10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,166 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.

2016 Volkswagen Passat seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2016 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments

problem #19

Apr 082024

Passat

  • miles

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

I believe my clockspring has malfuncioned and though it has had multiple recalls my car is not listed for recall. My horn is no longer working, as well as all the buttons in my steering wheel including cruise control and my airbag light is on. This is all directly correlated to a clockspring malfunction and I believe my vehicle should be recalled for saftey reasons.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #18

Oct 012023

Passat

  • miles
Steering column makes noises when turning. Airbag Light is on and the none of the steering wheel controls for the radio, phone etc are functioning properly. This is my college age daughter-??s car and I fear the airbag won-??t deploy in the event she was in a collision.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #17

May 202020

Passat

  • miles
VW repaired clock spring (a recall) after airbag warning, steering wheel controls stopped working. VW returned the vehicle to me, the customer, with the clock spring supposedly repaired yet steering wheel buttons, including cruise control and others, remained broken and unusable. VW wanted several hundred dollars to fix this, despite the issue obviously being directly related to the clock spring as all buttons were in working order prior to the clock spring issue. (dates below May not be entirely accurate as this happened several years ago and still has not been repaired, however I was unaware I could file a report here)

- Danville , IN, USA

problem #16

Oct 152021

Passat

  • miles

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

The clockspring has broken 3 times since purchasing the car brand new in 2016. An extended warranty was given. However, due to all the driving I do the warranty did not cover my car as I was already past the miles once the extended warranty came out.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #15

Feb 142023

Passat

  • miles
On turning my car on my airbag light came on and non of the buttons worked on my steering wheel. Later that afternoon as someone all most backed up into my car I tried to hit my horn but it did not work. After finally returning home I ran the code stating the Airbag resistance was too high. This puts a huge safety to myself and anyone who can be in my car because I have no horn and my airbag is malfunctioning.

- Mechanicsville, MD, USA

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problem #14

Aug 102022

Passat

  • miles
steering wheel clock spring failure which faults steering wheel controls, air bag and horn. Key safety features failed!

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #13

Jan 232022

Passat

  • miles

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

Driver airbag warning came on. Lost use of all controls on steering wheel. Probable clockspring failure

- Hobart, WA, USA

problem #12

Dec 282021

Passat

  • miles
I started my vehicle and the airbag light was on. Also the adaptive cruise control warning light was on and none of my steering wheel controls work. Not even the horn works. This is a huge safety issue that Volkswagen is aware of based on a past recall. There are no open recalls for my vehicle for this problem but there should be! I cannot even drive my car now because It-??s not safe with no working horn or airbag! I researched online what the problem could be and several Volkswagen owners have the EXACT SAME issue. Apparently it-??s the clock spring? I am not aware of Volkswagen offering to fix this major issue for their customers.

- Accokeek, MD, USA

problem #11

Jul 232021

Passat

  • miles
I started my car and it showed up with -??airbag error-?? I then turned off my car and started it again and something along the lines of -??front lane assist error-?? showed up, there was also a clicking noise from my steering wheel anytime I would turn the wheel, the car also was -??breakchecking-?? me (aggressively breaking when barely any pressure applied) when I was trying to drive home and the digital speedometer is no longer showing up on my dash board. I was only able to get a picture of the -??airbag error-?? message

- Oconto, WI, USA

problem #10

Mar 202021

Passat

  • 81,700 miles
I was driving my car on surface streets and when making turns I started to hear clicking noises. Next time I turned on my car and went to pull out, an airbag warning appeared as well as the symbol, and I lost all use of my steering wheel controls as well as my horn. It seems to be a faulty clock spring which is a reported problem that has been investigated but not with my 2016. The car is only 5 years old and shouldn't be having these issues that I have to repair out of pocket.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #9

Feb 012021

Passat

  • 45,000 miles

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

The car suddely turned on airbag lights, ABS wheel speed sensor and, cruise control

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 272019

Passat

  • 56,000 miles
Steering wheel began to click when turning any direction mid-trip. Vehicle was in motion and had been in motion for approx 30 minutes when issue began. All steering wheel buttons, including cruise control, no longer worked. Air bag malfunction light illuminated. Dealer stated clock spring had malfunctioned, issue was repaired. Noted that cruise control buttons continued to malfunction post-repair dealer claims 'coincidence' with malfunction, putting cost on customer to repair..

- Danville, IN, USA

problem #7

Jul 312018

Passat

  • 60,000 miles
Air bag warning light came on - never been in accident has 61,000 miles

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #6

Dec 052017

Passat

  • 25 miles
Takata recall- not sure if it is but my car has issue on the steering. Also my airbag light is on and along with that my horn is disabled. Not sure if its under recall but how do I get those repair

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 052018

Passat

  • 36,000 miles
I often will be driving and car slams on brakes by itself causing me to nearly wreck and also twice I've had air bag lights appear and clicking steering wheel

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #4

Apr 132018

Passat

  • 46,000 miles
When I went to start the car the air bag warning light came on and stated "error". all the functions on the steering wheel would not work, this included the horn, cruise control, radio system and air bag. I was afraid that either the air bag could just go off or would not go off if I got into an accident. I also could not use my horn in case of an emergency situation. The vehicle had to be repaired. Sunrise Volkswagen in lynbrook, NY replaced the clock spring.

- Williston Park, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 162018

Passat

  • 47,425 miles
My clock spring and switch broke and needed replacement. I was in motion making a turn when a crunching noise was made. My warning lights went off claiming air bag error, acc error. I could not use my turn signal or horn. I was able to pull into a parking lot and call the dealership. After speaking with the dealership, they told me it was most likely the clock spring but I had to get it evaluated. I took it in and it was. I found out that VW had previous recalls for such equipment but not my year. My car is only 2 years old and the clock spring broke. I have never had one break in over 30 years of driving.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #2

Oct 072015

Passat

  • miles
There was a recall on the clock spring. I brought it in for service and it got replaced 10/7/15. It snapped again 5 months later was replaced 3/8/16. It snapped again 6 months later. Now volkwagon offers a 12,000 mile 12 year warranty on parts. I bright the vehicle in 10/18/16 and they told me it wasn't covered under warranty. This is a major safety issue seeing that it controls my horn and will not let my airbag deploy. I have contacted VW headquarters several times concerning this on going issue. They replaced the part under a 'goodwill' which it should've been replaced under the recall & the warranty.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #1

May 202017

Passat

  • 11,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 20 mph and attempting to make a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The passenger in the rear passenger seat sustained whiplash and injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center and was currently being repaired for the body damage. The contact also stated that the driver's side view mirror indicator failed to detect the oncoming vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

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