IllustrationAIRBAG LIGHT ON, STEERING CONTROLS (ON STEERING WHEEL, RADIO, HORN) NO LONGER FUNCTIONING
2015 Volkswagen Passat
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Passat years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat are substantially higher than the model-year median of 110.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Passat years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
2925–50K
3850–75K
1275–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
132 reports with mileage · 111 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
48 reportsI WAS PARKED ON FLAT GROUND WHILE STARTING MY CAR THIS MORNING AND NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD STAYED LIGHT. THEN I NOTICED THE STEREO CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LIGHT AND DID NOT WORK. AT WORK I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IT COULD BE THE CLOCK SPRING. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK I TESTED MY HORN T…
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I WAS PARKED ON FLAT GROUND WHILE STARTING MY CAR THIS MORNING AND NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD STAYED LIGHT. THEN I NOTICED THE STEREO CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LIGHT AND DID NOT WORK. AT WORK I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IT COULD BE THE CLOCK SPRING. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK I TESTED MY HORN TO FIND THAT MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. MY VEHICLE HAS 47773 MILES AND I BOUGHT IT NEW. I'M ALMOST POSITIVE IT IS THE CLOCK SPRING AFTER ALL THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE. I FEEL VW SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL PAST 2014 BECAUSE IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT THE ISSUE CONTINUED INTO 2015 MODELS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ENGAGED IN DRIVE. ALSO, THE ENGINE POWER CONTROL, BATTERY, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ENGAGED IN DRIVE. ALSO, THE ENGINE POWER CONTROL, BATTERY, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,600.
CLOCK SPRING FAILURE, AIRBAGS OFF-LINE, HORN INOPERATIVE, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS INOPERATIVE
STEERING WHEEL BEGAN CLICKING WHEN BEING TURNED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HORN AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS ARE NOT WORKING. APPEARS TO BE A FAILED CLOCK SPRING.
AT AROUND 47,000 MILES I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A DAY OR TWO OF THIS MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST FUNCTION OF MY HORN AND FOUND THAT OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SOME ONE WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE WITHOUT CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS CLEAR. I ALSO LOST ALL STEERING WHEEL…
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AT AROUND 47,000 MILES I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A DAY OR TWO OF THIS MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST FUNCTION OF MY HORN AND FOUND THAT OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SOME ONE WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE WITHOUT CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS CLEAR. I ALSO LOST ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED ABOUT 27 DAYS PRIOR SO I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY DID TROUBLE SHOOT THE ISSUE AND LET ME KNOW THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE.
THERE WAS A NOISE LIKE A OVERTIGHTENED SPRING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED. RIGHT AFTERWARDS, THE HORN AS WELL AS STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FOR AUDIO AND PHONE STOPPED WORKING. LATER THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN DASH. POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING. FAILED AT 59,600 MILES.
AROUND THE 60,000 MILE MARK, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN, AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY FIGURED IT WAS THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH WOULD COST NEARLY $700 TO REPLACE. VW HAS PREVOUSLY ISSUED RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS BECAUSE OF THIS VERY ISSUE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH VOLKSWAGEN (1 COMMONWEALTH DR, LAWRENCE, MA 01841). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH VOLKSWAGEN (1 COMMONWEALTH DR, LAWRENCE, MA 01841). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Official recalls
719V862000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Dec 4, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
19V389000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
May 22, 2019
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
19V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 11, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).
15V705000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Oct 26, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
15V373000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jun 15, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Passat vehicles manufactured May 18, 2015, to May 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel area that may not have been properly tightened.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the brake line was not properly tightened, it may leak brake fluid, causing a reduction in braking performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.
15V028000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
Jan 23, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.
14V670000 · Seats
Oct 24, 2014
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F1.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.