2006 Volkswagen Passat vs 2008 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2006 Volkswagen Passat | 2008 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 576 | 168 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 521 | 621 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 20–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 65,831 mi | 90,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Passat | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 148 | 32 |
| Steering | 112 | 12 |
| Engine | 64 | 43 |
| Electrical System | 79 | 21 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 41 | 44 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 66 | 9 |
| Power Train | 47 | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 64 | 21 |
| Check engine light | 37 | 16 |
| Won’t start | 27 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 25 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 24 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 19 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 17 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 0 |
2006 Volkswagen Passat
2008 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Volkswagen Passat vs Volkswagen Passat years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.