A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Corrective Action: 

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

Fuel system, diesel

Recall Number: 

12V146000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

20R7/W3

Manufactured from: 

2011-01-01 to 2011-06-01

Number of vehicles affected: 

153

Defect Description: 

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PASSAT VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 18, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 1, 2011. DURING ASSEMBLY, THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENT THAT MAY NOT SEAL CORRECTLY.

Defect 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.

Corrective Action: 

VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.