2008 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

My son bought this used car. The STOP ENGINE light came on, got an oil change but the light did not go away. Were told that the oil pressure might be the issue so took it to the mechanic. We were told it was most likely the oil pressure switch. There were multiple codes(cones) and were cleared. The switch was replaced but the engine light's still on & the STOP ENGINE comes on but goes off. It appears it is a gas pump issue that it might be manufacture fault. Is there a recall for this issue on this 2008 Passat? It's my [XXX] 's first car, he saved & bought it but it's dangerous...he got it diagnosed & was told it's a $5,000 job. If it's an oil/gas pump manufacturer issue, is Volkswagen responsible? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11611736

Incident

Aug 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Passat. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V509000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving, the steering became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the RPM increased rapidly and the engine revved without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that she was able to maneuver the vehicle and turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle without a failure. The contact then stated that a week later while driving the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ECM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11481994

Incident

Mar 30, 2022

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHEN I TURN ON AC THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE BATTER ICON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. AFTER I TURNED OFF AC AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR AFTER A FEW TRYS IT STARTED BACK UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF.. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE

NHTSA ID

11316418

Incident

Mar 5, 2020

DURING AN UNRELATED SERVICE, MY ENGINE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAS EXTENSIVE WEAR AND WILL FAIL AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE ENGINE ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH THE LOW MILES ON THE VEHICLE. UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF OTHER VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE BY VOLKSWAGEN TO REMEDY THE MANY VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11184876

Incident

Jan 18, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAD THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP REPAIRED IN AUGUST 2018 BY THE WILMINGTON DEALERSHIP. I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER DONE RIGHT OR HOWEVER THEY DID IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IN OCTOBER 2018 MY CAR IS HAVING THE RECALL PROBLEM STARTING AGAIN WHICH IS CAUSING GASOLINE TO RUN OUT IMMEDIATELY AND THIS TIME IT'S WORSE THAN BEFORE THE FUMES ARE NOW IN THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN THE CAR ISN'T ON. I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE THIS RECALL ISSUE REPAIRED AGAIN BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ONLY LASTED 2 MONTHS AND NEEDING THE FUEL PUMP MODULE TO BE REPLACED/REPAIRED AGAIN BUT PROBLEM IS WORSE THE SECOND TIME AROUND. ACCELERATION AND STALLING IS BECOMING MORE OF AN ISSUE AGAIN

NHTSA ID

11151084

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESS WAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A CITY STREET AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11130587

Incident

Sep 14, 2018

Mileage

156,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL THE FUEL PUMP WATER PUMP AND POWER LOSS

NHTSA ID

11111928

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AUTO SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED GANLEY WESTSIDE VOLKSWAGEN AT (440) 734-2000 (LOCATED AT 25580 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11100203

Incident

Oct 23, 2017

Mileage

165,000 mi

I BOUGHT A USED 2008 VW PASSAT KOMFORT WAGON. AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THE WEB COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE CAR HAS A BAD CAM FOLLOWER BAD CAM SHAFT AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. VW KNOWINGLY SELLS THIS VEHICLE WITH AN INTERNAL ENGINE ISSUE TO CUSTOMERS WHEN THE ENGINE COULD BLOW UP AT ANY TIME CAUSING SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11091054

Incident

Apr 16, 2018

Mileage

87,000 mi

UNEXPECTED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO TIMING FAILURE

NHTSA ID

11089700

Incident

Sep 28, 2017

Mileage

63,000 mi

RECALL FOR THE FOLLOWING: NO PART IS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD. I WANT TO SELL IT. 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.

NHTSA ID

11088607

Incident

Aug 16, 2017

AUG 16,2017 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER20AE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V509 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE 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. BATTERY WAS DEAD AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED OFF HIGHWAY TIRES PLUS SAID CODE FUEL PUMP AND TRANSMISSION MODULE OPEN RECALL !

NHTSA ID

11080366

Incident

Mar 13, 2018

Mileage

86,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING 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 DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS GUARANTEED COMPENSATION, BUT ONLY IF THE MECHANIC USED VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURED PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11066968

Incident

Sep 30, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CAR IN MOTION WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND STALL FORCING ME TO PULL OVER AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME, WHERE IT ONLY STARTS AFTER TURNING OVER MULTIPLE TIMES AND WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY DUE TO AN IMPROPER FUEL PUMP NOT GIVING THE ENGINE ENOUGH FUEL.

NHTSA ID

11062752

Incident

Dec 29, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTING IN A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF 4500

NHTSA ID

11062547

Incident

Nov 18, 2017

Mileage

113,517 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11054119

Incident

Dec 5, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE I WAS DRIVING 50MPH, THE INTERNAL TIMING BELT BELT AND TENSIONER BROKE IN THE ENGINE AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PULL OVER DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE TIMING BELT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE MOTOR ACCORDING TO VW WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY NOT TRUE. SEVERE SAFETY HAZZARD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP AND AFTER TAKING THE ENGINE APART THAT IS THE DIAGNOSIS THEY GAVE ME.

NHTSA ID

11046995

Incident

Nov 14, 2017

Mileage

225,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO REMAIN ON. THE CONTACT WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO HER DRIVEWAY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED SINCE IT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL A DEALER. THE LOW COUNTRY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER (1001 JOHNNIE DODDS BLVD, MT PLEASANT, SC 29464 (843) 881-8555) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OR JANUARY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11035719

Incident

Aug 29, 2017

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. WHEN I COMPLETED THE TRIP, I FOUND THAT THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER HAD WORN ALL THE WAY THROUGH, LEAVING METAL FRAGMENTS INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE CAMSHAFT HAD WORN AWAY AT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, WITH DAMAGE OCCURRING TO BOTH PARTS. WHAT WAS ADDRESSED IN TECHNICAL BULLETIN 2015153 HAPPENED TO MY CAR AS WELL. THE ISSUE IS THAT VW DENIED TO HELP BECAUSE MY CAR WAS A 2008 MODEL YEAR, WITH A PRODUCTION DATE IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE RECALL AND WARRANTY EXTENSION APPLIED TO MODEL YEAR 2006-2007, BUT BECAUSE THE SAME EXACT FAILURE HAPPENED ON MY CAR IT SHOULD BE COVERED ALSO.

NHTSA ID

11034776

Incident

Jun 26, 2017

Mileage

117,000 mi

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO CAM SHAFT, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, OIL PUMP, CAM SHAFT FOLLOWER. LOUD NOISE AND ROUGH SOUNDING ENGINE. CONSTANT WARNING LIGHT OF "STOP! LOW OIL PRESSURE" PROBLEMS SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL TO THE 07 ENGINE THAT WAS RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11003539

Incident

Jul 6, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER LET GO. THE CAR HAS 78000 MILES ON IT. AND A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTED IN FINDING MANY INSTANCES AND A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OVER THIS ISSUE DO TO VWS RELUCTANCE TO ORDER A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10981137

Incident

Mar 25, 2017

Mileage

78,000 mi

MY VEHICLE (2008 VW PASSAT) STARTED HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES AND WOULD ONLY GO UP TO 40 MPH AS WELL AS ALSO HAVING A ROUGH START UP WHEN TURNING MY CAR ON. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT AND AT FIRST THEY CLAIMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH WOULD COST ME AROUND $700. LATER IN THE DAY, I RECEIVED A CALL BACK TELLING ME THAT MY INTAKE CAMSHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR WITHOUT REPLACING THIS AS WELL. NOW MY TOTAL WAS UP TO $2000. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND CALLING AROUND TO COMPARE PRICES, I TALKED TO A REPAIRMAN THAT HAD TO REPLACE HIS CAMSHAFT IN THE SAME YEAR VW CAR BECAUSE OF SIMILAR ISSUES. I FOUND THAT MY MODEL 2008 VW PASSAT WAS BUILT WITH A FAULTY INTAKE CAMSHAFT REVISION B WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE ABRASIVE AND CAUSING FRICTION WITH THE FUEL PUMP. SINCE 2008 VW FOUND A SNEAKY WAY TO REPLACE THIS WITH A REVISION A CAMSHAFT AND NOT RECALL THE PREVIOUS PART, WHICH HAS NOW, OVER TIME CAUSED MY $2,000 PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ACCELERATION ISSUES. I GUESS THIS REPAIR WOULD HAVE FALLEN UNDER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, WHICH HAS SINCE EXPIRED, BUT MOST CAR ISSUES TAKE LONGER THAN THE WARRANTY PERIOD ANYWAYS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH OCCUR OVER TIME WITH FAULTY PARTS. I HAVE TALKED TO VW AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND THERE IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS PART AND NEVER HAS BEEN. THE ISSUE WAS JUST PUSHED UNDER THE RUG, HOPING TO BE IGNORED FOREVER. UNTIL NOW, I WILL NOT ALLOW OTHER TO SUFFER WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH NOW AND VW HAS A BAD REPUTATION WITH BEING DISHONEST RIGHT NOW SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY HIDE YET ANOTHER ISSUE? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME AND PROVIDE ME WITH FURTHER STEPS TO TAKE ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10944383

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

Mileage

90,500 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED WHILE DRIVING AND I BROUGHT TO SERVICE STATION WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED DUE TO THE TENSIONER. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S. *TR

NHTSA ID

10933731

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

2ND IGNITION.COIL FAILURE IN 1 MONTH PERIOD.

NHTSA ID

10927739

Incident

Nov 23, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

OEM IGNITION COILS (06F905115F) SEEM TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW. CHANGED ONE AND NOW ANOTHER ONE HAS WENT BAD. CAR LOST SOME OF ITS POWER WHEN ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE WAS RECALL FOR EARLIER YEAR MODELS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. HOWEVER THE 2008 MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS.

NHTSA ID

10918107

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi