RoadVitals

2008 Volkswagen Passat Wagon

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Jun 19, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Mar 6, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat Wagon, most frequently naming the fuel system, electrical and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 386 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system466.7%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Engine116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V148000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Mar 6, 2018
363,713 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 69Q9View on NHTSA.gov
17V509000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 16, 2017
280,915 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 20AEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jun 19, 2019

2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE, 160K MILES. VERY SCARY!!!!!!

NHTSA ID
11221154
Incident
Jun 16, 2019
Mileage
160,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (PACIFIC VOLKSWAGEN, 14900 HINDRY AVE, HAWTHORNE, CA 90250) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL THE PART WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 180395286. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11093911
Incident
Aug 17, 2017
Mileage
71,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 14, 2018

WHILE IN MOTION THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON CITY STREETS OR ON THE HIGHWAY TURNING AND WHILE ACCELERATING

NHTSA ID
11079072
Incident
Feb 15, 2018
Mileage
140,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 15, 2018

WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP IN AUGUST 2017 (SAFETY RISK DESCRPITION LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.) AND IT STILL HAS NO FIX. THIS IS VERY WORRYING AS IT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY FOR MY FAMILY. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS MY FUEL PUMP IS HOT UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ID
11062811
Incident
Jan 14, 2018
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 31, 2017

SUMMARY ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THERE COULD BE AN INTERRUPTION IN ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTING IN A DRAINED BATTERY AND/OR A NO START CONDITION, OR CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. RECALL STATUS RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE REMEDY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE AND RELOCATE IT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. SAFETY RISK DESCRPITION A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 20AE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V509

NHTSA ID
11041550
Incident
Aug 16, 2017
Filed Oct 3, 2017

CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS

NHTSA ID
11031567
Incident
Oct 2, 2017

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

V171901201285567

ENGINE

VW Engine oil quality standards

V171905201285566

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

VW Engine oil quality standards

V271901201189425

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Battery Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000VAS Charger. Update Tool terminology

V0018092053065_4

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting

V171901201285565

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

V271503201607612

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Diagnostic assistance for excessive static current draw

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Passat Wagon by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010920—
2009620—
2008Viewing620—
2007113047.0
2006020—
2005000—
2004600—
2003300—
2002700—
2001200—
2000000—
1999000—
1998000—
1996000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.