2016 Volkswagen Passat Steering Problems
NHTSA lists 19 steering-related complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat, 18% of all 106 complaints filed for the year, with 1 crash and no fires or injuries. Median mileage at failure was 41,500 miles. No related recalls are listed for this component on this model year.
- Steering complaints
- 19
- 18% of 106
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 41,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical steering symptoms owners report
- Owners report the clock spring failing, causing the airbag light, horn, cruise control, and steering wheel button controls to stop working, often accompanied by a clicking or crunching noise when turning.
- Some drivers describe the power steering and power brakes malfunctioning at the same time while driving at low speed, making the vehicle briefly hard to steer or stop.
- Several complaints describe the steering wheel vibrating violently or the vehicle braking on its own without the driver touching the pedal, sometimes with a wavy-line dashboard warning.
- One owner reported the lane assist system swerving the car toward the center median after misreading tire marks on the road.
- Multiple owners noted repeat clock spring failures after a dealer repair, with the issue recurring months later and warning lights returning.
When 2016 Volkswagen Passat steering complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 27, 2016, latest May 3, 2026.
Steering recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Steering complaints by Passat model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many steering complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
- NHTSA lists 19 steering-related complaints for the 2016 Passat, which is 18% of the 106 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for steering problems on the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the steering complaints on this model year.
- At what mileage do steering problems tend to show up on the 2016 Passat?
- The median mileage at failure among steering-related complaints is 41,500 miles.
- Did steering issues cause any crashes on the 2016 Passat?
- NHTSA records 1 crash tied to steering complaints for the 2016 Passat, with no fires or injuries reported.
- What specific steering symptoms do 2016 Passat owners describe?
- Owners describe clock spring failures that disable the horn and cruise control, steering wheel vibration paired with unexpected braking, and in one case a lane assist system that swerved toward the median.