Horn Assembly problems of the 2015 Volkswagen Passat

16 problems related to horn assembly have been reported for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2015 Volkswagen Passat based on all problems reported for the 2015 Passat.

1 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 01/25/2021

I purchased the vehicle from empire auto used. I had an issue with the horn and they told me it was a recall on the clockspring. I decided to take it to the dealer itself for the service. The part has been replace like 3 times already. I consider this a safety issue. They can't figure out it keeps happening. Please advice, the last service date was on 01/25/2021. At the present time I got no horn again.

2 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 01/19/2021

Steering wheel started making ticking noises around 35k miles. Roughly 36k miles the air bag error light came on. Roughly 38k miles horn and all steering wheel buttons lost power. Clock spring problem obviously. Im told this vehicle was recalled from 2010 to 2014 models. Well obviously the issue was not fixed.

3 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 11/25/2020

While turning out of a parking space at a slow speed I felt a stiffness in the turning wheel followed by a crunch and the airbag error light illuminating. Horn is not operational either in addition to other steering wheel controls.

4 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 01/04/2020

Have an air bag error coming up on dash. At the same time this happened all of the controls on the steering wheel have stopped working. Vehicles horn does not work now as well on the steering wheel.

5 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 06/18/2019

Update June 2019 - now my car has 53,000 miles. My replaced clock spring has failed again. No horn, or steering wheel controls and the airbag light is on. This is 8 months/10 miles after I had it replaced. This is a safety issue. I am requesting that dot NHTSA investigate a safety issue with clock spring part on my 2015 vw Passat, which controls both the air bags and the horn. I purchased the car new in sept 2015. I started my car with 42,500 miles and the airbag light came on and stayed on. The vehicle was stationary in a flat parking lot the first time I noticed the air bag light. When I drove the vehicle and turned the steering wheel there were clicking noises coming from the steering wheel area. When I got home, I googled a couple possible causes and scheduled the vehicle in to a mechanic. Before I could get vehicle in for service, the horn and other steering wheel controls went out. I was left without airbags and a horn on a vehicle that I drive daily. The mechanic determined that the clock spring needs to be replaced.

6 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 03/11/2019

Clock spring failure!!! clock spring failure!!! clock spring failure!!! while moving and executing a right turn a crunching noise was heard from the center of the steering wheel. The airbag light immediately came on. Also, the horn & all steering wheel buttons/controls failed. This car was purchased a week prior from carvana. 49,300 miles on the odo. Too late to return it. The clock spring failure means that the airbag system is not active until the part is replaced, installed, and the system is reset. A quick read thru of these numerous complaints from model year 2015 show these failures of a safety-critical part over the last 18 months are now occurng with increasing frequency. It is quite obvious to me that vwoa/chattanooga installed the same defective part, from the same supplier, that fails after about 2. 5-3 years in service. This problem is no different than that of the thousands of identical failures in vw Passat model years 2012, 2013, & 2014 leading to a recall of the defective component. Immediate action is required by dot to readdress and recall this previously recalled part. Vw dealers are currently charging 2015 Passat owners between $500 and $800 to install a $35 part. If their Passat is older than 2015, the part is installed gratis as part of that recall. . Vw will not act until prompted/ordered to do so. Something is rotten in wolfsburg again! let's quickly act before more are harmed/killed because an airbag system failed to operate when parameters dictated it should have deployed.

7 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 01/15/2019

Airbag light on, steering controls (on steering wheel, radio, horn) no longer functioning.

8 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 11/18/2018

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.

9 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 09/02/2018

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.

10 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2018

Clock spring failure, airbags off-line, horn inoperative, steering wheel controls inoperative.

11 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 07/20/2018

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.

12 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 06/22/2018

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.

13 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 04/05/2018

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.

14 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2018

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.

15 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 08/09/2017

I was in my drive way and started my car when the air bag malfunction light came on in my car. At that point the horn, cruise control, phone, and radio functions all stopped working on my steering wheel. I looked in my owner manual and it said to call the dealership immediately. When I called - the vw dealership I normally go to said it would be 2-3 weeks before they could get me in. I asked if the vehicle was safe to drive and they, of course, would not tell me "yes or no. " only to find out later that the entire time I was driving with this light on - my airbags would not have deployed if I were in an accident. I have 2 children and if we were in a wreck and me or one of my children were injured due to my airbags not working -- vw would have a lawsuit on their hands. It is a matter of time before this occurs. So,I took my vehicle to an authorized vw dealership. After running a diagnostic on the car - I was told that the steering wheel clock spring was faulty. I left the car to be repaired. While I was without my vehicle (one week due to having to order parts, etc. ) I researched the issue. I was excited to see that vw had issued a recall in Aug. 2015 for the steering wheel clock spring. Unfortunately, it is only for 2010-2014 Passat. My Passat is considered a 2015; however, the production date is Dec. 2014. I was told at the dealership that I would have to pay for this repair out of pocket because my car was not covered under the recall. I contacted vw care center and even emailed several managers from the corporate location. My emails were never answered and the customer care center said there was nothing they could do. I am left with paying over $500 in repairs and almost $200 for the rental car I had to get for the 7 days my car was at the dealership. I would like to know why my car is not covered under the recall when it has the exact same issues.

16 Horn Assembly problem

Failure Date: 07/20/2017

Air bag error message and light illuminates. The steering wheel makes a cracking sound while turning in either direction. Also the buttons on the steering wheel do not work to include the horn.


Other Electrical System related problems of the 2015 Volkswagen Passat


Safety Ratings of Passat Cars
Fuel Economy of Passat Vehicles
Passat Service Bulletins
Passat Safety Recalls
Passat Defect Investigations