repaired · 2026 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2012 Volkswagen PassatProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 484 owner complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 11 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-309 the manufacturer reports only 21% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 30, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Volkswagen Passat has problems
484 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
296Air bags9 crash/fire/injury
95Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
46Steering
40Engine2 crash/fire/injury
32Fuel/propulsion system
17Exterior lighting
17Structure
15Power train
14Vehicle speed control
5715 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 296 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 95 | 2 |
| Steering | 46 | 0 |
| Engine | 40 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 32 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 0 |
| Structure | 17 | 3 |
| Power train | 15 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 57 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
11 recalls
2012 Volkswagen Passat recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q1
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Unknown or other
Risk. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Show 7 more recalls
repaired · 2019 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2018 Q4
Engine: diesel
Risk. 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.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2017 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2015 Q3
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Fuel system, diesel
Risk. OVER TIME, OR AFTER CERTAIN DRIVING DISTANCES, THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL LEAKAGE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
62kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 101 air bags complaints. 78% were reported before 100,000 miles.
4under 30k miles79under 100k miles22100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
20 owners mentioned a cost$500median
Middle half: $475 – $600
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Passat year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Passat median. How we score
'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Volkswagen Passat safety ratings
2012 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, and the recalls they led to.
- Clockspring failureNo recall
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureLed to recall 15V-483
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Passat owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I received a recall for the airbag. No lights were on in my car, so I brought in in for the service. I picked up my car, it seemed ok. I went to the gym. When I restarted my car every single light was on on the dashboard. When I brought it back to the dealer they said "oh its the ABS module they…
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…
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000(Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bags warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The…
Own a 2012 Passat?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.