This car is built with reversed color coded battery cables without proper, easily identifiable polarity identification. The factory battery has conventional markings, red +, black -, however the black cable is designed to go on the "+" terminal and the red cable is designed to go on the "-" terminal on this model. There are no obvious polarity markings on the cables. If one looks very carefully you can find a tiny - stamp on the red cable terminal and the tiny + stamp is half covered by insulation and hidden on the black cable terminal. The battery terminals are of slightly different diameters to guide you to the proper installation but the diameter difference is not large and is easily adjusted with a screwdriver which I have had to adjust to fit on cables that were not improperly reversed in the past. Not noticing the reversed color coded cables prior to replacing the battery I hooked up a new VW oem replacement battery with reversed polarity as a result of the improper/reversed battery cable color codes. The cables were not tightend, just placed on the terminals at which point the horn sounded and would not go off at which point I removed the cables and looked very closely for markings indicating that I might have hooked them up improperly and noticed the aforementioned very hard to find tiny hidden stampings on the terminals revealing that I had hooked up the battery with reverse polarity. This resulted in $3000 of electrical damage to the car - and almost caused a fire, melting some of the harness and electronic control modules. Additionally 2 of the 3 protective fusible links designed to protect this circuitry melted together short circuit (instead of fusing open circuit) not protecting anything. This is a very dangerous multiple defect design that has the potential to cause injury and fire in addition to extensive damage and costly repairs.

- Springfield, VA, USA

Unable to unlock drivers side door on several occasions with key fob. No mechanical sound heard on drivers door when key fob pressed. All three (3) other doors unlocked with no issues. On a couple of other occasions, the drivers side door was unable to be opened from the inside and could not exit the car (handle only moved a small amount and seemed 'jammed'). after several times of pressing the lock/unlock button the door finally opened. Once I had to exit the car from the passenger side door. The inability to exit the car through the drivers side door is a safety issue in my mind.

- Griswold, CT, USA

Following a 40K service for my 2012 Passat tdi my wife called me and said when she pushed the start button, it took an extra try before it started. I dismissed this as I thought maybe she didn't have her foot all the way down on the brake. Then later in the week she said it took 4 pushes of the button before the car would start. I told her next time video tape the issue. The following week her car broke down at the mall - nothing would work. When I got there, I played with the parking lever, no good. Then I put in neutral and the car started. I drove to VW and they said the clean all the connecters on the start/stop switch and didn't see issue as car was working fine, but would order new switch and cover for me. The next day the car did it again, and I video taped the incident as well to share with the dealer. Again, it started in neutral. I took a chance and went out again that evening figuring this neutral thing would work and guess, what - was completely stuck after the dealer told me the issue was repaired and the replacement of the part was just precautionary. The car has been in shop for a week. They changed the switch this morning and guess that didn't resolve the issue. They are now ordering a hpfp!!!! I know it is possible that 2 issues could have been going on, but the whole time I told them I didn't think the switch made sense. Anyway, chalk up another hpfp for VW. Frustrated customer!

- Garden City, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, all of the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel and the horn became inoperable. The problem recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown...updated 03-11-15 updated 6/18/2015

- Corona , CA, USA

On Tuesday, 24 June, I dropped off our 2012 VW Passat at a VW dealer for its 2 year / 20K mile service with 15,100 miles on the odometer. An electrical wiring recall regarding headlights and the hood was performed on the Passat. The incident occurred within an hour of leaving the dealer and after driving about 40 miles from the dealer. My wife was driving and her sister was in the front passenger seat. It was raining hard enough that it was difficult to see the highway lane markings and my wife was concentrating on following the car lights in front of her. The vehicle was in the second lane from the right of a four lane highway. Then, without any warning from dashboard lights or sounds, the windshield wipers stopped, the dashboard lights went dark, and the headlights went out. My wife's sister saw the car clock dials spin around several times and then stop at 9:00. All power was out in the Passat. The vehicle was moving down four lanes of highway without power. As the Passat slowed down, my wife kept the car pointed straight ahead. It is hard to determine if the steering wheel was locked because my wife wasn't trying to move the steering wheel very much. As the vehicle approached a highway exit, the highway lanes began to diverge as the right lane exited the highway, the second lane from the right slit with an option to exit to the right or remain on the highway, and the two left lanes remained on the highway. By maintaining a straight trajectory, my wife maneuvered the Passat into the median separating the highway from the off-ramp. The Passat rolled to a stop, dead in the median. While no other power was available in the Passat, the hazard flashing lights were functional.

- Denver, CO, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. While driving the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer more than five times for an electrical failure. The dealer diagnosed and repaired the vehicle with a repair kit, connector, bumper, washer cap, filter element, refilled the oil and replaced a screw however, the failure recurred. The check oil, check engine, navigation system and the check coolant sensor warning lights intermittently illuminated. The contact made multiple unsuccessful attempts with a mechanic to obtain a diagnosis to determine if the failure was electrical. The mechanic was unable to be determine if the failure was associated with a fuse or the battery. The police attempted to assist the contact with starting the vehicle; however, it would not restart. A police report was filed because the vehicle stalled on a major highway. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who was unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was awaiting further inspection and diagnosis by an authorized dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times to no avail. The approximate failure mileage was 500.

- Pharr, TX, USA

Glow plug light on dashboard started blinking. Major loss of power. Had vehicle towed to dealership in fayetville, nc. Problem reported to be failed turbo.

- Vienna, VA, USA

Both of my headlights have failed (on two different occasions). The first in 2013 (right side) in which dealer representative said that VW was having a problem with the light housings. They were going to charge me for the repair, but the dealership management decided to do a "courtesy" fix. In April of 2014 the left light failed and the VW dealership said I would have to pay for repairs and then "apply" for a refund when the recall campaign came out. They have had a known problem for over 18 months and they still have not issued a recall. No lights creates a very hazardous situation.

- Oakwood, TX, USA

Vehicle, while at speed at night, suddenly and without warning lost low beam illumination from the left front headlight assembly. Subsequent inspection of the factory light bulb revealed no faults: Filament was intact and resistance (ohm) could be measured across terminals. Installation of a new VW bulb did not solve the problem. Headlight assembly was factory stock and unmodified. Closer inspection reveals what appears to be overheating and subsequent deformation of the bulb retention hardware. On-line search reveals numerous identical complaints posted by other Passat owners, affecting both the left and right headlight assemblies VW dealer advised that the problem can only be rectified by replacing the entire headlight assembly.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

I was in very slow bumper to bumper traffic when the battery light came on and there was a significant loss of power in the engine and no power steering or brakes. I was able to coast to the shoulder and turn off the car. Lights, radio and ventilation systems did not seem to be impacted. After a minute, I turned the car on and everything appeared to be back to normal. This has happened twice in 3 months.

- San Rafael, CA, USA

Vehicle doe not show the true speed of the car. Speedometer is off by 7-8 kmh. @ 100 kms. VW does not accept that there is any problem and will not fix the problem.

- Red Deer, AK, USA