The defect
VW IS RECALLING 130 MY 2009 PASSAT, PASSAT WAGON, AND PASSAT CC VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING GEAR CONTROL UNIT THAT CAN MALFUNCTION DUE TO A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS, THE DRIVER'S STEERING INPUT IS NOT PROPERLY PROCESSED BY THE SYSTEM AND THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RESPOND AS THE DRIVER INTENDS. THIS DEFECT CAN ONLY OCCUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER VEHICLE START-UP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 5 MPH.
The risk
DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO OVERCOME THE SYSTEM DURING MALFUNCTION WILL CAUSE (1) VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL; (2) THE STEERING SYSTEM MOTOR TO TURN OFF; (3) THE RED STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE; AND (4) AUDIBLE WARNINGS TO CHIME. A MALFUNCTIONING STEERING SYSTEM COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Passat | 2009 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
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 | 2009 | 146 | 4 |
Other steering recalls in 2008
62 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the steering; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 08V682000 19 Dec 2008 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 08V610000 24 Nov 2008 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 08V616000 24 Nov 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V578000 3 Nov 2008 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 08V571000 29 Oct 2008 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 08V566000 28 Oct 2008 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 08V575000 24 Oct 2008 | TADANO AMERICA CORPORATION |
| 08V565000 24 Oct 2008 | FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008