How many open recalls are there on the 2005 Volkswagen Passat?

There are 1 active NHTSA recall campaign on file for the 2005 Volkswagen Passat.

Are recall repairs free?

Yes. Federal law requires manufacturers to remedy any safety recall at no cost to the owner, regardless of warranty status, mileage, or whether you are the original owner. The dealership performs the work and bills the manufacturer. You should never pay out of pocket for a recall repair.

How do I check if a specific recall has been performed on my Volkswagen?

Run your VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls or use the VIN decoder at the top of this page. The federal system shows the completion status of every safety recall on your specific vehicle, including campaigns the original owner may have addressed before you bought it.

How long do I have to claim a recall repair?

Most safety recalls have no expiration date — manufacturers must honor them indefinitely. A small subset of voluntary service campaigns and "customer satisfaction programs" do expire, typically 7-10 years from issue date. The campaigns listed on this page are full safety recalls; if your vehicle is covered, you can claim the repair at any time.

What if my dealer says they can't fix the recall?

Two situations: (1) parts shortage — manufacturers sometimes issue recalls before remedy parts are available; you may have to wait, but the dealer should give you a written acknowledgment that your vehicle is on the list. (2) Dealer error — if the dealer claims your VIN doesn't qualify when NHTSA's system says it does, escalate to NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline (1-888-327-4236). NHTSA can compel the manufacturer to honor the campaign.

When was the most recent recall on this vehicle issued?

The most recent recall in our records was campaign 08V156000, dated 2008-04-07.

2005 Volkswagen Passat recalls

severe NHTSA 08V156000 07/04/2008

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999

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.

Fix: 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.