2006 Volkswagen Passat Steering Problems
Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 19% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 63,250 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering column” (64% of reports).
- 112steering complaints
- 63,250median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering column: mentioned in 72 of 112 complaints (64%)
- Lock defective: mentioned in 31 of 112 complaints (28%)
- Error message: mentioned in 7 of 112 complaints (6%)
- Trying start: mentioned in 6 of 112 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat at $2,600, and half of them between $2,300 and $3,050.
Based on 20 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 106 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 112 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Volkswagen Passat steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Passat | 2 | 15% | — |
| 2021 Passat | 2 | 11% | — |
| 2020 Passat | 2 | 11% | — |
| 2019 Passat | 1 | 8% | 2,000 |
| 2018 Passat | 2 | 4% | 46,000 |
| 2017 Passat | 16 | 15% | 33,750 |
| 2016 Passat | 19 | 18% | 41,500 |
| 2015 Passat | 26 | 11% | 47,773 |
| 2014 Passat | 44 | 7% | 40,000 |
| 2013 Passat | 51 | 7% | 61,125 |
| 2012 Passat | 46 | 10% | 68,000 |
| 2011 Passat | 2 | 13% | 51,885 |
| 2010 Passat | 13 | 8% | 81,700 |
| 2009 Passat | 20 | 14% | 59,000 |
| 2008 Passat | 12 | 7% | 82,556 |
| 2007 Passat | 15 | 6% | 63,000 |
| 2006 Passat | 112 | 19% | 63,250 |
| 2005 Passat | 2 | 1% | 142,000 |
| 2004 Passat | 2 | 1% | 96,000 |
| 2003 Passat | 10 | 2% | 21,269 |
| 2002 Passat | 1 | 0% | 26,786 |
| 2001 Passat | 13 | 3% | 59,100 |
| 2000 Passat | 25 | 5% | 51,000 |
| 1999 Passat | 76 | 11% | 64,004 |
| 1998 Passat | 52 | 16% | 58,500 |
| 1995 Passat | 4 | 4% | 110,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the left and right tie rod securing nut may be insufficiently torqued.
Risk: An insufficiently tightened tie rod nut may loosen, resulting in separation of a tie rod. This can cause a loss of steering control, which could cause a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and install new left and right tie rod securing nuts at the proper torqued specification. The recall began on december 7, 2005. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Trying to start car and won't turn on with key all my keys don't work says steering wheel lock defective can't get my car to turn my radio on i am parked in my drive way and can't even tow it to dealer now because it won't go into neutral. *tr
My vw has been hard to start and getting the steering lock fault warning. I understand there was a voluntary recall, but i was the original owner and do not remember getting the recall notice.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOSEPH VOLKSWAGEN OF CINCINNATI (LOCATED AT 3813 MONTGOMERY RD, CINCINNATI…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2006 Volkswagen Passats have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 112 owner complaints about steering for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat (19% of the 576 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 63,250 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,600 (half paid between $2,300 and $3,050), from 20 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat?
The most frequent phrase is “steering column”, in 72 of 112 complaints, followed by “lock defective” (31).
Other 2006 Volkswagen Passat problems
See all 2006 Volkswagen Passat problems or steering problems across all Passat years.