Three problems related to adaptive equipment have been reported for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2013 Volkswagen Passat based on all problems reported for the 2013 Passat.
Was turning in a parking lot and heard a loud cracking sound. The air bag light came on immediately and noticed the steering wheel controls and the horn were not working. Checked online and apparently issues were found on same model. It is a broken clock spring. Contacted dealer, they said to bring it in for diagnostics which would cost $120. I informed them of the broken part but they said they still would have to do the diagnostic. The clock spring itself would cost $485 if that was broken plus labor charges. Car has approximately 57250 miles.
Backup camera is slow to start. May take from 5 to 20 seconds to become operational after start up. This is hazard with respect to reliance on backup cameras by drivers to see obstructions behind the car. Failure of camera to start up quickly results in reduced safety because drivers will back up without camera operational. I can start my car and back out of driveway and reach the corner of my block before the camera starts up and shows me the road disappearing behind me. A camera does not replace driver obligations to make sure that obstructions are not behind their car, but the camera is also there to be a safety feature and it is not reliable as a safety feature do to its extremely slow start up. Individuals do not like to wait 30 seconds at a stop light much less 20 just to back out of their driveway. This is a design or manufacturing issue that should be corrected to ensure that the backup camera is a reliable safety feature as it was intended.
The backup camera is very slow to respond when placing the vehicle into reverse (15-25 seconds). Frequently, the camera will not activate until the vehicle has completed backing up and the vehicle is placed into drive. Volkswagen is aware of the issue, having identified it in a vw technical builletin. I contacted Volkswagen customer care in auburn, mi, about resolving the issue. I received a letter from ms. Kathrene fox, dated 22 April 2013, which stated: ". . . Your vehicle is operating as per its designed intent. As such, we will not be able to make a repair to [the] system. ".