2012 Volkswagen Passat: clunking or noise when steering

Filed May 27, 2022 · Airbags · 275,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking space at approximately 3 MPH and turning the steering wheel, she heard a loud clicking noise coming from the wheel. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated along with an error: air bag message on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn ceased functioning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the dealer that the clockspring was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 275,000.

Filed Feb 5, 2022 · Airbags, Electrical · PA

On the 29th of January, upon turning on my car and turning my steering wheel, I heard a "clicking" noise, and immediately on the dash my airbag light displayed along with a message saying, "Error: Airbag". After driving, I realized that my horn no longer worked and the controls on my steering wheel were inoperable. When I arrived at my destination, I began looking up the issue and things that could cause the airbag light to display, along with causing the other issues I was experiencing. The first thing that popped up described a recall that was initiated in 2015 for the clockspring piece failing, which causes the airbag light to display, the horn to not work, as well as the controls on the steering wheel to not work. I looked up the CarFax on my specific vehicle and found that this clockspring piece was replaced on my car back in 2016 (before I owned it), so on the following Monday, I called my local Volkswagen dealership where the guy confirmed that this had been a recall that was previously fixed on my car and offered me an appointment for the 24th of February to confirm that this was the issue going on with my car. As I was unsatisfied with waiting this long, I called other local Volkswagen dealerships to see if they could get me in sooner. The York Volkswagen dealership got me in on the 4th of February, ran diagnostics, and confirmed that this was the issue with the car, the clockspring needed to be replaced, again. However, it was relayed to me that this piece is part of a nationwide backorder and that they could not give me a time frame of when they would be able to replace this piece for me, all they could do was tell me that the part had been ordered for me and they would call me when the part arrived. Upon asking what I was supposed to do in the meantime, as far as driving with this extreme safety issue or do as my inspection is coming up and will not pass inspection with the airbag light on or the horn not working, no one was able to give me any guidance.

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 Dec 2, 2018 · Airbags · 77,100 miles · GA

My vehicle has been just fine up until saturday morning,12/1/2018 at approximately 10:30. As I was making a right turn I heard clicking coming from my steering wheel. Mind you I would here this clicking hear and there but figured maybe my steering column was getting rusty not know it was more serious until now. After I parked my car I received and air bag error. My car was apart of the takata airbag inflator recall and I got that fixed at the dealer april 2017. When I called the vw dealer near my residence, the service advisor ask I bring my car in to diagnose however from the sounds of it, appears to be a spiral clock spring issue. Of course being a female I had concerns and ask several questions goong back to the airbag replacement to see if it all tied in together. The advisor advised since the recall was a year and half ago this is a different issue but again would diagnose the vehicle first. Here's my issue. As I reached more, I noticed a lot of complaints and investigations related to the clock spring failure. There were recalls but my vehicle was not included. That is a huge problem and very concerning and poor judgement on vw behalf. Now I'm driving with a possible faulty airbag that was not really fixed, my horn does not work, nor any controls on my steering wheel. In my opinion I should not have to come out of pocket for such repair due to the lack of vw. Vw are putting people's lives at stake. I've has electrical issues now this. Not reliable vehicles at all. I hope someone can look into this matter and address it. Thank you for your time!

Filed Oct 12, 2018 · Airbags · 62,000 miles · CA

Takata recall. I took my vehicle into vw in 3/2016 for the recall. At that time none of the controls on my steering wheel were working and the air bag warning light was on. I was advised they put a cover over the clock spring and also replaced the clock spring. Fast forward to 2018 and theres an issue with the clock spring needing to be replaced again. The driver airbag warning light is on agaon, steering wheel controls dont working and to add to that now a clicking sound when the steering wheel is turned. Vvw says im outside warranty on recalled parts and I'm the one that will be out of pocket on the $700 repair

Filed Oct 7, 2018 · Airbags, Steering · 46,750 miles · CA

Last month, september 2018, while driving my car on surface streets, I started to hear a cracking noise coming from my steering wheel whenever I turned the wheel. My airbag light also came on. As I continued to drive, I was worried that my steering would fail from all the noise I was hearing from the steering column. Once I got home, I researched online what the problem might be and I also verified with the vw dealership that it was a broken clock spring coil and my airbag and all electrical components to the steering wheel failed and I was driving my car without the main safety feature which is the airbag. I went to the ventura vw dealership on september 20,2018 to have them replace the clock spring coil. They kept my car overnight and I had to pay for a rental car from them. From my understanding, vw knew that the clock spring coil could break and therefore they issued the vw recall # 15v483000 in 8/14/2015, to place a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring. I had this recall already done to my car prior to this issue happening. Therefore it seems that vw's recall fix did not prevent the clock spring from breaking in my car. The ventura vw dealership service manager attempted to have vw reimburse me for this issue but they would not. It seems like this should be fixed by vw since they knew this is a problem and attempted to fix it with a recall in 2015 which failed. My car's clock spring broke despite having the vw recall protective cover in place and it was an expensive repair.

Filed Apr 26, 2018 · Airbags · 74,000 miles · TX

Clock spring was changed in 2016 and takata recall airbag was changed in march. After the airbag was replaced I heard clicking noises when turning my steering wheel and now my airbag error light is on. My horn doesnt work and my buttons to control radio do not work. I brought to dealership where the takata recall was done and they diagnosed it with open broken clock spring and power steering gear broken. They do not want to take responisbility for the clock spring since it was changed in 2016. I have made a case with volkswagen against this particular dealership.

Filed May 11, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 40,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that the steering wheel made a cracking noise and became difficult to turn as the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who inspected the vehicle and advised that the module failed. However, the contact was not sure of the name of the module that needed to replace. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Apr 22, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 58,000 miles · GA

Heard a clicking noise coming from the steering column while turning in a parking lot. When I started the car again the airbag light came on and none of the controls on the steering wheel including the horn would work. After investigating online I found several complaints about this issue and discovered that many other owners are experiencing a failure the clock spring in the steering column at about 50,000-60,000 miles 9 I had about 58000 at the time). After discovering that an investigation was started here just days before mine failed I contacted the dealer. I was told that they were not aware of the investigation or the issue.... However they were able to quickly tell me it would cost about $700 to fix, and if vw issues a recall later I could try to get it refunded from corporate at that time.

Filed Apr 7, 2015 · Airbags, Steering · 72,000 miles · NY

My spring clock broke on my vehicle. I can hear a clicking noise coming from the steering wheel as I turn. I airbag indicator light went on, my horn and controls on the steering wheel no longer work. It is a frightening feeling knowing that the airbags may deploy at anytime or not at all in an accident. Looking online to research the cost in replacing this piece, I have found that it is a very common problem.

Filed Feb 9, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 62,000 miles · OH

Clicking noise started inside steering wheel. Turning all the way to the right popping noise with airbag error message. Now no hands free controls, horn. ...updated 03-11-15 *bf updated 6/18/2015

Filed Jan 6, 2015 · Airbags, Steering · 60,000 miles · AZ

Upon pulling out of my driveway and turning the steering wheel there was a cracking noise and then the air bag light went off with an airbag error. At which point all mechanisms within the steering wheel stopped working. After taking the car to the dealership it was determined that the steering wheel clock spring broke, because of this the airbag, horn and other steering wheel mechanisms are not functional without repair. Further research online shows that this has consistently broken on other 2012 volkswagen passat between 50k and 60k miles on it. I further addressed my concern with volkswagen customer cares to ask why there has not been a recall on this part, they indicated that not enough customers have submitted claims. Because this fails/breaks at this mileage it is outside the standard warranty, there is "nothing they can do about it." I requested to speak to a manager multiple times, and was told I would have to wait 24 hours. It's unfortunate that volkswagen doesn't care about the safety of their customers, and has not addressed this problem with a recall.