Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Volkswagen Passat
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Volkswagen Passat has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 168 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V148000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V509000 Fuel Pump Failure Cause Engine Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V078000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V235000 ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SOFTWARE UPDATE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 44 complaints
- Engine 43 complaints
- Air Bags 32 complaints
- Electrical System 21 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 19 complaints
- Unknown or Other 13 complaints
Of the 168 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 168 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Volkswagen Passat shows a moderate level of reliability with 168 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns, notably involving airbags and the fuel system. With complaints primarily concerning the fuel/propulsion system, engine, and air bags, there is enough data to suggest moderate issues. However, the evidence is not overwhelming for consistent major failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel/propulsion system | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| engine | 90,000–130,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | common |
| air bags | Unknown | $400–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake system inspection
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Timing belt inspection
- Coolant system check
- Battery health check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light on
- Fuel smell inside or outside
- Stalling or hard starting
- Unusual engine noise
- Airbag warning light
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.