YearToAvoid

2012 Volkswagen Passat Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 21 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, about 4% of its 483 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 43,000 miles, and there are no related recalls for this problem area.

Structure & Body complaints
21
4% of 483
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
43,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Door latches freeze or stop functioning in cold, damp weather, preventing the door from opening or closing from inside or outside.
  • Rear seat sections have unlocked and folded down on their own while driving, with nothing in the trunk to trigger the release.
  • A sunroof reportedly shattered without warning while driving, sending glass down onto occupants.
  • Driver's seat upholstery has come apart at moderate mileage, with dealers denying it was a manufacturing defect.
  • Automatic door locks that engage at low speed have disabled the child lock function unexpectedly.
  • A sharp interior handle near the roof cut an occupant's finger.

When 2012 Volkswagen Passat body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 9, 2012, latest Dec 24, 2019.

2012 Volkswagen Passat structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2012Jan 2014Jan 2015Nov 2015Feb 2016Jan 2018Dec 2019
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2012 to Dec 2019; peak Jan 2014 (4).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Passat model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20104 (2%)
  2. 20110 (0%)
  3. 201221 (4%)
  4. 201335 (5%)
  5. 201412 (2%)
  6. 20156 (2%)
  7. 20164 (4%)
  8. 20174 (4%)
  9. 20180 (0%)
  10. 20191 (8%)
  11. 20200 (0%)
  12. 20211 (6%)
  13. 20221 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA lists 21 complaints in this area for the 2012 Passat, about 4% of the 483 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Passat's body or structure issues?
No. NHTSA's data shows no related recalls tied to this problem area for the 2012 Passat.
At what mileage do these body problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2012 Passat is 43,000 miles.
What kinds of body problems do owners report most?
Owners report frozen or malfunctioning door latches, rear seats unlocking while driving, a sunroof that shattered, and seat upholstery falling apart.
Did any of these body complaints involve crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 1 crash, 1 fire, and 3 injuries among the complaints filed for the 2012 Passat overall.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.