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2012 Volkswagen Passat Fuel System Problems

20 owner-reported fuel system complaints from NHTSA data

20
Complaints
Jan 2024Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (20)

criticalFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2025

You noticed a fuel smell inside your car that got progressively worse. After removing the back seat, you discovered the fuel pump had multiple small cracks causing fuel to leak into the cabin, which damaged the rear seat foam and created a serious fire hazard. The fuel pump will need to be replaced by a mechanic to stop the leak and eliminate the safety risk.

NHTSA #: 11671362
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2024

Stop on middle of the freeway twice and one on the road. Be replace the hoof 24 months ago now again dealer claim need to change the whole fuel system it’s 2012 Passat to modification done 2017. For another 6900 dollars this consumer ripoff by be. Car now is in the dealer. It’s dirito brothers volkswagon. 2020 n main st Walnut Creek. Scary to stop on [XXX] with this at night with a dog onboard. Very confused vw customer who 2 other vw. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #: 11565707
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2021

The DPF keeps causing the engine light to come on when there isn’t anything wrong but it also makes the car use more fuel every time this happens

NHTSA #: 11429138
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Jul 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA #: 11338169
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2019

CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE, WAS ALMOST HIT BY SEMI-TRUCK. FUEL PUMP SENT METAL SHARDS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW DEALERSHIP QUOTED COST OF $ 6000 TO REBUILD ENTIRE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. WHAT A WAY TO START MY FAMILY VACATION STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR 4 HOURS ON A SUNDAY.

NHTSA #: 11209300
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2018

FUELL PUMP CONTROL COMPUTER MODULE LOST POWER. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC! IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS ETC. CAUSING A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSSIBILITY OF DEATH SITUATION. VW HAS HAD THIS ITEM RECALLED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME! VW STILL HAS NO FIIX TO DATE!

NHTSA #: 11092391
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2018

I GOT A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGON STATING THAT A RECALL WAS GOING TO BE MADE ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP COULD JUST STOP WORKING ,OR MY CAR COULD JUST STOP IN MOTION WHILE I'M DRIVING OR JUST NOT START ALL TOGETHER. I GOT THIS LETTER BACK IN OCTOBER 2017 AND HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM SINCE.

NHTSA #: 11083797
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2017

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE FUEL VAPOR LEAK DETECTION PUMP IMPROPERLY WORKING CAN RESULT IN HEALTH ISSUES.DUETO THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT REDUCING ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION DUE TO HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS,

NHTSA #: 10981174
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2016

I HAVE A 2012 VW PASSAT TDI VEHICLE WITH 78,000 MILES AS OF OCTOBER 124, 2016. IT IS EFFECTED BY THE TDI EMISSIONS ISSUE AND QUALIFIES UNDER THE COURT SETTLEMENT THAT HAS YET TO BE APPROVED. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AD BLUE HEATER WHICH SCRUBS NOX (ALBEIT NOT VERY WELL) FROM THE EXHAUST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,100.00. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND CAME TO FIND OUT THAT APPARENTLY THIS HAS HAPPENED HUNDREDS OF TIMES TO TDI OWNERS ESPECIALLY 2012 MODELS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE FAILURE IS A FUNCTION OF TIME NOT MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN NEWER MODELS. IT IS IRONIC THAT EVEN AFTER PAYING THE $1,100 MY CAR IS STILL OUT OF EMISSIONS COMPLIANCE! I REQUEST THAT VW BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND REIMBURSE OWNERS REGARDLESS OF THE VEHICLES MILEAGE FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA #: 10916776
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2016

MECHANIC FOUND A CODE FOR A DEFECTIVE ADBLUE LEVEL SENSOR AFTER I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO CHECK THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THEY REMOVED THE ADBLUE TANK AND INSTALLED AN UPDATE KIT. YES, UPDATE KIT, WHICH TELLS ME VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL LEVEL SENSOR EQUIPMENT. FINAL COST OF THE REPAIR: $1053.51. THIS SHOULD BE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM, OR RECALL.

NHTSA #: 10905649
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2015

GAS GAUGE WAS NOT READING FULL WHEN TAKEN TO GAS STATION, ALTHOUGH GAS DISPENSER CLICKED OFF AS FULL. HAPPENED MANY TIMES AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS. TOOK MY CAR IN TO VW DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT GAS VENT WAS NOT WORKING NOT ALLOWING MY CAR TO FILL COMPLETELY. THEY STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE GAS TANK, ~ $2000. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR. THEY STATED IT WAS NOT A SAFETY SITUATION???

NHTSA #: 10808218
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2015

NOX SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED OUT OF RANGE CODE. WAS QUOTED 655 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. NOX SENSORS ARE NOT REQUIRED BY FEDERALLY MANDATED 80K EMISSIONS WARRANTY SO VW WON'T INCLUDE VOLUNTARILY. ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING THIS FIXED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AGAIN WITH CODE P203B, REDACTANT LEVEL RANGE/PERFORMANCE. SPEAKING A FEW TIMES WITH TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THIS LIKELY MEANS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AD BLUE HEATER UNIT AND TANK WHICH IS OVER 1000 DOLLARS. AGAIN, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 10766447
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2015

THE TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND AS A RESULT, ALSO CAUSED THE GAS LINE AND FUEL INJECTORS TO FAIL BECAUSE METAL WAS SENT THROUGH THE CAR. THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WILL NO LONGER TURN ON.

NHTSA #: 10750165
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2015

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING.

NHTSA #: 10745141
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2015

ON 6-9-15 THIS DIESEL VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE AS I DO NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE (IT IS AT THE DEALER). TAKEN TO VW OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. DEALER STATED FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED AND CLEANED OUT FUEL LINES AND REPLACED FILTER. DEALER STATED VEHICLE STILL WOULD STILL NOT START. DEALER THEN STATED THEY INVESTIGATED FUEL DOWN-LINE OF FILTER AND FOUND CONTAMINATED FUEL IN THE COMMON FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL JUST BEFORE THE FUEL INJECTORS. DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT RETAIN THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WOULD HAVE SHOWN A FILTER BREACH/RUPTURE THAT ALLOWED THE CONTAMINATED FUEL TO GO BEYOND THE FILTER CAUSING THIS ADDITIONAL MISCHIEF. REQUEST FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF VW PASSAT DIESEL FUEL FILTERS AND THE FUEL FILTRATION SYSTEM THAT MAY CAUSE SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE OF PASSING THROUGH CONTAMINATED FUEL, RATHER THAN FILTERING AS IT SHOULD WHICH WOULD CAUSE A SLOWER DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF DIESEL FUEL FILTRATION IS TO PREVENT INTRODUCTION INTO CRITICAL ENGINE COMPONENTS CONTAMINATES OFTEN FOUND IN DIESEL FUEL. DEALER ESTIMATES REPAIR COST OF $7,236.25, THE BULK OF WHICH IS FOR DAMAGE TO CRITICAL ENGINE COMPONENTS DOWNSTREAM OF THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER RESULTING IN SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE. THIS VEHICLE WAS REFUELED ONLY AT DIESEL FUEL STATIONS FOR WHICH RECEIPTS WERE OBTAINED, SO NO GASOLINE OR OTHER IMPROPER FUEL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA #: 10726935
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2014

THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED PERIODICALLY (ONCE A MONTH?) AT LOW SPEEDS EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN (AUGUST?) 2012. OFTEN THE STALL OCCURS AT TIMES IN TRAFFIC WHEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC MAKES IT DANGEROUS. I LOVE THIS CAR, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS OFTEN MOTIVATED ME TO SELL IT. IT IS A DIESEL. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY DIESEL FUEL CONTAMINATED WITH GASOLINE OR OTHER MATERIAL. SOME THINK IT IS CAUSED BY THE BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA #: 10662268
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2014

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 36900 MILES, 900 MILES PASSED THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. THE ERROR CODE READ: P205C (REDUCTANT TANK TEMPERATURE SENSOR). IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE ADBLUE TANK FROM A TDI CAR. ALREADY LOTS OF OWNERS HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA #: 10639449
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2014

TDI ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, HAD THE DEALERSHIP CHECK IT OUT, IT INDICATED A SENSOR FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $1,100.00 DEALERSHIP REDUCED IT TO $430, SAID VW PITCHED IT BECAUSE IT MAY END UP AS A RECALL AND WE WOULD RECEIVE OUR MONEY BACK IF THAT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10629164
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Oct 2013

THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY/HESITATION UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION (2.5L). THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING INTO OR ACROSS TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10548623
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: May 2012

SCENARIO: 1. CAR STATIONARY IN GARAGE 2. WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START 3. RADIO AND ACCESSORIES WORKING FINE 4. SMELT A LOT OF GASOLINE AND STOPPED CRANKING THE CAR 5. LARGE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE HAD SPILLED ON THE GARAGE FLOOR ACTIONS: 1. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WOULD NOT TOW THE VEHICLE AS IT SPILLED GASOLINE WHEN LIFTED 2. FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE HOSE FROM THE FUEL TANK IN TO THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD COME LOOSE 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS THAT THE CABLE WAS NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT POTENTIAL FAULTY PART DETAILS: 1. HOSE IS BLACK IN COLOR 2. HOSE IS TUCKED INSIDE A BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED NO DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING ON MY VEHICLE 4. FIRE DEPARTMENT HEARD A DISTINCT CLICK WHEN THEY PUSHED THE HOSE IN TO THE FUEL SYSTEM 5. DUE TO #4, FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS THAT THE CABLE WAS NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT STRONGLY ADVISE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 OWNERS TO CONTACT THEIR DEALER TO GET THE HOSE AND FUEL SYSTEM ASSEMBLY CHECKED OUT AND URGE NHTSA TO OPEN A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA #: 10457438

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