10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,498 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.

2014 Volkswagen Passat seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2014 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments (Page 1 of 15)

problem #296

Feb 192022

Passat

  • miles

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

I was driving my vehicle under normal driving conditions (daylight, dry roads) and I was making a left turn onto another street from a completely stopped position. As I made the turn, the airbag warning light on my Passat came on. It remained on for the duration of my drive. When I got home, I discovered that my horn no longer works, nor do any of the wheel controls on the steering wheel. My safety is now at risk because if I am involved in a frontal accident, there is no airbag. I am also now unable to signal other drivers due to my lack of horn. I now have a solid illuminated air bag light on the dashboard. To my knowledge, this car has never had any items replaced in a recall, but it could have been part of a recall before we bought it from the dealer.

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #295

Nov 232022

Passat

  • miles
Vehicle originally was taken in for a recall on the clock spring, now having the same issue again start up a couple months ago. The driver side airbag will no longer function under these conditions

- North Richland Hills, TX, USA

problem #294

Sep 302021

Passat

  • miles
A faulty clockspring in the steering wheel failed so the driver air bag and the horn do not work. The car can-€™t pass a safety inspection. This is a faulty part that the NHTSA issued a recall for some years back (I believe in 2015). The replacement part has been back order for upwards of 9 months for 1000s of VWs in the US. If the cars cannot pass a state safety inspection there should be a safety recall issued immediately.

- Johnstown , NY, USA

problem #293

Jun 012022

Passat

  • miles

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

The clocksping in the steering wheel is broken, but the part has been backordered for over a year. The broken clockspring makes the horn and buttons on the steering wheel unusable and the airbag will not deploy.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #292

May 232022

Passat

  • miles
Airbag clock spring has broken but part is unavailable and has been on back order for over a year. I now do not have an airbag, horn or any steering wheel buttons. Couldn-€™t care less on the buttons but my concern is safety with the airbag and horn. Also it will no longer pass my states inspection. Volkswagen needs to fix this and now! Part on back order for over a year and no expected time in near future is unacceptable for those in this position!! :(. They should realize some people will die instead of survive certain crashes without airbags working!!

- Angier, NC, USA

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problem #291

Dec 152021

Passat

  • miles
My clock spring went out in December 2021. VW dealership acknowledged the problem and told me the repairs/part are covered under recall/extended warranty, but VW has a back order on the part. Meanwhile, I am without a drivers side airbag AND a working horn almost 6 months later. I can-€™t even honk the horn to alert someone and prevent an accident. VW could use aftermarket parts (aftermarket parts may work better), but they have refused. I am stuck with no airbag or horn AND I can-€™t even trade the car in (except at the VW dealership) because it doesn-€™t have a working airbag. Super frustrated with Volkswagen!!

- Murfreesboro , TN, USA

problem #290

Apr 272022

Passat

  • miles

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

I belive the clock spring has malfunctioned on my car, the air bag light won't go off and the horn does not work. This has put my safety at risk because twice last week a car almost side swiped me and I have no horn. I called the dealer and they said my particular model isn't covered under the recall but It says volkswagen passat models 2010-2014. I have not taken my car to the dealership yet. The airbag light and horn stopped working at the same time about a month ago and I have replace the the fuse and relay switch and the air bag light is still on and the horn still doesn't work.

- Barataria, LA, USA

problem #289

May 162022

Passat

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 87,000.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #288

Sep 012021

Passat

  • miles
The airbag not working after recall, the dealer says the clock spring is bad. Cant order a new one bc they have been on backorder for over 9 months now.

- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA

problem #287

Feb 032022

Passat

  • miles
Clock spring is broken, and no one has replacement parts. They have been backordered with Volkswagen for MONTHS. Air bag, horn, and steering wheel radio control do not work. Won't pass safety inspection.

- Clay, NY, USA

problem #286

Mar 072022

Passat

  • miles

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

The clock spring within the steering wheel has failed and is no longer functional. The airbag sensor warning light has come on. The horn no longer works, and I cannot warn drivers crossing over into my lane who may not see me in their blind spot. And as far as I understand, the main steering wheel airbag no longer works either. The idea that my main airbag system will not deploy in an event of accident is worrisome. I went to a dealership and informed them that its most likely a clock spring issue as I googled the issue; it-€™s quite common in their cars. They confirmed it for me, after taking a $139 -€˜inspection-€™ fee which was no more than a tech scanning my car and checking the three main indicative problems I already reported to them. I was at about 120,090 miles at the time. I was informed that their clock spring warranty only covers up to 120,000 miles but was assured they will most likely be able to cover it after talking with the Volkswagen representative. It wasn-€™t covered. I was then told it would be another $600 to use their services, and the part would take a few weeks to come in. I later called the parts department as I did not want to pay an exorbitant labor fee; the inspection fee was insult enough. I was informed the parts department is five months backordered. So now, I-€™m either forced to pay for their service to get the part within a few weeks or wait five months from the parts department all the while driving with no horn or wheel airbag. I'm now forced to use their services, which run at a premium compared to normal mechanics, if I wish to have basic safety features on my car. This seems exploitative of the consumer on a safety problem that has persisted for years, and one Volkswagen is responsible for causing with their faulty manufacturing.

- New Milford, CT, USA

problem #285

Mar 012022

Passat

  • miles
The recall listed on the previous page explains why visibility is so poor when low or high beams are on while driving, no matter what the weather conditions are. My safety, along with my family's safety, and oncoming traffic were put at risk due to such poor visibility. I don't have this problem with my other Volkswagen (2017 Jetta). The other problem I encountered is with my steering wheel. I was turning and I heard what sounded like a crinkle type noise. It was rather brief so I didn't pay attention and then it made the sound again when I turned wheel in the opposite direction and again on my next turn. The following day I heard the same type of noise while turning in either direction and then the noise sounded like a spring breaking. I then noticed a light on my dash come on. The light was orange in color displaying a similar no seat belt wearing flash display. Once I was home I looked into what dash light meant and it had to do with an airbag malfunction. I went on to notice that none of my steering wheel functions worked nor did my horn. I researched possible recall involving steering wheel clock spring in a 2014 Passat and found it was indeed a recall. I purchased this car for my soon to be licensed son and he needs these recalls fixed as soon as possible in order to use car for his driving test in April. The nearest VW dealer is in Green Bay, WI which is a few hours away from my home. I was informed by a close friend that works for VW that recalls could be fixed by Halbinsel Mazda in Escanaba MI. My other VW is currently in storage and I am unable to get to it until spring time when the snow melts. This leaves me with the Passat with poor visibility and if I were to get in an accident the airbag wouldn't deploy because of clock spring recall nor can I warn anybody by honking my horn. Both recalls are putting myself, my loved ones and traffic at major safety risks. My vehicle is available for inspection, so matter can be resolved as soon as possible.

- L'anse , MI, USA

problem #284

Jan 082022

Passat

  • miles
I adjusted my steering wheel with the lever used to do so and reverse my car out of my parking spot and I heard this like crunchy and crumbling crackling sound and it sounded like there was something wrapped around my steering wheel and i was like what the heck... So I turn the wheel clockwise and then back counterclockwise and then back again and kept hearing the noise but decided there was nothing I could do about it so I drove to my destination which was about 5 minutes away. I put my car in park and left it running went inside and made a payment and came back out and I put my car in reverse to reverse out of the parking space and all of a sudden there was this thing and an air light on my dash saying airbag air and all I could hear was this crunching crackling sound again like something was going to pop out. So I pulled my car back into the parking spot and I called my local Volkswagen dealer on Saturday around 4 only to find out that all technicians were gone for the day and wouldn't be back until Monday. So I called the 1-800 Volkswagen number for customer support and it was closed as well. So I drove my vehicle home and it's been parked because I'm scared to drive it because the airbag sounds like and feels like it's going to explode

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #283

Jul 012021

Passat

  • miles
Clock spring failure after recall.

- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA

problem #282

Nov 162021

Passat

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-15 MPH and pulling out of a parking lot, the airbag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she continued to drive the vehicle and noticed that the horn and the buttons on the steering wheel would fail to respond when engaged. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #281

Aug 012021

Passat

  • miles
The airbag light stayed on and the horn stopped working.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #280

Sep 102021

Passat

  • miles
A few years ago I had my clock spring replaced as part of a recall. It just gave out again.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

problem #279

Aug 182021

Passat

  • miles
None of the functions on the steering wheel of my 2014 VW Passat work. This includes the horn, the airbag and other functions on the steering wheel. This car is what my daughter uses for college. It puts her at risk and other drivers. She cannot beep the horn if someone is driving erratically, the air bag on the steering wheel does not work and sometimes the directionals do not work. This car will not pass inspection. VW has not put a recall out on this part and after doing some research, many VW's are affected by this issue. What makes matters worse, is that she had the same issue in 2018. She had to travel to a VW dealer almost 50 miles away from her college campus to have the clock spring replaced to the price of $646 dollars. Now it's 2021 and the same problem is occurring. What is the matter with VW where they will not take responsibility for their cars.

- East Nassau, NY, USA

problem #278

Jul 152021

Passat

  • miles
1. Air bag clock spring (twice) 2. No horn, no airbag driver side safety issues. 3. Yes, twice confirmed by VW Dealer 4. No other inspections, just VW Dealer 5. No warnings of the issue until none of the controls were working - now an air bag light January 29, 2020 - 82227 miles, no air bag, no horn, no steering wheel controls. brought to dealer - says there is a known issue with the clock spring and replaced it no charge. August 11, 2021, 123221 miles, no air bag, no horn, no steering wheel controls. brought to dealer - says not covered. the first clock spring lasted 80,000, the second one even more faulty - lasted barely 40000.

- North Dartmouth, MA, USA

problem #277

Apr 012021

Passat

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the air bag clock spring was damaged, and the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bag). The failure mileage was 86,000.

- Fruitland Park, FL, USA

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