Problems · by component

2012 Volkswagen Passat fuel/propulsion system problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Passat cite fuel/propulsion system, 7% of all 484 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel/propulsion system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I noticed a fuel smell in the cabin area that continued to get worse. After pulling the back seat I was able to visually see the fuel pump that had lots of micro cracks which was causing a fuel leak. The leak was very dangerous and caused major foam damage to my rear seat and was a major hazard had anything caused an ignition in the cabin, it certainly would have burned the vehicle. I saved the fuel pumped after having a local shop replace it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2025Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11671362
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11565707
“TWICE WHILE DRIVING, THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED LEAVING THE AUTOMOBILE DISABLED ON THE HIGHWAY. ON BOTH OCCASIONS IT WAS REPORTED THAT METAL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL PUMP AND ALL COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. THE TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AFTER THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE FOR THE EXHAUST/ EMISSIONS RECALL. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND WITHIN 2000 MILES. THE SECOND WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST 10,000 MILE SERVICE AND WITHIN 9 MONTHS FROM THE FIRST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2020Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11351480
“WAS DRIVING FINE ONE DAY AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK I DROVE IT...STARTED TO SEE LEAKS UNDER MY CAR AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE AC ON. IT GOT HARD TO TURN...FELT STIFF. WAS NOTICING THAT I WAS STARTING TO PAY MORE IN POWER STEERING FLUID TO KEEP MY CAR GOING. CONSIDERING I ONLY HAD IT 3MONTHS SINCE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2020Steering, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11323082
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2019Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11209300
“MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST KILLED ME AND MY DAUGHTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT BUT IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. I THINK IT COULD WELL BE THE STARTER AS MANY 2011 BUILD VW PASSATS WERE AFFECTED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2019Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11208500

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.