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Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (4)
Air bags: frontal, driver side
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Air bags: frontal, driver side
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Canadian recalls (4)
Show 4 Canadian recalls
Airbag
2018-03-06 · campaign 2018-111
On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver frontal airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. As a result, if the vehicle were involved in a collision that warrants airbag deployment, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants, and the airbag assembly could be damaged, preventing proper function. These issues could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator. Note: Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. The recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk, and is expected to replace airbag inflators before their function would be affected. Additional Note: This recall supersedes the Volkswagen brand vehicles subject to recall 2016-064 (Volkswagen Recall 69M9). Volkswagen vehicles completed under the previous 2016-064 recall require repair under this recall, as the previous recall remedy was an interim repair. Interim repair parts must be replaced with final repair parts.
Fuel system
2017-08-16 · campaign 2017-398
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 and/or a no start condition, or cause a loss of motive power while the vehicle is in motion, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel pump control module and relocate it within the vehicle.
Airbag
2016-02-09 · campaign 2016-064
On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the airbag to fully deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the front driver airbag inflator. Note: This campaign only affects the Audi A5 and Audi S5 Cabriolet models.
Engine
2008-05-23 · campaign 2008-183 · 141 vehicles
On certain Passat and Passat wagon, the Engine Control Module (ECM) contains software that may not properly control engine speed with the air conditioning turned on. The ECM may briefly increase engine RPM and vehicle speed. A vehicle surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine RPM may surprise the vehicle operator and can result in a crash causing property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, update the ECM software.
Owner complaints (168)
Owners filed 168 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Volkswagen Passat (3 crashes, 6 fires, 2 injuries reported). Among 33 model years of this model, it ranks #14 for the most complaints (median 146).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 44 | |
| Engine | 43 | |
| Air bags | 32 | |
| Electrical system | 21 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 19 | |
| Unknown or other | 13 | |
| Power train | 12 | |
| Steering | 12 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2008 Volkswagen Passat 4-DR. w/SAB | – | – | – | 4★ |
| 2008 Volkswagen Passat Wagon w/SAB | – | – | – | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2008 Volkswagen Passat version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Passat 2.0 L Manual 6-spd | 20 | 29 | 24 | $3,400 |
| Passat 2.0 L Automatic (S6) | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| Passat 3.6 L Automatic (S6) | 17 | 26 | 20 | $4,100 |
| Passat 4motion 3.6 L Automatic (S6) | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
| Passat Wagon 2.0 L Manual 6-spd | 20 | 29 | 24 | $3,400 |
| Passat Wagon 2.0 L Automatic (S6) | 20 | 28 | 23 | $3,550 |
| Passat Wagon 4motion 3.6 L Automatic (S6) | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.