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2012 Volkswagen Passat Lights Problems

12 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
2
Recalls
Feb 2015Dec 2022
Date Range

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

Lights Recalls (2)

RECALLCampaign #19V389000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

RECALLCampaign #14V125000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

Fix: Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

Owner Complaints (12)

mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2022

My airbag light is on. Had a test done and it also indicated airbag problem. My car was supposedly repaired of this defect some time ago, but here we are. Also when entering my VIN for any recall; it lists defective light. Previous work done by Audi/VW of Jackson, Ms. On 12/9/22 the airbag indicator light and service light is on.

NHTSA #: 11497112
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Sep 2017

2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEAD LAMP CONNECTOR HOUSING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP CONNECTOR HOUSINGS WERE NOT UPDATED. UPDATED 09/05/2017*JS

NHTSA #: 11029630
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS
Filed: Sep 2016

TAKATA RECALL AND HEADLAMP SOCKET RECALL.

NHTSA #: 10903130
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: May 2016

LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY APPEARS FOGGED OVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. DEALER INDICATES THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) IN THIS ASSEMBLY HAS OVERHEATED. THE INCREASED TEMPS CAUSED THE PLASTIC LENS TO APPEAR CLOUDY AND OR FOGGED OVER. THE HIGHER TEMP HAS CHANGED THE SHAPE OF THE REFLECTOR OF THE DRL SOCKET TOO, CAUSING THE LEFT DRL TO APPEAR SIGNIFICANTLY DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE DRL, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. WHEN DRIVING, THE FOGGED HEADLIGHT LENS DIMINISHES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE DIMINISHED BRIGHTNESS OF THE DRL IS OBVIOUS . THIS CONDITION WAS NOTICED AFTER PURCHASE IN LATE 2014 BUT SEEMS TO HAVE INCREASED OVER TIME. LAST WEEK IT OCCURRED TO ME TO ASK, DURING SCHEDULED DEALER SERVICE, ABOUT GETTING THE LENS CLEARED, THE DEALER POINTED OUT THE DEFECT IN THE OVERHEATED AND MISSHAPEN LENS ASSEMBLY IN THE DRL. THE VEHICLE IS USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO COMMUTE VIA INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BETWEEN HOME AND WORK.

NHTSA #: 10870714
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Feb 2015

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2012 WV PASSAT. THE BULBS SEEM TO BE BLOWING OUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON MY AUTO. IN SEPTEMBER 2014 (FIRST) IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE , THEN AFTER A WHILE ON 3/23/15 THE LEFT SIDE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS THIS TIME.. WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT HOOD PROBLEMS WHICH EFFECTED THE FRONT LIGHTS..JAN 2014.. THERE WAS A TIME 2014 WHEN THE LOW BEAMS AND TURNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING FOR A AT LEASE THREE HOURS.. THEN THEY WENT ON.. *TR

NHTSA #: 10689967
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Apr 2014

THE RIGHT LOW BEAM LAMP REMAINS OFF, EVEN THOUGH THE BULB IS GOOD, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN REDUCED VISION. WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BACK OF THE BULB FIXTURE THE BULB ILLUMINATES BUT THEN TURNS OFF AGAIN ONCE THE PRESSURE IS REMOVED. THE CURRENT VW RECALL FOR THE SAME OR AT LEAST SIMILAR PROBLEM DOES NOT EXTEND TO THIS VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE HOOD HAS NEVER BEEN ROUGHLY CLOSED, UNLESS DONE DURING SERVICE AT A VW FACILITY. *TT

NHTSA #: 10582934
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Apr 2014

I HAD MY VW PASSAT 2012 SERVICED IN SEPT, OF 2011 WITH 31,000 MILES ON IT FOR A HEADLIGHT FAILURE I HAVE THE INVOICE # [XXX] THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM WAS NOT WORKING, ( WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS AFTER I WAS STOPPED IN COCONUT CREEK FL ON ST RD. 7 BY THE POLICE, ON THAT MORNING FOR $125.00 OF WHICH I HAVE PAID A TRAFFIC TICKET, I HAVE THE PAID RECEIPTS FOR THAT AND TICKET COPIES ALSO) NOW AGAIN I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT. MY CAR WAS MANUF. 09/2011 WHICH THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND IS STATED THAT WAY ON THE WEBSITE SAFECAR.GOV THERE TELLING ME AT VW COCONUT CREEK MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED AND I MUST PAY FOR REPAIR. WHY? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10579043
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Apr 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE BULBS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V125000(HEADLIGHT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,925.

NHTSA #: 10578450
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Mar 2014

MY BULB HOLDER MELTED INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CAUSING IT NOT TO WORK AND HAVING ME BUY A NEW BULB SOCKET AND OTHER PARTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10574256
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Nov 2013

WHILE DRIVING FROM SAN DIEGO, CA TO LOS ANGELES, CA ON I-5 AT 9PM ON OCTOBER 20TH, THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND ONLY LIGHT UP ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE READ ON CAR FORUMS, PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS. ONE INDIVIDUAL FRONTED $800 TO HAVE THE OEM FOG LIGHTS ADDED TO HIS PASSAT, WHICH HE CLAIMED HELPED. VW NEEDS TO FIX THIS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS OR ADD THE FOG LIGHTS TO EVERY 2012+ PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING DURING THE NIGHT ON STREETS WITH LIMITED STREET LIGHTS, ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY PEDESTRIANS, UNLESS I DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON, WHICH I CANT BECAUSE OF ON COMING CARS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10551536
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Oct 2013

LOSS OF EITHER DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMP(S) AND/OR LOWBEAM HEADLAMP(S) DUE TO LAMP SOCKETS MELTING IN HOUSINGS. 3 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED, ONCE WITH THE DAYTIME LAMPS AND TWICE WITH THE L/S HEADLAMPS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10547811
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Nov 2012

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE BULB ADAPTER. THE PLASTIC HAD MELTED WHICH PREVENTED ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOWING FROM THE HOUSING TO THE BULB. THE MELTED PLASTIC HAD CAUSED HAZING ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT NO COST. *TR

NHTSA #: 10484727

Other 2012 Volkswagen Passat Issues