2012 Volkswagen Passat steering problems

Filed Sep 7, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · FL

Any time it rains and the car goes through a deeper than surface level puddle/wet area where the nose of the car has to dip down (think by railroad tracks, high water retention areas with lack of drainage, etc) as soon as the car dips down into the water, the steering wheel will lock up and I am unable to turn. It's severely dangerous as there is no give at all to the wheel as it is solidly locked and if you happen to be taking a curve or changing lanes etc, you will not be able to turn the car. My husband and myself have narrowly escaped severe car accidents as this is random and there is nothing you can do except try to force the wheel to turn. When I say the wheel is locked, it's a good 15-20 seconds of desperation trying to turn the wheel before it finally unlocks and I am able to correct the direction of the car. Living in FL with high rainfall chances, including sporadic downpours that unfortunately leave situations like this to occur often, it is a severe safety risk for myself and for other drivers. I have been lucky so far that when this has occurred I have been able to eventually correct the steering, however there have been several severe near misses that are completely out of my control. Please help find a solution, as there doesn't seem to be a fix for this anywhere that I've looked. I do not want to spend money I don't have taking it from dealership to dealership for them to be just as stumped as we are. I have two young kids and not only do I not feel safe letting them in the car, I seriously dread any time it rains because of this issue. I'm not talking about driving through deep bodies of water, but normal rainy weather situations on everyday roads that are otherwise uneventful. Unfortunately I am in an area where water seems to gather quite a bit on the everyday roads I need for work and this situation is truly unavoidable. I put one date below as when it occurred, but it has happened several times in the last week alone due to heavy rains

Filed Apr 19, 2023 · Airbags, Steering · 120,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a clicking sound was coming from the steering column. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated, with the cruise control feature inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clockspring was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the failure was repaired on two previous occasions. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Apr 26, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NC

Lost power reconnect batter n steering locked

Filed Feb 24, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · MO

I was driving this particular day through a busyfour way stoplight intersection around time school was dismissing so 3:30ish PM. And I lost all power to my vehicle with just the battery light flashing once. I barely made it out of the i intersection and to the shoulder of the road as there was no power steering and i had to pump my breaks to stop. I called the local police and let them know it would be towed tomorrow morning. The tow bill was 100 dollars and i had replaced the battery thinking it was the problem. The brand new battery drained in two minutes tops after install alternator was tested and fuses were in working order all except for one that went to my12 volt charging port which was replaced as well as serpentine belt was replaced with alternator test. The battery still drains instantly and when speaking with volkswagon suntrup in sunset hills st. Louis which is the nearest Volkswagen dealership about 30 minute drive my car still is under a dealership warranty for the national emissions recall that was just fixed after i purchased the vehicle. The dealership refuses to come get/ fix/ diagnose or rectify vehicle although admitting to knowing this year has parasitic draws instally killing a brand new battery even while driving was/is a very dangerous situation for me and my family. This car has been sitting in my drive way now for 6 months while nothing is being by vw and i am without safe or working transportation for my family. Ive also been told by vw. That they cant find some parasitic draws and are confused as me!

Filed Feb 23, 2022 · Airbags, Steering · NE

The clock spring has went out on my 2012 VW Passat, but VW does not have them in stock, nor do they know when they'll have them in stock. This means that the drivers air bag will not work in the event of an accident. They are not doing a recall, but are doing an "extended warranty". They are knowingly putting unsafe vehicles out on the road.

Filed May 10, 2021 · Airbags, Steering · 165,000 miles · MO

This vehicle has problems since day one I bought it air bag light came on I don't think the recall was done properly cause I have same issue as it was stated by other driver's airbag light on steering making noise it's ridiculous

Filed Sep 21, 2020 · Airbags, Electrical · 109,000 miles · PA

Steering wheel had a slight tug and a noise. Lost all functions on steering wheel. Was on a country rd. Took it to a vw mechanic in quincy pa on sept 4 2020. They said the clock spring broke and there was a recall on it. I looked it up and recall number 15v483000 came up. It was already fixed evidently. I guess I should not have it done now it is costing 800 dollars.

Filed Sep 12, 2020 · Airbags, Steering · 98,000 miles · NY

I was driving and I heard very weird noises were coming from the steering wheel everytime I turn it in either direction and the next day, the air bag light comes on. By the time I took it to the dealer, my horn stops working. So the dealership told me that there is a known issue with the clockspring in the 2012 vw passat. What concerns me most is that the airbag will fail if an accident occurs, and it is unsafe to drive the car with a non working horne

Filed May 3, 2020 · Fuel system, Steering · 75,000 miles · SC

Was driving fine one day and then the next week I drove it...started to see leaks under my car and I didn't have the AC on. It got hard to turn...felt stiff. Was noticing that I was starting to pay more in power steering fluid to keep my car going. Considering I only had it 3months since first time I noticed the problem.

Filed Sep 3, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 66,000 miles · WA

My vehicle will not turn off once started. The steering wheel lock and the ignition become stuck and I can no longer turn my car off. Since my car can't turn off, it will be on for hours on end until the gas runs out or until I get someone to cut the battery to make the car stop running. I had to leave my car in a parking lot because I was affraid to take it anywhere and not be able to turn my car off for hours on end. I feel I am not able to use my vehicle. The vehicle has less than 100,000 miles and is not even 10 years old. I feel the vehicle is unsafe to use.