2012 Volkswagen Passat Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

45Steering complaints

9.4%Of all 481 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS289 · 60.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM93 · 19.3%

STEERING45 · 9.4%

ENGINE40 · 8.3%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM32 · 6.7%

Share of the 481 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Volkswagen Passat overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 10726096 — filed 06/18/2015

“2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI DIESEL, HEARD A SMALL SNAP IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE BACKING UP AND TURNING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE…”NHTSA complaint 10724960 — filed 06/12/2015

“DRIVING ON MAY 24.2015 MAKING A LEFT TURN, I HEARD A LOUD CRACK IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I LOST ALL OF THE FUNCTION OF THE…”NHTSA complaint 10721424 — filed 05/26/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Volkswagen Passat have steering problems?

Steering is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Volkswagen Passat: 45 of 481 complaints on file (9.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Volkswagen Passat have in total?

481 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.