general problems of the 2013 Volkswagen Passat - part 1

Failed clock spring. Airbag light was present and a rattling noise, when turning, was noticed. Less than 72 hours later, the buttons on the steering wheel, including horn, stopped working, and a louder crack/pop was heard.

On 5/4/24 I was reverse parking & heard a clunk as I was turning my steering wheel then immediately noticed the airbag light come on. Attempted to check any error messages using the only menu control for the vehicle on the steering wheel that did not work. That led me to attempt to test all other controls on the steering wheel which also did not work. During these attempts, I identified that my horn was also not working. Due to the large safety concern this caused, I quickly searched on google what the cause may be then immediately made an appointment at an auto shop (greulich's automotive repair) with the first available I could find. I did not know this issue was previously recalled as I was too concerned with my safety on the road, specifically not trusting other drivers, not having enough time to research, & the auto shop did not mention the recall either. Spent $1,000 on labor, diagnostic, & the clock steering part. When researching the history of my vehicle, I do not find that this recall was performed. I will be calling vw customer service for reimbursement. After the part has been replaced, the next day, I come to find out that the menu setting control on the steering wheel continues to not work which I have brought attention to the auto shop. Waiting for a call back about why all other controls on the steering wheel works now except the vehicle menu which might be the most important control on the wheel. In addition, the cruise control option does not work either because of this replacement which I come to find out it’s a separate part that needs to be replaced, hence, additional out of pocket costs. Not okay.

I was turning into my driveway when I heard a strange clicking noise coming form the steering wheel column. As soon as I heard the clicking sound the airbag indicator light started flashing on my dashboard and the buttons on my steering wheel stopped working. Did some research on the airbag sensor which lead to learning about the clockspring malfunction. Not only I’m I at risk of my airbag not deploying, my horn does not work. The horn malfunction came to knowledge when a car pulled out in front of me causing me to run off the road. I spoke with Volkswagen manufacturer about the malfunction recall. I was told since my car is over 120k miles it could not be replaced under the 10 year recall extended warranty. I purchased my 2013 vw cc in October of 2022. I have only owned the car for one year. Yes, the car is available to be inspected upon request.

My instrument cluster stopped working yday. I could hear something inside or behind the steering wheel when I turned it. Obviously my clock spring has failed. I am pretty sure my car had a recall on this in the past. I haven’t had another ride to little rock to take my car for repairs. I can not afford to fix this. The part alone is over 400$. I understand it is very dangerous to drive. I have no other way to get anywhere. I need this part replaced if possible at all by volkswagon. There were 6 recalls on my car last time I checked. This being one of them. It is very dangerous to drive for me and everyone on the roadways. Please help. Thank you.

The clock spring broke again only four years from being repaired with the last recall.

While I was driving I notice my steering wheel making a crumbling of plastic noise when I made any kind of turn . A few days later my airbag error lamp started to blink. I parked and restarted my engine then the airbag became solid . My dash read “airbag error” . I notice all my steering wheel buttons do not work . Came home and neither does my horn . My car has never been in accident , but I feel it’s a safety hazard . I’m basically driving mute and I’m sure my airbag will not deploy in case of accident . Also, vw does have a recall on the clock spring but was never completed due to not hearing back from manufacturer . That was a few years back and do not understand how recalls work , but a recall was started for a reason and not completed. Is that even possible? this a serious safety issue if I’m in an accident without an airbag . Also the horn will not work in case to warn other drivers of a possible fatal hazard.

While driving airbag error flashed on dash and the airbag light-lamp came on . Also my steering wheel horn and buttons do not work . I had no past indication . I am driving with no horn and most likely no airbag deployment in case of accident. No inspection yet. Actually at risk if driven to the dealership.

Unsure how this problem arose, but suddenly the airbag error light appeared and non of the controls on the steering wheel work. This also includes the horn, and airbag. From googling it appears there was a recall for the 2013 vw Passat for a faulty clock spring in the steering wheel which can cause the airbag light to appear and be faulty.

Records indicate clock spring recall service was performed at some time in the past. Same exact problem recurred last week. Clearly the recall service did not remedy the problem.

Recall still from 2015!!! clock spring defect need to have fixed ASAP!!! dealer says have to replace ourselves really???? it’s a manufacturer recall.

Vw bcm unit causes vehicle to idle then shut off while driving making it impossible to steer or increase speed.

Per volkswagon the vehicle is known to have a defective steering clock spring. When the part fails, the vehicle steering wheel looses all electronic function. The airbag is deactivated and the horn does not work. This failure have happened with my vehicle. Volkswagon has initiated a recall; however, it has been 2 months and they can still not provide an eta of when the vehicle will be repaired and have instructed to drive the unsafe vehicle until the parts come in. The failure initially happened in Dec 2021. This week in Feb 2022 I was run off the road by an elderly drive in an SUV that changed lanes. I was unable to notify the other diver that I was next to her because the horn did not work!.

When parallel parking, the steering wheel began making a clicking noise when turning. The volume and duration of the clicking increased after pulling out from parking spot into the street and the instrument panel airbag light/chime came on within a mile of driving. Clicking in wheel while turning persisted intermittently throughout driving. All electrical controls on steering wheel are no-response. Horn does not work, airbag deactivated, and all steering wheel electronic controls are no-response.

Clock spring stopped while puling out my parking lot.

While driving my 2013 vw Passat, the airbag light came on, on the dashboard and started beeping. When I pulled into my garage, I noticed that the horn no longer worked and none of the steering wheel functions work anymore. I have only 56,718 miles on the car and the vw dealer says it is not covered under a recall and I would have to pay out of pocket for the repair because my warranty deductible is $500. This is a safety issue and vw should be required to repair these airbag issues, not us, the consumer. This is not something we (the consumers) are causing, this is a vw quality issue.

Everything on my steering wheel stopped working( buttons, horn, etc. ) passenger airbag light is on as well. Does not work when the car is moving or stationary.

Clock spring is not working after takata recall implemented. No controls on steering wheel work. Horn does not work. Airbag would likely not inflate. Airbag light is on. This occured while the car was not moving.

The electrical in sterring wheel is completely out. The horn and buttons are dead and the steering wheel makes a clicking noise when it turns.

My steering wheel started making a soft clicking noise when turning on 9/24/2018 vehicle has 68,000 miles on it. On 10/30 while the vehicle was in motion makin GA slight turn in the bend of a road on the highway, the airbag alert light came on and indicated there was an air bag error and the wheel command controls stopped working.

My 2013 vw Passat has 56,000 miles. I replaced at 33,000 on 12/29/2016 at a vw dealer that is no longer in business, based on their diagnostic, the clock spring and airbag harness in the steering wheel. It costed me $610. Fast forward on 09/16/2018 it turns out that I have the same problem, no controls in the wheel at all and airbag light on. The only symptom was a crunch sound in the steering wheel while turning and the airbag light came on right away. A vw dealership stated that it is unusual for a clock spring to go bad that quickly, there's some cars that don't need a clock spring replacement at all and mine needs a second one already at 56,000. Through a phone call Volkswagen of America stated that won't stay behind the problem. I strongly feel that it's a defective/malfunction part that affects my wife's and my children's safety since they are primarily using the car. Currently we're driving the car without any front airbag protection! please investigate this and have the ones who's fault it is fix the problem! thank you!.

Clock spring recall - Volkswagen not honoring the recall for my VIN #. Steering wheel started to click last night upon turning while driving, and now the airbag light is out. Took it into the dealership today and they said it will be a $700 repair for the clock spring. Even with the airbag light out, one of the service guys told me they have dealt with a lot of these and said it was probably safe to drive. When I asked about the recall 69l2, they said my car was not covered in the recall.

Clock spring failure. Dangerous as air bag and horn do not work.

The clockspring was recalled and replaced in 2015. While backing out of a parking spot I heard a couple of pops and lost any steering wheel controls, volume control ect. . . The airbag light also illuminated. The next day I took it to Volkswagen service center where they assessed the issue and confirmed it was the clockspring and it needed to be replaced.

I have the same issue as investigation rq 17-009. My clockspring was part of a recall with previous owner having the recall completed in 2017. Now the clockspring is broken once again. I contacted vw and they informed me the recall is closed and on me to fix or dealer I purchased the car through. This is a vw issue. I heard and felt the clock spring pop while making a hard turn a few days ago. Lost all hand controls, horn and airbag light. This is a serious safety issue with no airbag.

Thw steering wheel air bags error.

A 2013 Volkswagen Passat, on January 7the airbag warning light came on and "error: airbag" warning was displayed. The horn no longer works and the buttons around the steering wheel are inoperable. The vehicle was taken to vw in findlay, OH where it was diagnosed that the takaka airbag recall was in effect for this vehicle and that recalled part was replaced. However the steering wheel makes a clicking noise when it is turned, the buttons around the steering wheel are still not working and the airbag warning light and "error:airbag" warning is still on.

Currently, I have a failing (clicking noise while turning) clock spring my 2013 Passat tdi that went in for the clockspring cover recall in 2016 and also the airbag recall in 8/2017 and has been diagnosed as a "failing clockspring" 11/24/2017, put in for goodwill repair to vw corporate and was immediately rejected and the dealer charges over $700 for replacement. Service tech said since I am a loyal customer of a heavily recalled tdi model, they could repair it for $550 (12/10/2017). This is disappointing. . . I am waiting for it to fail completely before I chart my next course of action.

I have had 2 recalls. I live on an outer island in hawaii. In order to get a repair I am being told I will have to ship, via ocean barge, my car to oahu. . I think if vw sells to outer islands they at least need to have an authorized service rep on that island. I am not able to afford to ship a car to oahu from kauai and back. When I purchased the car the shipping to my island was included in the price. Please advise.

Takata recall - I'm placing myself in debt due to the repairs for a car that isn't that old. I'm having electrical problems, steering wheel and brake issues. This company has numerous issues, recalls and legal issues with their cars. I din't sign-up to pay all this money out of pocket, and the airbag recall still isn't available. They were supposed to fix the steering wheel recall, and now my horn doesn't work or any controls on the steering unit. Now how much more money do I have to put into this car? I'm going to notify the better business bureau. I expect certain expenses, but this is a bit much and unfair to the consumer to incur more debt than anticipated. I have obligations and I have to be at work and can't afford to be off due to all these mechanical issues. Especially when the consumer is paying a car note and the car was never reported in an accident. What do you propose I do at this point?.

Clock spring recall. Was fixed in 2016 but is again broken and vw refuses to reimburse the dealer or cover the cost of the repair. Due to this recalled part not being repaired properly, my airbag light is on, I do not have a horn, cruise control, not have the ability to use my steering wheel controls. This, I feel is also relevant to the airbag recall. I cannot sell my car with this issue, nor do I have the $ to fix it. It is dangerous to drive it, as it already has an airbag not working, the airbag light on and no horn. I have contacted both the dealership and vw and they refuse to cover the cost of this recalled part.

I purchased this car used in April 2016. . Read more...

Steering wheel too tight especially when turning right or left. Unsafe feeling. Air bag light on.

"takata recall" vw needs to fix my takata airbags, they said there is not a fix right now and it can lead to serious injury. What am I supposed to do, walk 150 miles a day????.

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v613000 (steering) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The VIN was not available.

I am having airbag light on of my dashboard. I am always having the suspect about airbag will work or not if required. I contact vw services center that they can't help. Vw recall website says it is not available from last February 2016. Do I still use the car or not? I have only 1 car for the basic commute to work. I followed up multiple times with vw. But there is no movement to address this problem.