2008 Volkswagen Passat: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Volkswagen Passat: 4 recalls, 168 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
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Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #08V235000 · 2008 · 6,579 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An engine surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine rpm May surprise the vehicle operator and can result in a crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and update the ECM software free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2008.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V078000 · 2016 · 659,493 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #17V509000 · 2017 · 280,915 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V148000 · 2018 · 363,713 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Fuel & propulsion (44): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (14), warning light on (9), electrical failure (7).
- Engine (43): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (13), warning light on (13).
- Airbags (32): the most common themes are deploys unexpectedly / inflator (3).
- Electrical (21): the most common themes are electrical failure (7), stalls / loses power (6).
The 2008 Volkswagen Passat has 168 owner complaints, ranking #14 of 33 Passat model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 238). Complaints peaked in 2018 (38 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 9 years old, at a median of 90,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (262 complaints, 7 recalls), 2009 (146 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 24 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | Premium |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Volkswagen Passat problems?
Owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are fuel & propulsion (44), engine (43), airbags (32).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.0 L, Manual 6-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Volkswagen Passat repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.