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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.

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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

44 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2025
Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

My car stalled on me while I was driving and would not start. I was told I need a new feul pump module. I took it to the dealership to get it replace and the feul pump but the car will not start.

NHTSA ODI #11671276

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

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 en…

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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 ODI #11611736

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2022
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

There is a recall with the fuel pump and the manufacturer is claiming that I need to replace certain parts to be able to do the recall.

NHTSA ODI #11488339

157,000 miles · Dec 12, 2019
Air BagsFuel/propulsion System

I BOUGHT THE CAR AROUND MID-SEPTEMBER 2019. I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE AND JUST RECENTLY, I'D SAY DECEMBER 9TH, 2019 TO BE EXACT, GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG. I WENT ONLINE TO THE CAR BRANDS WEBSITE AND LOOKED UP MY EXACT CAR TO VERIFY. UPON DOING THIS, I DISCOVERED IT HAD A SECOND RECA…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR AROUND MID-SEPTEMBER 2019. I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE AND JUST RECENTLY, I'D SAY DECEMBER 9TH, 2019 TO BE EXACT, GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG. I WENT ONLINE TO THE CAR BRANDS WEBSITE AND LOOKED UP MY EXACT CAR TO VERIFY. UPON DOING THIS, I DISCOVERED IT HAD A SECOND RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE FREE REPAIRS, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T FIX THE FUEL FUMP ISSUE AS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC I WENT TO, THE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAK IN MY VACUUM PUMP. HE SAID IT'D COST ABOUT $600 FOR PART AND LABOR, BUT THAT THIS FIX ISN'T EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND THAT MY CAR SHOULD RUN WELL ENOUGH WITHOUT THIS FIX. ME BEING BROKE, I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED. WELL, NOW THAT I'M HERE TO GET MY RECALL PARTS FIXED, I'M BEING TOLD I CAN'T GET ONE OF THEM FIXED, AND I'D HAVE TO PAY AROUND $124 FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, OR PAY THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX WHAT'S CASUING IT (WHICH I'D ONLY KNOW IF I ALLOWED THE DIAGNOSIS). SO NO MATTER WHAT, I'D HAVE TO PAY MONEY, OR JUST NOT GET MY FUEL PUMP, WHICH WAS RECALLED, FIXED. IS THIS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO? SEEMS UNLIKELY THEY'D HAVE TO CLEAR THE LIGHT TO FIX THE FUEL PUMP...

NHTSA ODI #11288611

96,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Air BagsFuel/propulsion System

TL* TAKATA RECALL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHI…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). JOE HOLLAND VOLKSWAGEN (150 MACCORKLE AVE SW A, SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV 25303, (304) 744-1561) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT RESPOND WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO ADDRESS THE TWO RECALL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #11217861

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

HAD FUEL MODULE RECALL FIXED AT DEALERSHIP AND 5 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM IS BACK THE FIX FOR THE RECALL DOES NOT WORK OR LAST NEEDS TO HAVE ANOTHER RECALL PUT OUT ON THE 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

NHTSA ODI #11196090

92,000 miles · Mar 17, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

THE FUEL PUMP OF MY CAR STOPPED WORKING LAST MONDAY MARCH 11, 2018 FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ODI #11187403

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2019
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemWheels

HELLO NHTSA I HAVE A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THAT WAS RECALLED ABOUT AN AIRBAG THIS TO ME WAS UNSAFE I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED A SOON AS POSSIBLE,GETTING TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP I LEAVE MY PASSAT TO THEM TO FIX IT LIKE THE LETTER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL SAID I WOULD PAY ANYTHING OUT OF POCKET, I GET MY CAR IN LESS THAN AN OUR S…

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HELLO NHTSA I HAVE A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THAT WAS RECALLED ABOUT AN AIRBAG THIS TO ME WAS UNSAFE I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED A SOON AS POSSIBLE,GETTING TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP I LEAVE MY PASSAT TO THEM TO FIX IT LIKE THE LETTER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL SAID I WOULD PAY ANYTHING OUT OF POCKET, I GET MY CAR IN LESS THAN AN OUR SUPPOSEDLY FIXED MY AIR BAG BUT BIT ONLY DID THEY CHANGE MY AIR BAG BUT THEY TAMPERED WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS ONE OF THEM BEING THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODUEL BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THEM THE CARS PARTS WHERE ALL RECALLED,NOW I'M GETTING TO MY COMPLAIN I TOOK MY CAR IN IN GOOD CONDITION NOW MY CAR TURNS OFF AT RANDOM TIME BEING IN THE STREET OR IN THE FREEWAY DRIVING WHEN I FILL IT UP WITH GAS I HAVE TO STRIP ON MY ENGINE FOR IT TO TURN ON OR IT WON'T START,ALSO THE CAR KEEPS MARKING TIRE PRESSURE EVERY DAY I USED THIS CAR BEFORE I TOOK IT INTO VOLKSWAGEN , MY CAR WAS NOT LIKE THIS I GAVE THEM A CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BUT I DON'T REALLY TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO I BELIEVE MESSED UP MY VEHICLE IT IS IN THE BAKC NOW SITTING U CAN CONTACT ME AT (XXXX) MY NAME IS (XXXX) THANSK YOU FOR YOUR TIME PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11180474

120,000 miles · Nov 12, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

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 THA…

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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 ODI #11151084

150,000 miles · Jul 31, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #11114741

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.