| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2012 Volkswagen Passat repairs by problem area
Engine (34%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (4%)
Brakes and Traction Control (1%)
Suspension and Steering (8%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (17%)
Other (6%)
Chart based on 247 repairs.
2012 Volkswagen Passat engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (3%)
$1000 - $2499 (6%)
$500 - $999 (7%)
$100 - $499 (20%)
< $100 (65%)
Chart based on 71 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2012 Volkswagen Passat
Engine not specified
| 70000 mi US $150 |
replaced intake manifold absolute pressure sensor |
2012 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD
| 114700 mi | Adblue heater |
| 62000 mi US $1200 |
Heating element in the emissions fluid tank |
2012 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD
| 65000 mi | Replaced split intercooler hose |
| 96000 mi | Turbo replaced under extended warranty program |
| 100000 mi US $145 |
CEL for low fuel pressure at rail. Fuel filter replaced. CEL reset. |
| 30000 mi | The turbo failed. |
| 21000 mi | Failed turbo, seized engine. They say they are replacing the engine and the turbo and probably the exhaust system. Sad isn't it? |
| 20000 mi | Oil housing leaking |
| 33000 mi | Check engine light caused by AdBlue tank heater element. Dealer replaced AdBlue tank heater. |
| 5000 mi | Replaced faulty oxygen sensor. |
| 13000 mi | CEL illuminated 2x. Dealer performed recall to fix. |
| 36700 mi | CEL for nox sensor. Software update performed. |
| 49000 mi | AdBlue heater went bad. Apparently this is a common issue in warmer climates ironically. |
| 60700 mi US $500 |
AdBlue Sensor - Heat Element |
| 27000 mi US $100 |
Modular regulater |
| 119000 mi US $6000 |
oil leak on rear of engine |
| 130000 mi US $3499 |
Major coolant system failure. Shop determined electric fan failure caused overheating, and while in there, replaced timing belt, water pump and fixed crankshaft seal oil leak |
| 103000 mi | Turbocharger and high pressure pump failed at the same time. VW has not been able to source replacement parts as yet. Covered under warranty.bb |
| 97000 mi US $465 |
Heater core replacement due to blockage. Not covered under warranty unlike the 2013-2014 model Passat. |
| 139000 mi | Bad fuel injector (#3). |
| 56420 mi | Emissions scandal |
| 56000 mi US $50 |
Took in for cel, o2 sensor recall item |
| 58000 mi | High pressure fuel pump died |
| 49000 mi US $350 |
The secondary fuel pump failed. The problem appeared as the car failing to start. I thought it was caused by the blue additive running out. Replaced fuel pump and a fuel filter. Problem solved. No recurrence. |
| 58000 mi | The pump for injecting urea into hot exhaust in order to reduce pollution failed and had to be replaced. VW replaced it at no charge as if covered by warranty. |
| 80400 mi US $230 |
Removed bumper, dropped tank, replaced Adblue pump and heater assembly. Installed part 7L6-198-970-A, lengthened 4 wires 6 inches. Reinstalled tank. Drove a short trip until engine light turned off. Added 2.5 gal of Adblue. |
| 68400 mi €1000 |
Tdi ad blue tank code 202b, not replaced. Will likely return the car as part of the buy back. |
| 142000 mi US $70 |
Check engine light on. Was related to urea tank heater, module needs to be replaced per code. This will be over $1000, and tank never froze during 2 months light was on. VW emissions a joke as we know. I refused repair at this time |
| 165000 mi US $500 |
Car not starting intermittently. Battery replaced and starter relay replaced |
| 41300 mi | Failed urea heater. Part still on order. |
| 57000 mi | Fuel return line separated. The fuel return line repair was quoted at $500 at the dealer. I made a temporary repair with shrink tubing and two clamps. |
| 57000 mi | Engine would not start. Dealer found bad relay. |
| 8700 mi | Leak at fuel filter canister gasket. Fuel filter canister (and FF) replaced, Safety Recall 20R7 |
| 32000 mi | Nox sensor/module set CEL, "out of range". ECM was reflashed to correct the issue |
| 5500 mi | Check Engine Light came on. A VW TSB said engine management software needed to be updated. Update done while I waited. No cost; no issues. |
| 16000 mi | Turbo leaking oil. Noticed while on rack for oil change. Dealer replaced turbo under warranty. |
| 63500 mi | The sensor pack (level, temperature, etc) for the reductant tank failed. Dealer replaced it under 8/80 federal emissions laws. It isn't technically covered under VW warranty, but VW covered it. |
| 52700 mi US $1050 |
AdBlue Heating Element. Total cost of diagnosis and repair ~$1050. Fought VW to cover at least part which they did. Lot's of reported AdBlue issues in VW and TDI forums. |
| 59300 mi US $280 |
Glow Plug replacement for #2 cylinder |
| 79200 mi | Adblue fluid level low. Either being used at higher rate or was not properly filled. |
| 37820 mi | Replace heater in Urea tank. |
| 7800 mi | Clicking sound when pressing the clutch pedal. Pedal also wobbled. |
| 22000 mi | Fuel line leak |
| 43000 mi | Nitrous sensor was not working correctly, ordered part but then it started to function normally again without repair after a day or two. |
| 23000 mi | Creaking on turning the wheel. Caused by heat shield touching steering gear. |
| 42000 mi | Car failed to start. Needed new fuel regulator valve to keep the line pressurized when car is turned off. When it fails, fuel feeds by gravity bsck into tank and engine starves. Very rarely fails (dealer had never seen this happen before). Initially $913. Repair failed. Tech Center got involved. Replaced electronic control module ($2,500), but that didn't fix the problem. Appealed to VW Customer Care. Finally a new fuel pump plus other fuel system parts fixed it. VW paid all of $5k bill except the tow. |
| 52000 mi | Urea injection pump (Ad Blue system) failed as well as several other parts in the system. |
| 23000 mi | Turbo failed. |
| 44000 mi | AdBlue heater and level sensor failed. Initially not covered, but then a month later VW extended the warranty coverage. |
2012 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan
280-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed automated manual FWD
| 78000 mi US $1500 |
ECM-Engine Control Module |
| 5000 mi | Dealer did not warn me that this engine still was one that needed a break in period. As known it will burn 1 quart of oil. This either caused the oil pressure sensor to malfunction or was coincidence. |
| 2500 mi | ECU computer died. Car would not shut off. |
| 80000 mi US $120 |
Engine light warning of catalytic converter failure. Dealer could not find issue & reset the engine light. However, 3 months later, it appears that the catalytic converter is failing. |
| 88000 mi US $600 |
First thought it was catalytic converter. Turned out to be head gasket leaking oil into spark plug cavity and cc was having issues clearing it |
| 124000 mi | Heater core has a design defect where contamination from engine block will clog heater port as it is very small. Repair shop indicated that over the last 12-16 months they have had over 14 VWs come back within 1-2 years with contaminated heater cores after the heater core was replaced. |
| 40000 mi | Check engine light on. Dirty fuel line. |
| 59500 mi US $985 |
engine cover gasket replaced Heater core replaced Water pump replaced |
| 94000 mi US $3000 |
One radiator fan stopped working. |
| 99000 mi US $1500 |
Heat core and thermostat replacement |
| 4000 mi US $15 |
The car is equipped with KESSY. I would start the car, it would run for two seconds and then shut off. Dealer could not replicate the problem. It has happened 6 times since purchase. Driver error has been ruled out. |
2012 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan
170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 103000 mi US $51 |
P0106 code. S/W update |
| 103000 mi US $800 |
Throttle sensor out. EPC error code on dash - car worked in "limp" mode as long as gas pedal was not pushed down more then a light touch |
| 64000 mi | Check engine light. Replaced throttle sensor |
| 70000 mi US $300 |
Oil pan needed to be resealed |
| 80000 mi | Oil pan was leaking (again). |
| 6700 mi | Loose fuel cap turn check engine light on and did not turn off after driving for couple of days. |
| 15000 mi | Faulty fuel cap. |
| 17000 mi | Same problem "very small gas leak" cause engine light on. Replace the fuel cap before and last time replace the purge valve, but problem came back. This time replace the "leak detection pump". I really hope this time they can fix it. |
| 53000 mi | The car wouldn't start. Next day it did. Went to dealer. Nothing wrong was found. |
| 78000 mi US $250 |
Sensor |
| 51300 mi US $645 |
Engine light on & wrench off & on randomly. Also tranny seemed jumpy/clunky. Purge valve and maf sensor malfunctioning - had to replace both. |
| 63200 mi | Throttle body mechanism malfunctioning and required full replacement. Paid by CA PZEV Warranty. |
2012 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan
170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD
| 6000 mi | Incorrect fuel cap (won't fit in holder on re-fueling). |
| 118000 mi US $400 |
Check engine light on; needed intake cleaned. Clogged with carbon. |
| 53000 mi US $250 |
MAP sensor |
| 55000 mi | Updated the MAP sensor limits. Repair successful. |
| 66700 mi US $500 |
Secondary air injection valve replaced. |
| 2000 mi | Change engine light came on twice. First repair at dealer for N80 valve replacement. Second time check engine light came on car began to stutter and less acceleration. |
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