Using Alignment Sheet Submission Form
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Volkswagen Passat steering problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 19 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Rear of teering wheel trim modification for noise when maneuvering.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Document was revised. The model year chat was removed for VWP-18-11 for the Steering Wheel Clock Spring Limited Warranty Extension
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Mandatory fastener.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The fault code in this document was revised on page 2. One extra zero was provided.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Clock spring failure is the dominant complaint. Owners describe hearing a crunching or clicking noise from the steering wheel during turns, followed by loss of the horn, steering wheel buttons (cruise control, radio controls), and airbag function. The airbag warning light illuminates. One owner's clock spring failed three times in rapid succession after warranty replacements. Dealers replace the spring, but VW's recall 69L2 does not cover all 2016 Passat model years, leaving owners to fight warranty claims or pay around $900 out of pocket.
A second pattern emerges: spontaneous hard braking without driver input at highway speed, recurrent on the same vehicles and sometimes coupled with violent steering wheel vibration. One dealership could not locate a failure code despite multiple occurrences. A third owner reports the Lane Assist system triggering unintended steering corrections on phantom lane markings, nearly causing a crash.
Power steering and power brakes have also failed simultaneously without warning at low speed on at least one vehicle; the dealer replaced the camshaft, then the vacuum pump when the problem returned, but neither fix has been confirmed effective.
Owners consistently cite safety concerns: inoperative airbags, disabled horns during emergencies, and uncontrolled braking in traffic.
Same Volkswagen Passat steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Clock spring failure
The clock spring component in the steering column fails, disabling steering wheel controls, horn, and airbag function. Owners report hearing a crunching or clicking noise from the steering wheel when turning, followed by loss of steering wheel button functionality and illumination of an airbag error light.
When: Between 2-7 years of ownership; one owner reported it recurring at 4,700 miles, then again at 35,000 miles after initial replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Crunching or clicking noise from steering wheel when turning; Airbag warning light illuminates with 'ERROR' message; Horn becomes inoperative; Steering wheel control buttons (cruise control, radio, phone) stop working; Instrument cluster malfunction reported in one case
Codes mentioned: Airbag malfunction code
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replace the clock spring assembly; estimated cost cited as $900 when out of warranty. One owner reported repeated failures after replacements at 10/7/15, 3/8/16, and subsequent failures requiring multiple replacements.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VW recalls exist (e.g., 69L2) but do not cover all 2016 Passat model years. Some owners received 'goodwill' replacements after warranty denial. Some dealerships covered repair under warranty; others did not.
Sudden power steering and brake loss
Without warning, power steering and power brakes simultaneously fail, leaving the driver unable to steer or brake the vehicle. Occurs at low speed during normal driving. Dealers have replaced camshaft and vacuum pump in response, but root cause remains unclear.
When: At 4,300 miles on one vehicle; at 25 mph on another
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly becomes non-responsive; Power brakes suddenly become non-responsive; Vehicle cannot be steered or braked immediately
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership replaced the camshaft; the same failure occurred again, then the vacuum pump was replaced. No further information provided on whether issue resolved.
Lane Assist oversensitivity
The Lane Assist driver assistance system activates inappropriately and aggressively, swerving the vehicle toward the center median or guardrail when detecting phantom lane markings or tire marks on the road.
When: At 65 mph on highway with clear lane markings
Symptoms owners cite: Lane Assist triggers unintended steering correction on slight curves; Vehicle swerves toward center median without driver input; System picks up false lane markers (tire marks, road imperfections)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner manually disabled Lane Assist feature to prevent further incidents; no dealer repair sought.
Spontaneous hard braking
Vehicle applies brakes on its own while driving at normal highway speed without the driver depressing the brake pedal. Braking occurs without warning and can be violent. Has recurred multiple times on the same vehicle, creating accident risk.
When: At 35,000 miles; recurring over multiple trips; reported to occur 3 times in one month on another vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes engage without driver input; Wavy line warning indicator illuminates; Braking force is sudden and forceful; Recurs without pattern
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was taken to dealership; no failure code could be located and vehicle was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified (Case Number 171672068 cited in one complaint); no recall or fix known to owners.
Steering wheel vibration without warning
Steering wheel vibrates violently and unexpectedly while driving at highway speed. Often occurs simultaneously with spontaneous braking. No obvious cause; dealer diagnostics failed to locate a failure code.
When: At 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent vibration of steering wheel; Occurs without warning during normal highway driving; Happens at 45 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose; vehicle not repaired.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen passat. While driving 45 MPH, without depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle began to brake independently and a wavy line warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel started to vibrate violently without warning. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to south bay Volkswagen (located at 3131 national city blvd, national city, ca…
There was a recall on the clock spring. I brought it in for service and it got replaced 10/7/15. It snapped again 5 months later was replaced 3/8/16. It snapped again 6 months later. Now volkwagon offers a 12,000 mile 12 year warranty on parts. I bright the vehicle in 10/18/16 and they told me it wasn't covered under warranty. This is a major safety issue seeing that it controls my horn and will…
Air bag error light is on and steering wheel controls/horn are inoperable. Cause is most likely a clock spring failure as has been reported in numerous VW vehicle models including the 2016 VW Passat but the current recall 69L2 doesn’t appear to cover our vehicle. With recall problems on numerous other vehicles, it is hard to believe this isn’t caused by the same issue. Repair cost is estimated at…
Steering column makes noises when turning. Airbag Light is on and the none of the steering wheel controls for the radio, phone etc are functioning properly. This is my college age daughter’s car and I fear the airbag won’t deploy in the event she was in a collision.
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 36,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Volkswagen/Passat.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.