2012 Volkswagen Passat Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 3%of 484 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 14,609miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, 3% of the 484 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,609 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2012 Passat had an issue with the flywheel as it was starting to come apart and cause a rattle noise like an exhaust pipe rattling it went away when I took RPM to a little higher number had it fixed by dealership I wonder why there wasn't a recall on this as it happened to many people I had it replaced in time but was lucky enough to catch it in time if I hadn't and it broke as I was driving it would have stopped the engine causing multiple problems and destroying the engine and at 75 MPH could possibly get into a serious wreck this flywheel didn't wear out it was completely coming apart…”
NHTSA complaint #11396204, filed 2021-02, 80,000 miles“Intermittent loss of turbo power during low speed acceleration. I brought the vehicle to vw of quad cities in davenport, ia on 2 may 2014. Service manager reported that the problem could not be replicated by a vw service technician. The problem occurred again on 5 may 2014 and was reported to the service manager. Again, the problem could be replicated and was return to me. I departed the vw service area and while driving away the problem resurfaced in the vicinity of the vw dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #10588691, filed 2014-05, 25,260 miles“When I start the car, I put my foot on the brake and proceed to put the car in d (drive) or r (reverse). The car accelerates immediately even with my foot on the brakes. The only way to prevent this from happening is to allow the car to warm-up for 30 to 45 seconds before attempting to drive it. I have expressed my concerns to dealership and I was told as long as it does go over 11 rpms it should be okay. Then when I returned to the dealership and ask them to look at it again, I was told that the vehicle is operating as designed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10594094, filed 2014-05, 5,000 miles“As I was driving my new 2012 Volkswagen Passat from my house to my destination, my transmission fluid began to leak out onto the street. I had purchased the car eight days earlier which was a new car from the dealership which only had 2 miles on the car. The amount of miles I had put on the car was 500 miles and the transmission fluid leaked because of a malfunction inside of it. The car was under warranty and they dealership had to put a new transmission into my car because of the old one had defected parts inside.”
NHTSA complaint #10468033, filed 2012-07, 530 miles“Whining sound when driving forward not when it's coasting and it sounds like slipping. Caught before complete turbo failure. Cause reported by dealer: verified, found metallic whine noise under boos. Ran gff an found p02900 - turbo under boost.”
NHTSA complaint #10576535, filed 2014-04, 14,609 milesRelated recalls
- 17V309000May 11, 2017Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions…Covers: Volkswagen Passat 2012–2014
Related service bulletins
- 11025440Oct 14, 2025Cautions about using aftermarket transmission flush machines and aftermarket transmission fluids.
- 11025439Oct 9, 2025Diagnosing Manual Transmission Noise
- 11008861Sep 17, 2024Fluid requirements
- 11008851Sep 17, 2024Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid
- 11008860Sep 11, 2024Manual transmission noise diagnosing
- 10238310Jun 21, 2023Automatic Transmission Fluid Requirements
- 10238309Jun 15, 2023Noise Diagnostic for Manual Transmission vehicles.
- 10218953Aug 25, 2022Manual transmission noise diagnostic assistance
- 10214473Jun 14, 2022Auto Trans fluid requirements.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 15% |
| 2019 | 2 | 17% |
| 2018 | 3 | 7% |
| 2017 | 5 | 5% |
| 2016 | 5 | 5% |
| 2015 | 12 | 5% |
| 2014 | 37 | 6% |
| 2013 | 33 | 4% |
| 2012 | 15 | 3% |
| 2011 | 1 | 6% |
| 2010 | 34 | 21% |
| 2009 | 10 | 7% |
| 2008 | 12 | 7% |
| 2007 | 13 | 5% |
| 2006 | 47 | 8% |
| 2005 | 13 | 9% |
| 2004 | 38 | 14% |
| 2003 | 35 | 6% |
| 2002 | 25 | 4% |
| 2001 | 34 | 8% |
| 2000 | 19 | 4% |
| 1999 | 29 | 4% |
| 1998 | 16 | 5% |
| 1996 | 2 | 5% |
| 1995 | 10 | 11% |
| 1994 | 4 | 16% |
| 1993 | 4 | 6% |
| 1992 | 7 | 18% |
| 1991 | 2 | 8% |
| 1990 | 8 | 24% |
Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat
296 complaintsElectrical system
95 complaintsFuel system
46 complaintsSteering
46 complaintsEngine
40 complaintsOther or unknown
31 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsElectronic stability control
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology