Model year guide

2008 Volkswagen Passat

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Volkswagen Passat is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 109 on record.

2008 Volkswagen Passat — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Volkswagen Passat at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints174
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$5,135

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2008 Volkswagen Passat recalls 4

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V148000 · 06/03/2018

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.

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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This …

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #17V509000 · 16/08/2017

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.

Fix: 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:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V078000 · 10/02/2016

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.

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 a…

Engine And Engine Cooling NHTSA Campaign #08V235000 · 28/05/2008

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2008 Volkswagen Passat common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

2008 Volkswagen Passat MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,467

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2008 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Low
$3,100
Typical price
$5,135
High
$8,000

From 109 comparable 2008 Volkswagen Passat listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Volkswagen Passat costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,335
Depreciation (5 yrs)$3,050
Total$20,385
Per mile$0.27

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($5,135) with the same model 5 model-years older ($2,077), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Volkswagen Passat trims & engines on record

Trims
Komfort · Turbo · Lux · VR6 · VR6 4Motion
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 200 hp · 3.6L 6-cyl 280 hp

2008 Volkswagen Passat vehicles on record

2008 Volkswagen Passat VR6WVWCU73CX8E191439 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C08E072327 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C88P012834 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C68P073986 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat VR6 4MotionWVWRU73C08E145712 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C38E159395 2008 Volkswagen Passat TurboWVWUK73C28P093584 2008 Volkswagen Passat TurboWVWXK73C78E177506 2008 Volkswagen Passat TurboWVWXK73C88E245070 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C98E008125 2008 Volkswagen Passat TurboWVWJK73C88E171431 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C38P001868 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C68E198059 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWLK73C68E077783 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat TurboWVWXK73C58E217310 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C88E215704 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C88P051147 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C68P018700 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C48P053347 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C48E175735 2008 Volkswagen Passat TurboWVWJK73CX8E035429 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C28P049670 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat LuxWVWTK73C78E224838 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2008 Volkswagen Passat KomfortWVWAK73C18P073782

Other Volkswagen Passat model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996

2008 Volkswagen Passat — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Volkswagen Passat have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volkswagen Passat?

Based on 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are fuel/propulsion system, engine, air bags.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Volkswagen Passat get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2008 Volkswagen Passat at about 22 mpg combined (19 city / 28 highway).

How much is a 2008 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Comparable 2008 Volkswagen Passat listings run roughly $3,100–$8,000, typically around $5,135 (from 109 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.