IllustrationDRIVER SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. ALL LUMBAR AND SEAT SUPPORTS ALSO MOVE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE IN MOTION.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Passat years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1825–50K
1450–75K
3175–100K
36100–150K
15150K+
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
Seats complaints
3 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REP…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
2008 VW PASSAT WAGON. THIS CAR WHILE PARKED, RUNNING AND OCCUPIED, IN A GARAGE HAD A FIRE WHOSE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS THE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE ACCIDENTAL MECHANICAL. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $200,000 ALSO ONE OC…
Read full complaint
2008 VW PASSAT WAGON. THIS CAR WHILE PARKED, RUNNING AND OCCUPIED, IN A GARAGE HAD A FIRE WHOSE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS THE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE ACCIDENTAL MECHANICAL. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $200,000 ALSO ONE OCCUPANT OF THE HOME HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY EMS FOR SMOKE INHALATION. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR STATED SHE TO LEAVE. SHE PLACED THE 5 YEAR OLD IN THE CHILD SEAT OF THE VOLKSWAGEN AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR. SHE STARTED THE CAR AND SMELT SMOKE. IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED THE HUSBAND. THE HUSBAND SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE SEAT HEATER, HAD HER TURN OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND RESTART THE CAR. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR SMELT AND OBSERVED SMOKE AGAIN, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT OUT AND SAW FLAME UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE REMOVED THE DAUGHTER FROM THE CAR AND TOOK HER OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY. SHE THEN WENT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND REMOVED A GAS CAN FROM THE AREA OF THE CAR/SNOWBLOWER. SHE AGAIN RE-ENTERED THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE OTHER GARAGE DOOR (BOTH NOW OPEN) OBSERVED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE CAR. SHE EXITED THE GARAGE THROUGH AN INTERIOR DOOR, CLOSING IT BEHIND HER. SHE THEN WENT UP INTO THE HOUSE REMOVED TWO DOGS TO A CRATE ON THE DECK. IN THE MEANTIME A NEIGHBOR HAD GRABBED THE LITTLE GIRL. WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING THE MOTHER PLACED THREE FRANTIC 911 CALLS. THE OWNER OF THE CAR STATED HE HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATED SEATS IN THE PAST AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE. THE LAST TIME IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. THE DERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED ITS FIRE INVESTIGATION, AND THE CAR IS BEING TURNED OVER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (STATE FARM AND LIBERTY MUTUAL). *TR
Official recalls
418V148000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.