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2008 Volkswagen Passat Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 168 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the fuel system (38% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is 12th of 23 Passat model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2008 Volkswagen Passat problems
Fuel system
63 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
Warned by other owners of 2006-08 passats, I inspected the high pressure fuel pump, cam, and cam follower for abnormal wear. The high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) cam follower has been recognized as a flaw requiring warranty extension to 120,000 miles on the 2006-2007 models. This fault causes failure of the cam follower…
The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power, but was able to restart after approximately twenty minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump malfunctioned. The dealer informed the contact of NHTSA campaign number…
Engine
52 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Started the car/engine in the morning and mil came on rough start with rattling in engine bay. Brought to vw dealership. They indicated the oil screen in front of the check valve in the cam shaft positioner bridge "has come apart lodging itself between the camshaft adjuster [valve] and intake camshaft adjuster." it…
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.
Air bags
32 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 114,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
When the car is started it immediately shuts itself off and says steering column lock defective. I took it to the dealer today and they told me this could cause more serious problems while driving, especially the airbag system. This seems like a very common issue with these cars and could potentially lead to life…
The contact owned a 2008 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total…
Electrical
21 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator.
This vehicle has a recall for known electrical problems which may cause a loss of steering while driving. I have attempted to contact my local vw dealership to have them look into the issue but they fail to offer a solution. The vehicle also has known faulty electrical components in the steering wheel which cause…
The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced excessive electrical power consumption. The contact stated that the battery had to be replaced three times. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v509000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the parts to do…
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 118,000 miles.
Water leaking in from sunroof. Foot wells on passanger side filled with water. Water drips from sun visor attachment. Air bag fault light came on soon after I noticed this.
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…
Transmission
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly.
Aug 16,2017 manufacturer recall number20ae NHTSA recall [VIN] 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…
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.
Steering
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles.
Vehicle has approx one year of difficult starts requiring multiple attempts. On 7/20/14 while driving in parking lot vehicle stalled and refused to restart despite numerous attempts. Towed home. Dtc showed control module for electronic steering column lock leaking. Vehicle refusing to start despite all other…
Steering column lock malfunction, the vehicle will turn over but not fire. Every now and then it will fire and then immediately die. Luckily it went out while my vehicle was parked, if it were to malfunction while driving it could be very dangerous
Visibility and wipers
6 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield wiper/washer, sun/moon roof assembly.
The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen pssat. The contact stated that both rear doors housed pivoting tabs for a shade to keep the sun out of the vehicle. The contact stated that the design was poorly manufactured because the child occupant in the back seat could pull the tabs up and down and could potentially catch his…
The windshield wipers on the 2008 vw Passat self-adjust their speed on their own without the driver touching them. On sunday, august 22, 2010, I was driving on I-95 and drove into an area under a tornado warning. It was raining in torrents and traffic came to a stop. My windshield wipers were on regular speed, and…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Volkswagen Passat recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: An engine surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine RPM may surprise the vehicle operator and can result in a crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2008 Volkswagen Passat
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volkswagen Passat?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (63 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); engine (52 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); air bags (32 complaints, typically around 114,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Volkswagen Passat have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 6, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Volkswagen Passat?
- It is 12th of 23 Passat model years by number of complaints, with 168 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.