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NHTSA model-year recall report

2012 Volkswagen Passat Recalls

11 campaigns in our verified NHTSA snapshot, with source consequences, remedies, and VIN-specific next steps.

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11

NHTSA campaigns

7

Affected systems

0

Urgent advisories

Oct 30, 2024

Latest campaign date

At a glance

What the record says

This model year's count is above the Volkswagen Passat average of 5.3 campaigns per listed year. That is context only—not proof that this year is safer or less safe.

The most frequent affected category is Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module, appearing in 4 campaigns.

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    Read

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  3. 3

    Repair

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Source campaign records

All 2012 Volkswagen Passat recall campaigns

Shown newest first. NHTSA summary, consequence, and remedy text is preserved without truncation.

NHTSA campaign 24V834000

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported Oct 30, 2024

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 19V862000

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported Dec 4, 2019

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 19V389000

Exterior Lighting › Headlights

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported May 22, 2019

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Safety consequence

Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 18V329000

Unknown Or Other

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported May 16, 2018

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Safety consequence

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 18V148000

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported Mar 6, 2018

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 17V309000

Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported May 11, 2017

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

Safety consequence

If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V171000

Electrical System › Wiring

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported Mar 24, 2016

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

Safety consequence

An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V078000

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported Feb 10, 2016

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 15V483000

Air Bags › Frontal

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Reported Aug 4, 2015

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Safety consequence

A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 14V125000

Exterior Lighting › Headlights

Manufacturer: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Reported Mar 17, 2014

What is recalled

Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

Safety consequence

A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 12V146000

Fuel System, Diesel

Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Reported Apr 5, 2012

What is recalled

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PASSAT VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 18, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 1, 2011. DURING ASSEMBLY, THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENT THAT MAY NOT SEAL CORRECTLY.

Safety consequence

OVER TIME, OR AFTER CERTAIN DRIVING DISTANCES, THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

Other Volkswagen Passat model years

Compare campaign histories within the same model. Counts are descriptive, not a safety grade.

20211 campaign20203 campaigns20191 campaign20184 campaigns20177 campaigns20165 campaigns20157 campaigns201410 campaigns20139 campaigns201211 campaigns
View all model years

Other 2012 Volkswagen recall reports

2012 Volkswagen Jetta8 campaigns2012 Volkswagen Beetle7 campaigns2012 Volkswagen CC6 campaigns2012 Volkswagen Golf6 campaigns2012 Volkswagen EOS4 campaigns2012 Volkswagen Tiguan3 campaigns

2012 Volkswagen Passat recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Passat have?

This verified dataset contains 11 NHTSA campaigns associated with the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. A campaign can apply to some, not all, vehicles of the same model year.

Does this confirm an open recall for my 2012 Volkswagen Passat?

No. This page is a model-year campaign history. Use NHTSA's official lookup or an authorized dealer to confirm whether a campaign applies to your exact VIN and whether the repair remains open.

Are vehicle recall repairs free?

When a safety recall campaign applies to your VIN, the manufacturer remedy is generally provided at no charge through an authorized dealer. Confirm eligibility and scheduling with the manufacturer or dealer.

Source: NHTSA. Dataset includes campaigns through Jul 30, 2026. Last processed Aug 8, 2026. Methodology