2008 Volkswagen Passat Electrical Problems

Your car is suddenly surging forward on its own, even when you're trying to brake normally. This has happened at least 6 times since you bought the car, including a dangerous incident where it lurched forward about a foot toward a pedestrian in a crosswalk. While a safety recall was issued for this problem on 2008 Passats, your dealer and VW customer service said it doesn't apply to your specific vehicle, though the issue is clearly occurring.

Your car is subject to a recall related to the fuel pump. However, the manufacturer is saying you need to replace certain parts before they can perform the recall repair on your vehicle.

TAKATA RECALL THE FUEL PUMP WATER PUMP AND POWER LOSS

THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR KNOWN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO THE ISSUE BUT THEY FAIL TO OFFER A SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS KNOWN FAULTY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSE AIRBAG FAULTS.

WHEN I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR IT COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I LOSE POWER STEERING, ACCELERATION, BRAKING & NEED TO ALLOW THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP & THEN STUT IF OFF & TURN IT BACK ON. I HAVE TAKEN MY PASTA IN AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VIN BUT NO AVAILABLE PARTS FOR A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS REPLACED I'M SCARED TO KEEP DRIVING IT BECAUSE AT SOME POINT I WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY TO NOT HIT SOMEONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL POWER CONSUMPTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE CHANGING THE PASSENGER-SIDE LOW-BEAM BULB, I FOUND WIRING TO ALL THREE BULB HOLDERS MISSING INSULATION, HAVING EXPOSED WIRES. EVEN THE INTACT INSULATION IS VERY BRITTLE WHERE THE MINIMAL MOVEMENT OF THE WIRES, NECESSARY TO REPLACE ANY OF THE BULBS, CAUSES MORE INSULATION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE BULB WIRING. THERE IS NO WIRE WRAP, ELECTRICAL TAPE, NOR HEAT SHIELDING ON ANY OF THE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, LIKE WHAT I SEE ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE WIRING LOOM UNDER THE HOOD. WHETHER THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRES IS INITIALLY FROM HEAT BUILD-UP WITHIN THE HOUSING OR ABRASION AGAINST ANY OF SEVERAL STAMPED METAL PIECES INTERNAL TO THE HOUSING, THE RESULT IS UNSAFE. IF EACH LIGHT WERE INDIVIDUALLY FUSED, THEN THE WIRE GAUGE USED WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR A 55-WATT (HALOGEN) BULB. HOWEVER, THE WIRE GAUGE IS NOT ENOUGH TO SURVIVE ANY SHORTING OF THESE WIRES, EITHER DIRECTLY AGAINST EACH OTHER OR THROUGH ANY METAL WITHIN THE HOUSING, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO PASS ENOUGH CURRENT TO BLOW THE COMMON FUSE. LOSING A LIGHT SEEMS PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE RISK OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A QUICK GOOGLE OR YOUTUBE SEARCH REVEALS THIS PERSISTENT ISSUE OVER MANY MODELS AND YEARS OF VW, AUDI, AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS USING SIMILAR HELLA OR VALEO LIGHTING COMPONENTS. I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED THIS ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY 08 TOUAREG, WHICH I COMPLETELY REWIRED, AND NOW ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 08 PASSAT. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT HAVE ANY SUPERCEDED PART FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE NOT FIXED IT. AS OPPOSED TO BUYING A REPLACEMENT HOUSING (~$340 EACH) WITH THE EXACT SAME SPECIFICATIONS, I WILL REWIRE THESE HOUSINGS WITH LARGER WIRE, HEAT-RESISTANT SHIELDING AND LOOM WRAP TAPE, JUST AS I HAD TO DO ON MY TOUAREG. ANY OTHERS NOT SO MECHANICALLY INCLINED ARE TRAPPED WITH A POOR DESIGN THAT HELLA, VALEO, AND VW HAVE NOT RESOLVED.

MANY TIMES THE CAR WON'T START. AFTER MANY TRIES, IT MAY START, BUT I HAVE BEEN LEFT IN VERY COLD AND UNSAFE PLACES WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO START THE CAR. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THESE CARS AND VW SHOULD OFFER AN INEXPENSIVE OR FREE FIX FOR THIS.

ENGINE STALLS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING--JUST A MOMENTARY HICKUP

SUMMARY ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THERE COULD BE AN INTERRUPTION IN ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTING IN A DRAINED BATTERY AND/OR A NO START CONDITION, OR CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. RECALL STATUS RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE REMEDY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE AND RELOCATE IT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. SAFETY RISK DESCRPITION A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 20AE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V509

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN THE CAR WOULD STALL WHICH CAUSED US TO HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AN ENGINE CODE INDICATED A FAULTY PART. THE PART WAS REPLACED, THEN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER A CAR WASH. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AT AN AREA AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SHORT. IN THIS AREA OF THE WIRING HARNESS THERE IS A JUNCTION THAT WE WERE TOLD WAS NOT WATER PROOF OR SEAL AGAINST WATER. THIS SHORT DAMAGED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH MADE THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE.

WE CAME HOME FROM A 30 MILE TRIP AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. WENT IN THE HOUSE AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER HEARD A BIG POP SOUND. I THINK IS WAS A TIRE EXPLODING AND FOUND THE ENTIRE ENGINE ON FIRE. ANOTHER POPPING SOUND OCCURRED AND ANOTHER TIRE BLEW. ON THE DRIVE HOME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS NOTED ON THE DASH BOARD. WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WERE NO ODORS OR INDICATION OF A FIRE. MY KEYS WERE IN THE HOUSE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. OTHER ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE RELATED. THIS PAST WEEK MY CHARGER GOT EXTREMELY HOT TO TOUCH AND I STOPPED USING IT. I ALSO FELT THE CAR TRY TO START AFTER I TURNED IT OFF. *TR

ALL CONTROLS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL WENT DEAD, AND AIRBAG FAILURE INDICATOR CAME ON. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SEEMS NOT TO BE FUNCTIONAL. *TR

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER A CHECK OF THE BATTERY. THE CAR HAD NO POWER WHATSOEVER AND COULD NOT BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL TO TOW. AFTER 4 DAYS IN THE SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAD BURNED OUT AND FRIED THE IGNITION AS WELL. HOW THIS HAPPENED IS A COMPLETE MYSTERY AS THERE HAD NEVER BEEN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR ON THE INTERNET AS I DID SOME RESEARCH AFTER THIS HAPPENED. THE PRICE TO REPAIR THE CAR WAS $895.00,,,WHICH SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ME GIVEN THAT THE CAR ONLY HAS 45K MILES. I TRIED TO GET SOME HELP FROM VW CUSTOMER CARE GIVEN THAT THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW...IT REALLY IS UPSETTING TO HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH FOR A CAR SO LIGHTLY USED...AND COULD IT JUST HAPPEN AGAIN? VW WAS COMPLETELY UNWILLING TO WORK WITH ME IN ANY WAY. *JS

I GOT HOME AFTER WORK SATURDAY NIGHT AROUND 7PM AND PARK MY 2008 VW PASSAT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND TWO MINUTES AFTER SMOKE START COMING OUT THROUGH FRONT GRILLE I OPEN THE HOOD AND IT SMALL LIKE BURNED PLASTIC. I SOW COIL AND WIRE WHERE IS CONNECTED ALL MELTED. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *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