VehicleVerdict

2012 Volkswagen Passat fuel system problems

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat has 47 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

47

Fuel System complaints

7%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Passat fuel system complaints by model year180 complaints1990: 1 complaints1991: 5 complaints1992: 8 complaints1993: 7 complaints1994: 2 complaints1995: 3 complaints1996: 6 complaints1997: 2 complaints1998: 21 complaints1999: 31 complaints2000: 47 complaints2001: 46 complaints2002: 78 complaints2003: 180 complaints2004: 62 complaints2005: 23 complaints2006: 65 complaints2007: 43 complaints2008: 63 complaints2009: 53 complaints2010: 33 complaints2011: 4 complaints2012: 47 complaints2013: 87 complaints2014: 50 complaints2015: 22 complaints2016: 18 complaints2017: 6 complaints2018: 6 complaints2019: 2 complaints2020: 1 complaints
Passat fuel system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

12V146000Fuel SystemApril 5, 2012 · 153 units

Defect

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PASSAT VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 18, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 1, 2011. DURING ASSEMBLY, THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENT THAT MAY NOT SEAL CORRECTLY.

Consequence

OVER TIME, OR AFTER CERTAIN DRIVING DISTANCES, THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy

VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

What owners report

“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.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 18, 2019 · fire

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2012 Volkswagen Passat have?

NHTSA has 47 complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen Passat fuel system — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat fuel system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 12V146000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.