2012 Volkswagen Passat Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat marks a lineup with three engines and one body, the 4-door sedan. Diesel buyers got a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four; gasoline options were a 2.5L inline-five and a 3.6L V6, both naturally aspirated, with dual overhead camshafts throughout. Fourteen trims are listed, TDI variants among them alongside S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium. Procedures, specifications, torque values, wiring diagrams and diagnostics address the engine, fuel system, transmission, brakes, steering and electrical system.

Engines covered

• 2.0L inline-four (120 cu in) — DOHC, turbocharged, diesel
• 2.5L inline-five (151 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 3.6L V6 (219 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sedan

Trims covered

• Base
• Comfortline
• Comfortline TDI
• Highline
• Highline TDI
• S
• SE
• SEL
• SEL Premium
• Sportline
• TDI SE
• TDI SEL
• Trendline
• Trendline TDI

Known issues on the 2012 Passat. NHTSA holds 11 recalls for the 2012 Passat. Certain 2012 Passat vehicles with a diesel engine and the Direct-Shift Transmission (DSG) could have an underbody heat shield too short to guard the right half-shaft boot, letting grease reach hot exhaust parts and raising the fire risk. On certain others the driver's frontal inflator could explode as its propellant degrades with heat and humidity over the years. A cap that may be missing on certain cars could leave the headlights' side-to-side aim adjustable out of specification. Air bags lead the 483 complaints at 295, then the electrical system at 95; 14 complaints reported a crash and 8 an injury. Air bag, driveline, lighting and electrical procedures and diagnostics apply.