2008 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

AFTER GOING GROCERY SHOPPING, AFTER LEAVING THE PARKING LOT, I ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 2500 RPMS AND THEN ENGINE CUT OUT AND STALLED. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND EVERY TIME I TRY TO PUT IT INTO GEAR, THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND STALLED. I MANAGED TO GET IT INTO A BANK PARKING LOT NEXT DOOR. FORTUNATELY, ALL THIS HAPPENED SUNDAY NIGHT, WHICH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH THE FOLLOWING CODES: 001056 - CATALYST SYSTEM; BANK 1: EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD P0420 - 002 - LOWER LIMIT EXCEEDED - INTERMITTENT 012555 - LOW PRESSURE FUEL REGULATION: FUEL PRESSURE OUTSIDE SPECIFICATION P310B - 008 - IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL - MIL ON 004767 - LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATION: PRESSURE TOO HIGH P129F - 001 - UPPER LIMIT EXCEEDED - MIL ON 000135 - FUEL RAIL/SYSTEM PRESSURE: TOO LOW P0087 - 002 - LOWER LIMIT EXCEEDED - INTERMITTENT 000135 - FUEL RAIL/SYSTEM PRESSURE: TOO LOW P0087 - 008 - IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL THIS IS ON A 2008 VW PASSAT 2.0T (WITH THE BPY ENGINE). THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) SENSOR. APPARENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN AN UPDATE TO THE SENSOR, WHICH MY CAR LACKED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH AND HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND WHENEVER HE SHIFTED GEARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MANUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE 2008 VW PASSAT SELF-ADJUST THEIR SPEED ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT THE DRIVER TOUCHING THEM. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010, I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AND DROVE INTO AN AREA UNDER A TORNADO WARNING. IT WAS RAINING IN TORRENTS AND TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON REGULAR SPEED, AND WHILE STOPPED THEY SUDDENLY CHANGED TO INTERMITTENT WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE CONTROLS. THIS HAPPENED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES! I WAS TRYING TO WATCH THE SKY FOR SWIRLING CLOUDS AND WATCH THE ROAD FOR FLASH FLOODING AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS KEPT SLOWING TO INTERMITTENT! I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AT 7:30 A.M. MONDAY MORNING AND LEARNED THAT THE WIPERS ARE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE ENGINEERS AND LEADERS AT VW COULD POSSIBLY THINK THAT THE CAR HAS A BETTER SENSE OF THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY NEEDS THAN THE DRIVER! THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE AND OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD! THE DRIVER KNOWS THE CONDITIONS THEY ARE IN! HOW COULD THE CAR SELF-ADJUST SOMETHING AS CRITICAL AS THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY? PLEASE FORCE VW TO CHANGE THIS "FEATURE" IN THE PASSAT AND ANY OTHER MODELS WHERE IT IS PRESENT. *TR

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT CAUSES ENGINE TO WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING INSTEAD OF IDLE WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE AND GEAR IN DRIVE. RPMS BETWEEN 8-10K. APPEARS TO HAPPEN IN HOT AFTERNOONS WHEN AIR IS ON FULL BLAST. WHEN BRAKE IS ENGAGED THERE IS ENORMOUS PRESSURE BACK ON THE FOOT AND THE CAR WANTS TO GO. FIRST TAKEN IN TO VW DEALER AND THEY HAD ANOTHER CAR OF SAME YEAR AND MODEL AND COLOR WHICH WAS DOING SAME THING. THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE CABLE. AS I PULLED AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED BACK AND LET THE SERVICE GUY KNOW THE FIX DIDN'T WORK. ON 8/1 I TOOK IT BACK AND THE PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING WHILE I WAS IN THEIR GARAGE. THE OTHER CAR WAS BACK AGAIN WITH SAME ISSUE. VW HAD A TECH BULLETIN ABOUT A LOOSE GROUND WIRE. THE SERVICE TECH PUT A JUMPER CABLE SOMEWHERE AND TOLD ME TO TRY THAT OUT. WITHIN A MILE I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING GARAGE AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT LUNCH AND WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 15-30 MINUTES OF OWNER HAVING TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE THE GARAGE ATTENDANT REPORTED SMELLING SMOKE. ACCORDING TO AN EYEWITNESS, THERE WAS SMOLDERING SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO OF DISCOVERING THE SMOKE AN EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENTIRE FRONT HOOD COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AT 42K MILES IN MAY 2010. THE VW DEALERSHIP HAD CHANGED OIL AT THE TIME OF MY PURCHASE. ALMOST EXACTLY 4 WEEKS LATER I CHECKED MY OIL AND NONE REGISTERED ON THE DIPSTICK. IT REQUIRED AN ENTIRE QUART OF OIL TO BRING BACK TO ACCEPTABLE FILL LEVEL. CALLING VW THEY STATED THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH OIL TO EVEN CONSTITUTE AN OIL TEST. THEY STATED THAT THIS FSI MOTOR CAN BURN UP TO 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1200 MILES AND WILL STILL BE WITHIN THE MFR ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. THIS MEANS IN THIS 2.0T 4 CYL MOTOR IT CAN BURN OVER 6 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, WHICH IS MORE THAN IT CAN HOLD. A QUART OF FULL SYNTHETIC OIL CASTROL BRAND AS REQUIRED IS OVER $9, THIS IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE AND INFURIATING. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER VW BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE AND RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE NOT TO AS WELL. VW OFFERED NO OPTIONS REPAIRS OR FIXES AND I FOOT THE EXPENSIVE OIL HABIT. WHO BUYS A CAR THAT KNOWINGLY BURNS AND BREAKS DOWN FULL SYNTHETIC OIL? *TR

OWNED THE CAR FOR 9 MONTHS, AND HAVE HAD DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS FOR 8 MONTHS INCLUDING A COMPLETE FAILURE THAT REQUIRED TOWING. THE PRIMARY PROBLEMS ARE: 1. STEERING COLUMN WARNING LIGHT ON - THE COMFORT MODULE AND STEERING ELECTRONICS WERE REPLACED 7 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR 2. ONGOING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. THE CAR DIED ON 6/15/10, WAS TOWED, AND THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED. CURRENT: CAR DID NOT START ON FIRST ATTEMPT ON 7/4/10, WHICH IS LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER! 3. CAR BURNS EXCESSIVE OIL. NEED TO ADD OIL BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. IN APRIL 2010, OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER ADDED 2 QTS OF OIL AND TANK WAS STILL NOT FULL. STILL HAD 1,000 MILES TO GO BEFORE NEXT SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. HAVE HAD OIL ADDED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. 4. CAR IS SLUGGISH, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILLS. NO RESPONSE OR RESOLUTION FOR THIS, BUT THE CAR HAS A TURBO ENGINE NOTE: THIS CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY VW DEALERSHIPS. *TR

I HAVE A 08 PASSAT AND FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW I HAVE HAD A 'STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE' PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE WROTE THIS LETTER A LONG TIME AGO BUT WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING MY WARRANTY WAS ALREADY EXPIRED AND IT WAS NOT AS SEVERE, NOW IT CAN TAKE ME ANYWHERE FROM 5-15 MINUTES JUST TO START MY CAR AND WHEN I DO GET IT STARTED MY CAR SOMETIMES COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF UPSET VW OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU GOOGLE 'PASSAT STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE PROBLEM' YOU WILL SEE MULTIPLE WEBSITES AND FORUMS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL? *TR

VW PASSAT 2008, LOW OIL LIGHT COME ON BEFORE SCHEDULE OIL CHANGE FREQUENTLY. THE CAR BURNS OIL BECAUSE OF THE TURBO ENGINE. AND THE EMISSION SYSTEM HAS A VALVE FAILURE TOO. *TR

I HAVE 2008 VW PASSAT WITH 26K MILES ON IT. THE FOLLOWER CAM AT HPFP GO BAD AND DAMAGED MY ENGINE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON VW 2.0T FSI ENGINES PLEASE MAKE VW/AUDI TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT OR EXTEND WARRANTY. *TR

2008 VW PASSAT WAGON. THIS CAR WHILE PARKED, RUNNING AND OCCUPIED, IN A GARAGE HAD A FIRE WHOSE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS THE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE ACCIDENTAL MECHANICAL. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $200,000 ALSO ONE OCCUPANT OF THE HOME HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY EMS FOR SMOKE INHALATION. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR STATED SHE TO LEAVE. SHE PLACED THE 5 YEAR OLD IN THE CHILD SEAT OF THE VOLKSWAGEN AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR. SHE STARTED THE CAR AND SMELT SMOKE. IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED THE HUSBAND. THE HUSBAND SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE SEAT HEATER, HAD HER TURN OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND RESTART THE CAR. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR SMELT AND OBSERVED SMOKE AGAIN, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT OUT AND SAW FLAME UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE REMOVED THE DAUGHTER FROM THE CAR AND TOOK HER OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY. SHE THEN WENT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND REMOVED A GAS CAN FROM THE AREA OF THE CAR/SNOWBLOWER. SHE AGAIN RE-ENTERED THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE OTHER GARAGE DOOR (BOTH NOW OPEN) OBSERVED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE CAR. SHE EXITED THE GARAGE THROUGH AN INTERIOR DOOR, CLOSING IT BEHIND HER. SHE THEN WENT UP INTO THE HOUSE REMOVED TWO DOGS TO A CRATE ON THE DECK. IN THE MEANTIME A NEIGHBOR HAD GRABBED THE LITTLE GIRL. WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING THE MOTHER PLACED THREE FRANTIC 911 CALLS. THE OWNER OF THE CAR STATED HE HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATED SEATS IN THE PAST AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE. THE LAST TIME IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. THE DERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED ITS FIRE INVESTIGATION, AND THE CAR IS BEING TURNED OVER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (STATE FARM AND LIBERTY MUTUAL). *TR

2008 VW PASSAT. PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM MCDONALD AUTOMOTIVE LITTLETON CO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING 2009 BRAKES / ROTORS. 2010 SUNROOF / WOULD NOT CLOSE POURING RAIN. NEEDS NEW MOTOR 2011 LEAKING OIL VACUUM PUMP 2013. 87000 MILES TURBO CUT OFF VALVE 2013 FRONT ROTORS 2013 ENGINE REVVING UP 2013 HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. *TR

FUEL GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY. PRIOR TO FIRST SERVICE CALL, GAUGE READ NEARLY EMPTY WHEN TANK WAS FULL; AFTER REPLACING "SENDING SENSOR" THE CONDITION REVERSED AND NOW READS FULL WHEN TANK IS NEARLY EMPTY. *TR

MY '08 PASSAT WITH A 2.0 T ENGINE BURNS THROUGH A GREAT DEAL OF OIL. ABOUT 1/2 LITER PER 1,000 MILES. IT IS A NEW CAR (NOW 28,000 MILES) AND SHOULD NOT BURN OIL! VW STATES THIS OIL CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL, BUT I DISAGREE. I LEASE THE CAR AND HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALER. I MUST FREQUENTLY ADD OIL TO THE ENGINE AND HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO BE SERVICED FOR THIS OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES. FROM RESEARCH DONE ONLINE, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO ME. PLEASE HELP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE MALFUNCTION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

EXHAUST PIPE BROKE AT THE FLEX PIPE. HOT EXHAUST GAS BURNED THROUGH THE WIRING OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK. LOST STEERING AND THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. EXHAUST PIPE, STEERING RACK & STEERING WIRING WAS REPLACED (WIRING NEEDS A HEAT-SHIELD TO PROTECT THE WIRING). *TR

2008 VW PASSAT. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 29K MILES, AFTER FREQUENT STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, DIFFICULTIES CRANKING AND FREQUENT DISPLAY OF FUEL CAP LIGHT. *TR

PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AT HIGHWAY SPEED ( 1 2 ) CONSIDERED BUYING ONE OF THESE, BUT CONCERNED AFTER READING THIS FORUM POST FROM VW VORTEX. THE PASSAT HAS A ELECTRONIC/COMPUTER CONTROL PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. IT ENGAGED AT 65MPH! *TR

1. SLOWING TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. 15 FEET BEHIND ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED, AND WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE REVVED TO TOP SPEED AND THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR. I BUMPED THE STOPPED CAR, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. 2. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR. POLICE WERE CALLED AND CAME OUT UNTIL TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE CAR (9 MONTHS OLD AND 11000 MILES) WAS PURCHASED. 3. ONE WEEK LATER, THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR THE WEEK. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR SO THEY OFFERED TO TRADE IT IN ON A NEW ONE AND THAT IT HAD DEPRECIATED 50% IN 9 MONTHS. VW CORPORATE OFFERED A $1000 REBATE ON A NEW CAR. 4. I CALLED VW CORPORATE TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE DEALER WAS "EMPOWERED" TO MADE DECISIONS. THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT AXLE AT 2,200 MILES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING SEVERELY. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 50 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAS TO BE WARMED UP FOR AT LEAST TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL SHIFT. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY EMITTING HOT AIR. THE RADIO ALSO DOES NOT WORK ON OCCASION. THE CONTACT HAS ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR EIGHT MONTHS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 5/27/09 *CN UPDATED 05/29/09. *JB

SEVERE DISTORTION IN WINDSHIELD. VW REPLACED ORIGINAL WITH TWO MORE. THAN SAFELIGHT REPLACED TWO MORE WINDSHIELDS AND LAST WAS REPLACED BE BLUE RIDGE AUTO GLASS. DRIVING WITH THIS DISTORTION CAUSES HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE EXITED THE FREEWAY AND THE FAILURE RECURRED AT THE VERY NEXT STOP. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT RECUR ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V235000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ON JUNE 23, 2008. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

DRIVING HOME WITH IN FREEZING WEATHER AFTER A SNOW STORM, EVERY FEW MINUTES CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD WITH WASHER FLUID, WHERE AFTER STOPPING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE WIPERS REFUSED TO FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING (ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE ROAD SALT). HAD TO CAREFULLY PULL OVER, CHECKED THE FUSES, AND CLEARED ALL ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD COWL AND WIPER BLADE ARMS, THEN IT WORKED. NONE OF MY OLDER CARS HAD THIS ISSUE. *TR

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, MY 2008 PASSAT HAS SLID INTO NEUTRAL GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. THE DISPLAY STILL INDICATES THE CAR IS IN 'DRIVE', BUT THE ENGINE RACES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. AFTER MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR, AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE, THE CAR WILL AGAIN GO INTO DRIVE GEAR. *TR