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Are you having problems with your 2012 Volkswagen Passat? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2012 Volkswagen Passat issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2012 Volkswagen Passat in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.
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Hi Chloe, the wrench symbol is the service indicator light on this generation of Passat. I would take the car to your nearest licenced mechanical repairer and have them read the fault codes logged in the ECU, which is basically your car’s brain. Basically, when a part of your car stops working properly it sends an error message to the ECU, which has an error code it can display when the mechanic plugs their scan tool into the computer. This model Passat had an issue where the service light would come on, requiring the ECU’s software to be updated by the dealer. I’d take the car in and see what error codes come up as the first job.
The most likely cause of the shudder are the clutches, which probably need to be replaced. It doesn't mean you will have long-term issues with the gearbox, but you could be up for replacing the clutches regularly.
We contacted VW on your behalf and asked them to check into your concern. The report we received back from VW was that while the wear does seem unusually excessive for such low mileage it appears that you were not forthcoming on the state of the vehicle, that it had sustained some minor damage, which may have contributed to the excessive tyre wear. If you feel that VW has not provided you with a satisfactory outcome you could consider action under consumer laws.