10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,104 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.

2016 Volkswagen Passat steering problems

steering problem

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2016 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments

problem #14

Aug 102022

Passat

  • miles

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

steering wheel clock spring failure which faults steering wheel controls, air bag and horn. Key safety features failed!

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #13

Mar 212022

Passat 4-cyl

  • miles
I purchased this car brand new Oct 2016. Since then I have experienced multiple sensor failures year after year-€¦ At first we thought this was a one time failure but as more and more issues came our concerns grew. I have changed out the radio, 3 speed sensors, and now am having more issues with different symptoms. For example my epc light is no and my check engine is on along with the other typical light i have seen with my speed sensor issues. I can not confidently pass any cars because the car stalls at 3000 rpms. I consider this car a safety issue on the road and i do not want this car anymore because i do not know what hidden failures will appear later on after fixing these.

- Victoria, TX, USA

problem #12

Jan 142022

Passat

  • miles
The clock spring has failed in my car unexpectedly and rapidly, exposing me as a teenage driver in college to complete unsafely while driving my car, as the airbags and brake assist that my parents wanted in my car to keep me safe do not function. There have been recalls on volkswagens for the clock spring before, and there should be one now. The car is 7 years old and has a little less than 73,000 miles on it - the clock spring should not be failing.

- Kensington, MD, USA

problem #11

Mar 202021

Passat

  • 81,700 miles

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

I was driving my car on surface streets and when making turns I started to hear clicking noises. Next time I turned on my car and went to pull out, an airbag warning appeared as well as the symbol, and I lost all use of my steering wheel controls as well as my horn. It seems to be a faulty clock spring which is a reported problem that has been investigated but not with my 2016. The car is only 5 years old and shouldn't be having these issues that I have to repair out of pocket.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #10

Jun 192020

Passat 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
While driving the ABS light came on (constant speed, highway, dry conditions), disabling cruise control. The airbag light then came on. Then the tire sensor light and finally the steering wheel light and exclamation point icon next to the steering wheel light.

- Rockport, TX, USA

problem #9

Jun 272019

Passat

  • 56,000 miles
Steering wheel began to click when turning any direction mid-trip. Vehicle was in motion and had been in motion for approx 30 minutes when issue began. All steering wheel buttons, including cruise control, no longer worked. Air bag malfunction light illuminated. Dealer stated clock spring had malfunctioned, issue was repaired. Noted that cruise control buttons continued to malfunction post-repair dealer claims 'coincidence' with malfunction, putting cost on customer to repair..

- Danville, IN, USA

problem #8

Mar 032019

Passat

  • 37,000 miles

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

Issue with the lane assist feature. Seems like it is to sensitive. On 3/3/19 I was driving on the highway going about 65 mph on a slight curved road and the with clear markings. The system seems to have picked up on some tire marks and swerved towards the center medium which easily could have caused an accident. I managed to regain control and turned the lane assist off.

- Beaumont, CA, USA

problem #7

Dec 132016

Passat

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 45 mph, without depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle began to brake independently and a wavy line warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel started to vibrate violently without warning. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to South bay Volkswagen (located at 3131 national city blvd, national city, ca 91950, (619) 336- 4020) to be diagnosed, but a failure code could not be located. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 171672068. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

- Alpine, CA, USA

problem #6

Dec 052017

Passat

  • 25 miles
Takata recall- not sure if it is but my car has issue on the steering. Also my airbag light is on and along with that my horn is disabled. Not sure if its under recall but how do I get those repair

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 052018

Passat

  • 36,000 miles
I often will be driving and car slams on brakes by itself causing me to nearly wreck and also twice I've had air bag lights appear and clicking steering wheel

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #4

Apr 132018

Passat

  • 46,000 miles

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

When I went to start the car the air bag warning light came on and stated "error". all the functions on the steering wheel would not work, this included the horn, cruise control, radio system and air bag. I was afraid that either the air bag could just go off or would not go off if I got into an accident. I also could not use my horn in case of an emergency situation. The vehicle had to be repaired. Sunrise Volkswagen in lynbrook, NY replaced the clock spring.

- Williston Park, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 162018

Passat

  • 47,425 miles
My clock spring and switch broke and needed replacement. I was in motion making a turn when a crunching noise was made. My warning lights went off claiming air bag error, acc error. I could not use my turn signal or horn. I was able to pull into a parking lot and call the dealership. After speaking with the dealership, they told me it was most likely the clock spring but I had to get it evaluated. I took it in and it was. I found out that VW had previous recalls for such equipment but not my year. My car is only 2 years old and the clock spring broke. I have never had one break in over 30 years of driving.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #2

Oct 072015

Passat

  • miles
There was a recall on the clock spring. I brought it in for service and it got replaced 10/7/15. It snapped again 5 months later was replaced 3/8/16. It snapped again 6 months later. Now volkwagon offers a 12,000 mile 12 year warranty on parts. I bright the vehicle in 10/18/16 and they told me it wasn't covered under warranty. This is a major safety issue seeing that it controls my horn and will not let my airbag deploy. I have contacted VW headquarters several times concerning this on going issue. They replaced the part under a 'goodwill' which it should've been replaced under the recall & the warranty.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #1

Dec 152015

Passat

  • 4,300 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the power steering and the power brakes suddenly malfunctioned and the driver was unable to immediately steer or stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the camshaft. The vehicle later experienced the same failure and the dealer replaced the vacuum pump. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 4,300.

- Douglasville, FL, USA

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