2016 Volkswagen Passat Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 25 airbag complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat, 24% of all complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 46,000 miles. Two crashes and one injury are tied to this area, and no related recalls are listed.
- Airbags complaints
- 25
- 24% of 106
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 46,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Steering wheel emits a clicking or crunching noise while turning, followed by an airbag warning light, described in owner accounts as clock spring failure.
- Loss of steering wheel controls including horn, cruise control, and radio accompanies the airbag error message.
- Some owners report the airbag failed to deploy during a low-speed crash, resulting in injury.
- Airbag warning appears alongside other electrical faults such as ABS wheel speed sensor errors, lane assist errors, or unexpected automatic braking.
- A few owners describe repeated clock spring replacements, with the part failing again months after repair.
When 2016 Volkswagen Passat airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 5, 2017, latest May 3, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Airbags complaints by Passat model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Do 2016 Volkswagen Passat owners report airbag problems?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 25 airbag-related complaints for the 2016 Passat, making up 24% of all complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat airbag or clock spring issue?
- No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for the 2016 Passat's airbag component, though several owners mention past clock spring recalls on other model years.
- At what mileage do airbag problems usually appear on the 2016 Passat?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this area is 46,000 miles.
- Were there any crashes or injuries linked to airbag complaints on the 2016 Passat?
- NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 1 injury associated with the 25 airbag complaints for this model year.
- How does the 2016 Passat compare to other years for airbag complaints?
- The 2016 Passat's 24% share of airbag complaints is lower than years like 2012 (61%), 2013 (51%), and 2014 (60%), based on NHTSA data across model years.