2016 Volkswagen Tiguan - CLOCK SPRING IS BROKEN & THE PART IS BACKORDERED "INDEFINITELY" - AND THEREFORE MY AIRBAGS, HORN, AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK. VW WANTED TO CHARGE ME THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE (USUALLY A LITTLE OVER $100) TO PUT ME ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A REPLACEMENT CLOCK SPRING. THEN THEY TOLD ME I WAS OVER 3000TH ON THE "WAITING LIST"... THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR IS ESSENTIALLY WORTHLESS UNTIL THEY START REMANUFACTURING THE PART. I WAS GIVEN NO TIMELINE FOR THIS PROCESS. WHO EVEN KNOWS IF IT'S GOING TO BE COVERED BY VOLKSWAGEN????
VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ADDRESS & SOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS BEING ALLOWED AND APPARENTLY IGNORED.
My check engine light came on early March 2022. I took it to VW to have checked out. Spent $465 on an intake valve hand cleaning, 4 new spark plugs, and a vehicle inspection.
No more than a week later I started hearing clicking noises coming from the steering wheel when I it turned. One turn caused a loud pop... and after that pop my airbag light dinged on. My airbags do not work (but can deploy at any time??? WHAT?), my horn doesn't work, and neither do any steering controls.
No replacement parts are available.
Told I was over 3000th in line for when they start “remanufacturing†the part. I was given no timeline of manufacture. I was also told there was nothing I can do.
Took the car to a mechanic that specializes in Audis and Volkswagens. He scanned the cars computer for free and basically repeated the same thing as Volkswagen - but put me on two different waiting lists. He said that there are some clock springs available that are made in China but they are crap and will not last. He continued and mentioned they could put the “wrong part†(whatever that means) in as a replacement for $700 and the only the airbag would work, but I would still need to get the correct steering clock from VW put in whenever it’s available.
I haven’t decided if I’m going to have that done yet… but in regards to the correct part, I was told that he would call me when they have the part but that it would probably be 1.5 to 2 YEARS.
UNREAL.
HOW IS THIS ALLOWED. WHAT DO I DO? I AM LITERALLY S*** OUT OF LUCK. I loved my car and now it’s literally worthless and the biggest pain in my ass.
WILL THE CAR EVEN PASS INSPECTION? CAN IT STILL BE INSURED? VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE THIS DAMN STEERING CLOCK REPLACEMENT. RIGHT NOW.
Currently on back order. This part is on VW top 25 "hit list" for out of stock/unavailable parts. They are currently at 1000 on back order, ETA: unknown, I've been told up to 6 months!!
I could NOT get Customer Care to forward me VW policy on driving with a defective clock spring. I requested twice, and they are no longer responding. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! i HAVE NO HORN and I have no fix. I can not get a car inspected with no horn or the airbag light on (symptom of clock spring failure), period. I asked a dealer about driving with no horn, as it's a safety issue. Her response: "I've been here 4 years and nobody has asked that question."
VW needs to fined for not addressing this safety issue, they need to do a recall, and provide a vehicle until the clock spring can be replaced!!
You'd think a clock spring will last as long the vehicle does...
VW has had several recalls for busted clock springs, including the Tiguan, but not for the year of 2016 even though they have plenty of complaints about it.
Now it's up to me to spend the money on their error.
- Laura M.,
Seattle, WA, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan - CLOCK SPRING IS BROKEN & THE PART IS BACKORDERED "INDEFINITELY" - AND THEREFORE MY AIRBAGS, HORN, AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK. VW WANTED TO CHARGE ME THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE (USUALLY A LITTLE OVER $100) TO PUT ME ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A REPLACEMENT CLOCK SPRING. THEN THEY TOLD ME I WAS OVER 3000TH ON THE "WAITING LIST"... THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR IS ESSENTIALLY WORTHLESS UNTIL THEY START REMANUFACTURING THE PART. I WAS GIVEN NO TIMELINE FOR THIS PROCESS. WHO EVEN KNOWS IF IT'S GOING TO BE COVERED BY VOLKSWAGEN????
VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ADDRESS & SOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS BEING ALLOWED AND APPARENTLY IGNORED.
My check engine light came on early March 2022. I took it to VW to have checked out. Spent $465 on an intake valve hand cleaning, 4 new spark plugs, and a vehicle inspection.
No more than a week later I started hearing clicking noises coming from the steering wheel when I it turned. One turn caused a loud pop... and after that pop my airbag light dinged on. My airbags do not work (but can deploy at any time??? WHAT?), my horn doesn't work, and neither do any steering controls.
No replacement parts are available.
Told I was over 3000th in line for when they start “remanufacturing†the part. I was given no timeline of manufacture. I was also told there was nothing I can do.
Took the car to a mechanic that specializes in Audis and Volkswagens. He scanned the cars computer for free and basically repeated the same thing as Volkswagen - but put me on two different waiting lists. He said that there are some clock springs available that are made in China but they are crap and will not last. He continued and mentioned they could put the “wrong part†(whatever that means) in as a replacement for $700 and the only the airbag would work, but I would still need to get the correct steering clock from VW put in whenever it’s available.
I haven’t decided if I’m going to have that done yet… but in regards to the correct part, I was told that he would call me when they have the part but that it would probably be 1.5 to 2 YEARS.
UNREAL.
HOW IS THIS ALLOWED. WHAT DO I DO? I AM LITERALLY S*** OUT OF LUCK. I loved my car and now it’s literally worthless and the biggest pain in my ass.
WILL THE CAR EVEN PASS INSPECTION? CAN IT STILL BE INSURED? VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE THIS DAMN STEERING CLOCK REPLACEMENT. RIGHT NOW.
- Rebecca R., Mount Pleasant, US