10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
21 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,906 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Volkswagen Passat seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments (Page 4 of 16)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #258

Feb 142018

Passat

  • 84,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator flashed. Later, while driving approximately 65 mph, the air bag warning indicator remained permanently illuminated, which was a safety concern. The vehicle was repaired by Volkswagen of hartford (133 leibert road, hartford, ct 06120) per NHTSA campaign number: 16V078000 (air bags). The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and issued case number: 181188699. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

- West Hartford, CT, USA

problem #257

Aug 112018

Passat

  • 122,347 miles
We took our car in for service on 8/11/18 due to the air bag light coming on and steering wheel functions no longer working. The dealership confirmed the issue with the clockspring and stated that because our car was out of warranty that we would be responsible for repairs. We stated that this seems like an issue with defective equipment since the car is only 5 yrs old as well as a safety issue with the vehicle. We escalated the issue to the corporate customer service. The rep stated again that they would not cover the repairs because the car was past its warranty. We conducted our own research on recalls for this vehicle as there has been others (I.e. air bag and adblue heater). We located the 2015 recall on the clock spring and discussed this with VW customer service as well. They refused to acknowledge our vehicle as one of the ones affected even though we are experiencing the same issues. We are concerned with this safety issue as we are not able to use the horn, the airbag is inoperable as well.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #256

Aug 292018

Passat

  • miles
Takata recall: On November 17, 2017, took 2013 VW Passat to chapman Volkswagen (4500 E 22nd St; 85711) to replace airbags. Clock spring fail: On August 29, 2018, took 2013 VW Passat back to chapman Volkswagen since 'check maintenance airbag' light on, horn not working, and the dials for radio/ bluetooth not working. Informed by service tech that clock spring failed so need to remove/replace and could not find recall re:clock spring based on VIN. Billed and paid $672.80.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #255

Aug 122018

Passat

  • 22,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While the vehicle was in reverse, the contact heard an abnormal clicking noise coming from the steering wheel and a "driver side air bag error" message appeared. The contact called findlay Volkswagen at (702) 558-6600 (located at 983 auto show dr, henderson, nv 89014) and was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired for manufacturer recall number: 239516 and an unknown NHTSA campaign. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #254

Jun 062018

Passat

  • miles
While I was home, I noticed my airbag light came on and the buttons on my steering wheel didn't work. A few days later I was driving on the highway and a car almost changed lanes on top of me. I tried to honk my horn and nothing came out. Thankfully the car swerved back in it's lane because I didn't have anywhere to go. I took my car to the dealership and they told me the clock spring needed replaced. In 2016 I had my clock spring replaced as part of a recall (69L2). I've recently learned that many other people are having a similar issue with their recall-replaced clock spring. Volkswagen is not acknowledging the problem with the recall work and clock spring being faulty and will only replace it if I spend over $700 for another diagnostic and repair.

- Augusta, GA, USA

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problem #253

Jul 272018

Passat

  • 58,000 miles
My clock spring was supposedly replaced in 08/17 by a VW dealer before I bought the car from Chevy. When I took my car in because air bag light was on and no steering wheel controls worked, I was informed that I had an open circuit in my clock spring and since it had already been repaired by the recall I would have to pay for it this time.

- Clifton, AZ, USA

problem #252

May 282018

Passat

  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have taken my VW in for the recall, scheduled a visit specifically for the recall. After I brought the vehicle in they said they did not have the parts. I was told that the parts were backordered. I have no indication from VW on how long this will take. I am military moving over seas and need this fixed before it can be shipped. I have spoken with VW 3X in the past month about this.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #251

Jul 012018

Passat

  • 83,000 miles
There was a recall on clockspring, and the repair was a clockspring cover that was repaired on my vehicle in March of 2016. July 2018 my clockspring had to be completely replaced costing $650. There was also an airbag recall that caused my horn to stop working, airbag light to come on, at the same exact time the clockspring stopped working. I took my vehicle to a dealership 2 days ago to have the clockspring looked at and the recall on the airbag repaired. The dealership informed me that I would have to purchase a new clockspring because only the cover was considered a recall, however obvioiusly this was not a sufficient clockspring repair.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #250

Jun 292018

Passat

  • 80,970 miles
In Oct/6/2017 took my car to rudolph VW for the air bag recall, in June 29, 2018. I got the same warning lights except this time they are telling me that the problem is the clock spring, the part under nit the cup and airbag and this time I have to pay for it, a problem originated by them and now they want to collect $ $610 dlls. Also they said that the warranty expired, 1 year or 12,000 miles, my car odometer record indicate back the 28086 in 10/6/17 and now 80,998 miles impossible to believe.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #249

Jun 242018

Passat

  • 68,000 miles
The air bag clock spring was originally replaced by recall in 2014. While driving over the weekend and making a turn I heard a noise and felt a thump in the steering wheel. The air bag light came on and I lost all controls associated with the steering wheel. Refrained from driving the car called the dealer on Monday 6-25-18 coulded schedule appt until wed the 27th. On the 27th deer diagnosed it as a broken clock spring.... again. Said they do the repair in conjunction with takada air bag recall repair but that I would still owe $450 to repair clockspring. I protested the repair bill and said it should be covered since it was repaired previously. They said I could call VW myself and have them review the claim. The claim is pending with ve for the third day and I am without vehicle until claim is resolved. There continues to be an issue with these faulty clockspring and VW needs to make good on the previous recall repair.

- Chatham, IL, USA

problem #248

Jun 192018

Passat

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My steering wheel has been making a crunching noise. While driving on the interstate, I got off at an exit to purchase food. While turning into a parking lot, one loud crunch noise happened and the drivers side airbag light came on. I also noticed that I lost all electronic functions in the steering wheel. I was very concerned since I still had an hours drive home and was unsure if the car was safe or not.

- Temple Terrace, FL, USA

problem #247

Jun 012018

Passat

  • 72,000 miles
While driving one day I heard a snap in the steering column and the airbag symbol illuminated. The horn does not work and each time I turn the wheel I can hear a noise coming from the column. After taking to a dealer it was determined that the clock spring has failed in the vehicle and Volkswagen has refuse to replace due to placing a cover over the clock spring in January of 2016.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #246

Apr 132018

Passat

  • 40,961 miles
My vehicle was a part of the vehicles that had the clockspring recall. I took it to a VW dealership to have the recall fixed and exactly one year after they 'fixed' the clockspring, it ceased to work again. Now the airbag warning light is on, the horn does not work, and neither do any of the steering wheel controls. VW refuses to fix the issue without a charge of upwards of $500, stating that because it is not apart of the initial recall it is not their responsibility.

- Yuba City, CA, USA

problem #245

Nov 252017

Passat

  • 145,000 miles
In October 2017 I purchased a Passat tdi from armstrong Volkswagen in gladstone Oregon. I then found out about the clock spring recall. Within a month of owning the vehicle, my entire steering wheel components stopped working and the air bag light came on. While driving, my airbag light remains on, none of my steering wheel controls work, when I turn my steering wheel it almost makes a crunchy noise behind the steering wheel, and I am concerned for mine and my families safety while driving my car. I contacted the dealership and spoke with the service manager who informed me that they personally replaced the clock spring in January 2016. I asked them if they would please re-fix it, as the first fix did not work, and the clock spring was already bad again, less than 2 years later. The service manager told me that they had done what was legally required of them, and that they would not be fixing my car. I then asked to speak to the general manager, whom I left a voicemail for, to see if he could help. He has yet to call me back, two weeks later.

- Napavine, WA, USA

problem #244

May 162016

Passat

  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags). The dealer (jim ellis Volkswagen atlanta, 5901 peachtree blvd, atlanta, ga 30341, (888) 848-3509) scheduled an appointment for the recall repair; however, the dealer only put a cover over the part instead of replacing the part. Two years later, the horn failed to function and there was a short on the ribbon cable wiring that affected the steering wheel mounted control functions. As a result, the air bag indicator illuminated and the clockspring assembly failed. The dealer refused to provide a solution without the approval of the manufacturer. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA action number: EA18003 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failures and indicated that the vehicle would need to be diagnosed and repaired by a dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #243

Jan 012014

Passat

  • 10,000 miles
These steering wheel components stopped working: Horn, turn signals, high beams, windshield wipers, and cruise control. Not sure if air bag will in case of a car wreck. Instrument panel displays the following message: "button for driver assistant system defective". been an ongoing issue for the past since buying the car 2013, roughly 5 years ago. Volkswagens technicians repaired the issue multiple times on seperate occassions *while the vehicle was still under warrant.

- Monck's Corner, SC, USA

problem #242

May 162018

Passat

  • 26,500 miles
I have the same issue as investigation rq 17-009. My clockspring was part of a recall with previous owner having the recall completed in 2017. Now the clockspring is broken once again. I contacted VW and they informed me the recall is closed and on me to fix or dealer I purchased the car through. This is a VW issue. I heard and felt the clock spring pop while making a hard turn a few days ago. Lost all hand controls, horn and airbag light. This is a serious safety issue with no airbag.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #241

May 012018

Passat

  • 35,000 miles
Air light comes on at startup sometime does not go away

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #240

Apr 122018

Passat

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While parking the vehicle, the air bag error warning illuminated and all the electrical components turned off. As a result, the contact could not use the horn or the radio. The dealer (roseville Volkswagen, 830 automall dr, roseville, ca 95661) stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Yuba City, CA, USA

problem #239

Feb 082018

Passat 5-cyl

  • miles
2013 Volkswagen Passat. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the airbag repair.

- Montello, WI, USA

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