The defect
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL LINE (1.8T ENGINES ONLY) OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE.
The risk
A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. IN ADDITION, A FUEL LEAK FROM A FUEL LINE OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS AND FLASH ALL 1.8T ENGINES WITH A PRECAUTIONARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT AND ADJUST THE FUEL LINE ROUTING ON 1.8T VEHICLES AND THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Passat | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Passat | 1999 | 664 | 5 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2000 | 507 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2001 | 430 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2002 | 636 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2003 | 628 | 6 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2004 | 279 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2005 | 148 | 3 |
Other fuel system, gasoline recalls in 2008
33 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the fuel system, gasoline; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 08V694000 29 Dec 2008 | HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO |
| 08V625000 26 Nov 2008 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 08V617000 24 Nov 2008 | NISSAN DIESEL AMERICA, INC |
| 08V585000 7 Nov 2008 | BENTLEY MOTORS LTD |
| 08V563000 23 Oct 2008 | DUCATI NORTH AMERICA |
| 08V542000 15 Oct 2008 | SALEEN, INC. |
| 08V535000 14 Oct 2008 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 08V522000 7 Oct 2008 | PIAGGIO USA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008