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2008 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 110.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

126 reports with mileage · 42 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports6 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

168 reports
90,500 miles · Jan 11, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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. L…

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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 ODI #10944383

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2017
Air Bags

RECALL SUBJECT: AIR BAGS > FRONTAL > DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE WE RECEIVED THE LETTER OF RECALL FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR, BUT EVERY TIME WE CHECK WITH VW, THEY KEPT REPLIED THE PARTS HAVE NOT ARRIVE.THAT LEAVE US TO BELIEVE WE ARE DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940373

130,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Engine

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 ODI #10933731

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA AIRBAG I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL 16V078 BUT THERE IS STILL NO SOLUTION, HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION? THIS IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS DONE ASAP THX [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929819

150,000 miles · Nov 23, 2016
Engine

2ND IGNITION.COIL FAILURE IN 1 MONTH PERIOD.

NHTSA ODI #10927739

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10926861

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2016
Air Bags

RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OVER 1 YEAR AGO ABOUT ISSUE, TOLD TO WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTTIONS NONE HAS BEEN RECEIVED. VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE NOT REMEDIED

NHTSA ODI #10924523

100,000 miles · Oct 23, 2016
Engine

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 ODI #10918107

77,819 miles · Sep 25, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion System

SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLS UPON STARTING AND THEN WILL RESTART. THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES SHAKES AND SPUTTERS AND THEN STALLS WHILE STOPPED. ALSO, MANY TIMES CAR WILL STALL WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING SOMETIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING IN MIDDLE OF ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THIS HA…

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SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLS UPON STARTING AND THEN WILL RESTART. THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES SHAKES AND SPUTTERS AND THEN STALLS WHILE STOPPED. ALSO, MANY TIMES CAR WILL STALL WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING SOMETIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING IN MIDDLE OF ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WELL OVER A YEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10909530

105,000 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA INFLATORS I HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM VW AUTO COMPANY IN THE MONTH OF MARCH THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY AIR BAG. HERE IS WHAT IT SAID "AKATA HAS REPORTED THAT THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR COULD POTENTIALLY RUPTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNE…

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TAKATA INFLATORS I HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM VW AUTO COMPANY IN THE MONTH OF MARCH THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY AIR BAG. HERE IS WHAT IT SAID "AKATA HAS REPORTED THAT THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR COULD POTENTIALLY RUPTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY. IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS." IT CLEARLY SAYS THAT THIS ISSUE MIGHT RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I DRIVE MY VW WITH MY KIDS IN IT AND GOD FORBID, IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, IS VW TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LOSSES INCUR? I AM SURPRISED NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS YET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AROUND NOW. THE THOUGHT THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS DURING AN EVENT HAS TAKEN AWAY THE PEACE OF MIND FROM ME. THE LEAST I EXPECT FROM VW IS TO AT LEAST GIVE A COURTESY VEHICLE UNTIL THEY RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10907576

Official recalls

4

18V148000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Mar 6, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.

17V509000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Aug 16, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

16V078000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 10, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

08V235000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

May 28, 2008

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 4,079 MY 2008 PASSAT AND 2,500 MY 2009 TIGUAN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0T FSI ULEV II ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CONTAINING SOFTWARE THAT MAY NOT PROPERLY CONTROL ENGINE IDLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED ON. IN RARE CASES, THE ECM MAY UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE ENGINE RPM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN ENGINE SURGE CAUSED BY AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM MAY SURPRISE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND CAN RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND UPDATE THE ECM SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.