2012 Volkswagen Passat reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 660
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 289 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 11
- see below
- Reported harm
- 15 reported crashes · 14 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#739
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Volkswagen median
+411
median 249 across 119 Volkswagen records
Vs 2010-2014
+368
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
44%
Air Bags: 289 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Volkswagen Passat
- AIR BAGS 289
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 93
- STEERING 45
- ENGINE 40
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 32
11 recalls on record for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat
- NHTSA 24V834000 · 2024 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 19V389000 · 2019 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the
- NHTSA 19V862000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 18V148000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal
- NHTSA 18V329000 · 2018 · UNKNOWN OR OTHER If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Volkswagen Passat
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Volkswagen Passat units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
NHTSA has 660 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat and 11 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (289 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Volkswagen Passat units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (289), electrical system (93), steering (45), engine (40). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Volkswagen Passat?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.