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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

Air Bags complaints

32 reports
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60,000 miles · Sep 7, 2017
Air Bags

NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11022040

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2017
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO HANSEL VOLKSWAGEN (2…

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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). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO HANSEL VOLKSWAGEN (2951 CORBY AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95407) WHO STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #11003702

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2017
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). 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 (BOMMA…

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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). 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 (BOMMARITO VOLKSWAGEN OF HAZELWOOD LOCATED AT 400 BROOKES DRIVE HAZLEWOOD, MO 314-731-7777) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 08/15/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #10995420

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE TAKATA RECALL TO THE AUTOBARN CITY VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED IN CHICAGO, IL. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, ON MARCH 31ST, THE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS TOO LATE TO WORK ON IT EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN AT 5 PM WHILE THEY CLOSED AT 7 PM. THE OPTION THEY GAVE ME WAS TO LEAVE THE CAR OVE…

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TAKATA RECALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE TAKATA RECALL TO THE AUTOBARN CITY VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED IN CHICAGO, IL. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, ON MARCH 31ST, THE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS TOO LATE TO WORK ON IT EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN AT 5 PM WHILE THEY CLOSED AT 7 PM. THE OPTION THEY GAVE ME WAS TO LEAVE THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND PICK IT UP THE NEXT DAY. I NEEDED THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND SO THEY RESCHEDULED MY APPOINTMENT TO THE FOLLOIWNG SATURDAY, THE 8TH. ON THE 8TH, I HAD THE LUCK TO SPEAK WITH A DIFFERENT CONSULTANT BY THE NAME OF BRAYNER ASATOURI. WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A RE-BUILT TITLE HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT BE DOING THE RECALL. HE TOLD ME TO HOPE THAT THE AIRBAG DOES NOT MALFUNCTION WHILE IM IN THE VEHICLE BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND THAT I WAS NOT THE FIRST RECALL HE HAD TO SEND HOME. IT LEFT ME WONDERING THAT I SHOULD JUNK THE CAR IF THERE WAS A CHANCE OF SOMEBODY BEING HARMED BY THE AIRBAG. WITH A LITTLE RESEARCH AND MANY CALLS TO THE VOLKSWAGEN CARE TEAM, AN INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CONSULTANT GAVE ME FALSE INFORMATION. I HAVE TO USE THE VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK, GO PLACES AND DO SOME EVERYDAY DAY ACTIVITIES. WHILE THE INVESTIGATION WAS GOING ON, I HAD TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD WORK ON THE CAR. FOR TWO WEEKS I WAS PUT AT RISK AND EVERYBODY AROUND ME BECAUSE A VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CONSULTANT WOULD NOT WORK ON THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. HE DID NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO FIND OUT FROM HIS SUPERIORS IF THE CAR QUALIFIED FOR THE REPAIR LET ALONE EXPLAIN SOME OPTIONS TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFER. FORTUNATELY, NOTHING HAPPENED DURING THE TIME THAT THEY REJECTED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE BUT IF SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, I DONT KNOW HOW THE DEALER WOULD REACT SINCE THEY NEGLECTED THE SAFETY RECALL. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED IN THIS DEALER?

NHTSA ODI #10980003

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE…

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

NHTSA ODI #10970920

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2017
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 REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AW…

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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 REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. 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. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10970692

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2017
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 FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A F…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10968934

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10968889

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL: WE GOT A LETTER FROM VW IN APRIL 2016 ABOUT THIS. I CALLED THE DEALER THIS WEEK AND THEY STILL HAVE NO REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM. IT'S DANGEROUS AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DELAY. THE DATE BELOW IS THE APPROXIMATE DATE OF THE FIRST LETTER. THE LETTER IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM AS: NHTSA 16…

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TAKATA RECALL: WE GOT A LETTER FROM VW IN APRIL 2016 ABOUT THIS. I CALLED THE DEALER THIS WEEK AND THEY STILL HAVE NO REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM. IT'S DANGEROUS AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DELAY. THE DATE BELOW IS THE APPROXIMATE DATE OF THE FIRST LETTER. THE LETTER IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM AS: NHTSA 16V078, SAFETY RECALL 69M9

NHTSA ODI #10968134

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ODI #10966214

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.