2008 Volkswagen Passat Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

32Air Bags complaints

19%Of all 168 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM44 · 26.2%

ENGINE43 · 25.6%

AIR BAGS32 · 19%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 11.9%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE17 · 10.1%

Share of the 168 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Volkswagen Passat overview page.

What owners report

“GOT RECALL NOTICE TOOK TO DEALERSHIP NOV. FIRST SHOWED RECALL CARD SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WOULD GET SOMETHING ELSE IN MAIL AND THEN TO COME…”NHTSA complaint 11045796 — filed 11/13/2017

“TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE…”NHTSA complaint 11003702 — filed 07/07/2017

“TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE…”NHTSA complaint 10995420 — filed 06/15/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Volkswagen Passat have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Volkswagen Passat: 32 of 168 complaints on file (19%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Volkswagen Passat have in total?

168 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 3 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 2 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.