Problems · by component
2008 Volkswagen Passat engine problems
44 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Volkswagen Passat cite engine, 25% of all 174 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
44
25% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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?”
“WHEN I TURN ON AC THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE BATTER ICON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. AFTER I TURNED OFF AC AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR AFTER A FEW TRYS IT STARTED BACK UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF.. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE”
“DURING AN UNRELATED SERVICE, MY ENGINE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAS EXTENSIVE WEAR AND WILL FAIL AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE ENGINE ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH THE LOW MILES ON THE VEHICLE. UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF OTHER VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE BY VOLKSWAGEN TO REMEDY THE MANY VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM.”
“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”
“MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESS WAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A CITY STREET AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AUTO SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED GANLEY WESTSIDE VOLKSWAGEN AT (440) 734-2000 (LOCATED AT 25580 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Showing 6 of 44 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.