2008 Volkswagen Passat vs 2009 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Volkswagen Passat | 2009 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 168 | 146 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 621 | 749 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 22–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,500 mi | 79,913 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Passat | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 43 | 60 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 44 | 46 |
| Air Bags | 32 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 21 | 18 |
| Steering | 12 | 20 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 7 |
| Power Train | 12 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 21 | 27 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 12 |
| Won’t start | 7 | 6 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 9 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 5 |
2008 Volkswagen Passat
2009 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.