2008 Volkswagen Passat Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 5%of 168 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2008 Volkswagen Passat, 5% of the 168 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My vehicle (2008 vw Passat) started having acceleration issues and would only go up to 40 MPH as well as also having a rough start up when turning my car on. I proceeded to take it into the dealership to have this looked at and at first they claimed that I needed a new high pressure fuel pump which would cost me around $700. Later in the day, I received a call back telling me that my intake camshaft was broken and that they could not make the repair without replacing this as well. Now my total was up to $2000. …”
NHTSA complaint #10944383, filed 2017-01, 90,500 miles“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!”
NHTSA complaint #10289880, filed 2009-10, 10,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10254178, filed 2009-01, 11,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10346933, filed 2010-08, 18,850 miles“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).”
NHTSA complaint #10283560, filed 2009-09, 56,000 milesRelated recalls
- 08V235000May 28, 2008Volkswagen 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…Covers: Volkswagen Passat 2008, Tiguan 2009
Related service bulletins
- 10241177Aug 21, 2023Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- 10239653Jul 10, 2023Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10238307Jun 20, 2023Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards, updated to include model year 2024.
- 10238306Jun 20, 2023Engine Oil Consumption Measurement Instruction and Work sheet.
- 10238300Jun 15, 2023Gasoline quality information in regards to gasoline engine performance.
- 10238297Jun 15, 2023Diagnostic Aid for engine misfire.
- 10237427May 30, 2023Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10236610May 22, 2023Introduce new engine coolant compatible with all models and all model years.
- 10235138Apr 24, 2023Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10233279Mar 21, 2023Volkswagen Engine Oil Quality Standards
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 6% |
| 2020 | 1 | 6% |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% |
| 2014 | 4 | 1% |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 9 | 5% |
| 2007 | 32 | 12% |
| 2006 | 66 | 11% |
| 2005 | 50 | 34% |
| 2004 | 59 | 21% |
| 2003 | 131 | 21% |
| 2002 | 135 | 21% |
| 2001 | 92 | 21% |
| 2000 | 94 | 19% |
| 1999 | 86 | 13% |
| 1998 | 39 | 12% |
| 1997 | 7 | 19% |
| 1996 | 5 | 13% |
| 1995 | 19 | 20% |
| 1994 | 9 | 36% |
| 1993 | 18 | 26% |
| 1992 | 17 | 44% |
| 1991 | 6 | 25% |
| 1990 | 12 | 35% |
Other parts of the 2008 Volkswagen Passat
63 complaintsEngine
43 complaintsAir bags
32 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Volkswagen Passat
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology