TSB: VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (2012–2014)

Bulletin 26K4 — July 17, 2018

Bulletin Details

Bulletin ID26K4
ManufacturerVOLKSWAGEN
ModelsPASSAT
Model Years2012–2014
Date IssuedJuly 17, 2018
Date Added to NHTSAMay 28, 2019
ComponentENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Vehicles Affected15 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

The reductive agent fluid (AdBlue) could contaminate the temperature sensor, causing the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) to come on. Additionally, high heat levels can cause the AdBlue fluid to react with the heating fins, causing a varia

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2014 063100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2014 350000 EQUIPMENT
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2014 356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2014 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2014 356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2013 063100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2013 350000 EQUIPMENT
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2013 356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2013 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2013 356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 063100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 350000 EQUIPMENT
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized VOLKSWAGEN dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (26K4) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.