Home / Volkswagen / Passat / 2012
Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
299 complaints; 5 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 15V483000, 16V078000, 18V148000, 19V862000, 24V834000.
95 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 16V171000.
47 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 12V146000.
46 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
44 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
31 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 18V329000.
18 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 14V125000, 19V389000.
17 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
15 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 17V309000.
14 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
12 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Fuel and Propulsion System. Recall covering the fuel and propulsion system system, reported to NHTSA on April 5, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 153 vehicles across all affected models.
Lighting. Recall covering the lighting system, reported to NHTSA on March 17, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 150,201 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on August 4, 2015. The campaign covers an estimated 415,825 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on February 10, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 659,493 vehicles across all affected models.
Electrical System. Recall covering the electrical system system, reported to NHTSA on March 24, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 91,442 vehicles across all affected models.
Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on May 11, 2017. The campaign covers an estimated 84,262 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on March 6, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 363,713 vehicles across all affected models.
Unknown Or Other. Recall covering the unknown or other system, reported to NHTSA on May 16, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 252 vehicles across all affected models.
Lighting. Recall covering the lighting system, reported to NHTSA on May 22, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 662,185 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on December 4, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 226 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on October 30, 2024. The campaign covers an estimated 248,330 vehicles across all affected models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 15V483000.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 15V483000.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 15V483000.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Air Bag Clockspring Failure. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.