2012 Volkswagen Passat Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2012 Volkswagen Passat ranks third-worst among 18 model years, with a complaint index of 88 and 483 complaints, most tied to airbags. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for this year, and the verdict is Avoid relative to other Passat years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 88/100
- #3 of 18 Passat years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 483
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 10
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25.5
- 22 city / 31.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
Top 2012 Volkswagen Passat problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags295 (61%)
- Electrical System107 (22%)
- Engine54 (11%)
- Fuel System46 (10%)
- Steering46 (10%)
- Other31 (6%)
- Structure & Body21 (4%)
- Brakes16 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain15 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Driver's side frontal airbags reportedly failed to deploy in moderate-speed crashes, sometimes causing injuries owners said required medical attention.
- Some owners described the engine compartment smoking and catching fire after sputtering or a loud pop, with the fire spreading through the engine bay.
- Several drivers reported the brake pedal traveling to the floor with little or no stopping power, leading to crashes.
- One owner said the automatic transmission could be shifted off without being placed in park first, which they had flagged to a dealer when the car was new.
- Owners linked some airbag non-deployments to a steering wheel electronic clock spring issue covered under a later recall.
2012 Volkswagen Passat recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V834000Oct 30, 2024Airbags248,330 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
- NHTSA 19V862000Dec 4, 2019Airbags226 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
- NHTSA 19V389000May 22, 2019Electrical System662,185 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
2012 Volkswagen Passat fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22 MPG
- Highway
- 31.5 MPG
- Combined
- 25.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Passat years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
- Compared with other Passat model years, 2012 ranks third-worst out of 18, with a complaint index of 88 and 483 total complaints, most concerning airbags.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Passat?
- Airbags account for 61% of complaints (295 of 483), followed by the electrical system at 22% and engine issues at 11%, based on NHTSA data.
- Does the 2012 Volkswagen Passat have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag-related recalls for the 2012 Passat, including driver's side frontal airbag inflator replacements tied to the broader Takata recall campaigns.
- How many recalls does the 2012 Passat have?
- NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, covering airbags, electrical system, transmission and powertrain, and other components.
- Which Passat model years are better than 2012?
- Years like 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 carry Good or Best verdicts with much lower complaint indexes than the 2012 model's 88.