10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
21 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,837 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Volkswagen Passat seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments (Page 1 of 16)

problem #319

May 172024

Passat

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While making a U turn the clock spring broke, the air bag light came on and the steering wheel controls no longer function. This is the third time it has broken in this vehicle.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #318

Oct 202023

Passat

  • miles
I didn't know about the recall until now. The dealership where I bought the vehicle did not. let me know about no recall other than he did all the service himself and come to know nothing was done I'm still waiting on my registration. I was turning into my driveway when I heard a strange clicking noise coming form the steering wheel column. As soon as I heard the clicking sound the airbag indicator light started flashing on my dashboard and the buttons on my steering wheel stopped working. Did some research on the airbag sensor which lead to learning about the clock spring malfunction. Not only I-??m I at risk of my airbag not deploying, my HORN does not work. The horn malfunction came to knowledge when a car pulled out in front of me causing me to run off the road. I spoke with Auto Plus Dealership about the malfunction recall. I was told since my car is over 155k miles it could not be replaced under the recall extended warranty. I has just purchased my 2023 VW in October of 202.. I have only owned the car for a less than a month. Yes, the car is available to be inspected upon request. But nothing was done. because he said they found nothing wrong they just reset the light and gave it back to me. as soon as I turned my vehicle back on the light came back on I have not fixed my car I dont have money for parts

- Indio , CA, USA

problem #317

Aug 012023

Passat

  • miles
I was turning into my driveway when I heard a strange clicking noise coming form the steering wheel column. As soon as I heard the clicking sound the airbag indicator light started flashing on my dashboard and the buttons on my steering wheel stopped working. Did some research on the airbag sensor which lead to learning about the clockspring malfunction. Not only I-??m I at risk of my airbag not deploying, my HORN does not work. The horn malfunction came to knowledge when a car pulled out in front of me causing me to run off the road. I spoke with Volkswagen manufacturer about the malfunction recall. I was told since my car is over 120k miles it could not be replaced under the 10 year recall extended warranty. I purchased my 2013 VW CC in October of 2022. I have only owned the car for one year. Yes, the car is available to be inspected upon request.

- Hemingway, SC, USA

problem #316

Jul 172023

Passat

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My instrument cluster stopped working yday. I could hear something inside or behind the steering wheel when I turned it. Obviously my clock spring has failed. I am pretty sure my car had a recall on this in the past. I haven-??t had another ride to Little Rock to take my car for repairs. I can not afford to fix this. The part alone is over 400$. I understand it is very dangerous to drive. I have no other way to get anywhere. I need this part replaced if possible at all by volkswagon. There were 6 recalls on my car last time I checked. This being one of them. It is very dangerous to drive for me and everyone on the roadways. Please help. Thank you.

- Judsonia, AR, USA

problem #315

Jun 112023

Passat

  • miles
The clock spring broke again only four years from being repaired with the last recall.

- Reno, NV, USA

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problem #314

Mar 302023

Passat

  • miles
While driving Airbag error flashed on dash and the Airbag light-lamp came on. Also my steering wheel horn and buttons do not work. I had no past indication. I am driving with no horn and most likely no Airbag deployment in case of accident. No inspection yet. Actually at risk if driven to the dealership

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #313

Oct 132022

Passat

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The airbag light came on, the horn won't work, and none of the steering wheel controls work. I think it is the clockspring failure that wasn't fixed right.

- Grand Junction, CO, USA

problem #312

Jan 072023

Passat

  • miles
The front seat passenger side air bag sensor switch is out. This is a common problem on the VW, Audi's and similar. The failure of the airbag switch puts the passenger at risk. No good reason that the switchs should go out so soon in the models.

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #311

Dec 282022

Passat

  • miles
Unsure how this problem arose, but suddenly the airbag error light appeared and non of the controls on the steering wheel work. This also includes the horn, and airbag. From googling it appears there was a recall for the 2013 VW Passat for a faulty clock spring in the steering wheel which can cause the airbag light to appear and be faulty.

- Tiverton, RI, USA

problem #310

Nov 162022

Passat

  • miles
Records indicate clock spring recall service was performed at some time in the past. Same exact problem recurred last week. Clearly the recall service did not remedy the problem.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #309

Nov 112022

Passat

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

VW has a back order of over 7,000 clock springs with no time table for delivery. No relief provided by VW. Drive vehicle at your own risk.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

problem #308

Mar 222022

Passat

  • miles
* Driver air bag, horn, all controls in steering wheel. * Not having a horn or working air bag * Yes, defective clock switch has been confirmed-this was a recall, was replaced and failed again * No- dealer/recall repair center only * No, air bag light came on and that was it. At that moment nothing worked This occurred in March 2022. I was told it would take 1-2 months to get the part. The part is still unavailable. Called VM Customer Care-they instructed me to call the dealer. The dealer has no control over parts coming from VW. Now driving 8 months without an airbag or horn. All controls in the steering wheel are inoperable. Most are convenience items. Air bag and horn are safety issues.

- Morganville, NJ, USA

problem #307

Sep 162022

Passat

  • miles
My horn doesn-??t work Airbags don-??t work Car cut off 2 times on highway

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #306

Sep 032022

Passat

  • miles
My vehicle was involved in a crash where Vehicle 1 (V1) ran a red light and my vehicle struck V1 along the rear passenger side door, causing my vehicle to spin 180 degrees. The front end of my vehicle was torn off and no airbags deployed, causing injury to the driver of my vehicle. The driver sustained a concussion and whip lash. My vehicle was traveling under 10mph and V1 was approximately 40-50mph. There were no recall repairs listed for my vehicle, but there was a recall in the past for the airbags. I do believe the airbag recall was repaired by a dealership. My vehicle had no warning/indicator lights on the instrument panel showing any problems with the vehicle or the airbags.

- Plattsmouth, NE, USA

problem #305

Jul 272022

Passat

  • miles
Recall still from 2015!!! Clock spring defect NEED TO HAVE FIXED ASAP!!! Dealer says have to replace ourselves REALLY"??" It-??s a manufacturer RECALL

- Ocklawaha , FL, USA

problem #304

Aug 052022

Passat

  • miles
The steering wheel is making a clicking noise and the airbag error light came on. The horn and steering wheel control buttons no longer work. My car was fixed in the last airbag recall but will now need a new clock spring. It hasn-??t been fixed yet but the airbags will not deploy if anything occurs.

- Murray , UT, USA

problem #303

Jan 112022

Passat

  • miles
i hit a dog in the middle of the road and had my insurance from Geico repair the item through our insurance with them. I had the repairs done but the air bag never went off but the light came on. The repair shop did everything they could to try and fix the problem when the replaced my bumper and front panel but could not get the airbag light to turn off the dash. They called the dealer and no code came up. they never found a way to fix it and the light still remains on to this day.

- Hoopa, CA, USA

problem #302

Oct 012021

Passat

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the horn was no longer operable. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clockspring needed to be replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- West Brookfield, MA, USA

problem #301

May 082022

Passat

  • 236,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated the that while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal clicking sound detected. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated and the horn became inoperable. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 236,000. The VIN was not available.

- Chestertown, NY, USA

problem #300

Mar 232022

Passat 5-cyl

  • miles
The Air Bag Inoperative Light illuminated in the dashboard display. All steering wheel electrical functions including horn, display control for items such as speed display stopped working, radio control, and phone control eased to function. There was a grinding noise coming from inside the steering wheel when I turned the wheel. I took the car to the dealer. The dealer said it is a known issue concerning the steering wheel clock spring and VW has known about this for years and has issued an extended warranty. However, VW has the parts on back order and is not supplying the parts to fix the problem in a timely fashion as it should with an emergency safety condition. I called VW of America to report this. They gave me a case number. They then sent me an email a week later saying they would get back to me in a month to let me know the status. This is negligent and unacceptable. This is not a dealership issue. VW is not supplying the part to fix the airbag system. This is a SAFETY ISSUE. Thousands of cars are affected, not just mine. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE AND IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. Just like the Takata airbag scenario, this should be acted on immediately before someone is seriously hurt or killed because VW will not fix a known safety issue with their air bag system. There is still no resolution from VW. This has been a known issue with VW for over 5 years.

- Lake Forest Park, WA, USA

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