2012 Volkswagen Passat steering problems
Owners reported steering problems in 46 complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, 7% of the complaints on file.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 46 7% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 68,000 miles 36 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When steering problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 36 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 68,000 miles, and 36% were reported before 60,000 miles.
None of the steering complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.
What owners wrote
Car has constant pull to the right. Driving requires constant pressure to the left on steering wheel. Car has been to dealer 4 times for alignment and although they adjust it, right pull persists. Sometimes, steering has a feel as though car is erratic. Car never settles into tacking in a straight line which seems very odd and potentially dangerous. Apparently this is a common issue and volkswagen cannot rectify the problem.
Clock spring failure after recall service was performed. 2-8-2018 - upon starting to drive when I turned the steering wheel I heard a scraping sound in the steering column and then the air bag light came on indicating air bag not working, all control switches on the steering wheel and horn was not working. I had the recall for the protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring installed at the VW dealer in march 2016.
Other problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat
- Air bags 299 complaints
- Electrical system 95 complaints
- Fuel system 47 complaints
- Engine 44 complaints
- Lighting 18 complaints
- Body & structure 17 complaints