# NHTSA recall 08V156000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 08V156000
- Manufacturer's number: 26E5/R5
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
- Reported: 2008\-04\-07
- Owners notified: 2008\-06\-13
- Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
- Units potentially affected: 412000

## What is wrong

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.


## What can happen

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.


## Notes

VWOA RECALL NO. 26E5/R5.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-327\-4236 \(TTY: 1\-800\-424\-9153\); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/1999/recalls.md). Built 1999\-06\-01 to 2005\-05\-31.
- [2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/2000/recalls.md). Built 1999\-06\-01 to 2005\-05\-31.
- [2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/2001/recalls.md). Built 1999\-06\-01 to 2005\-05\-31.
- [2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/2002/recalls.md). Built 1999\-06\-01 to 2005\-05\-31.
- [2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/2003/recalls.md). Built 1999\-06\-01 to 2005\-05\-31.
- [2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/2004/recalls.md). Built 1999\-06\-01 to 2005\-05\-31.
- [2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/2005/recalls.md). Built 1999\-06\-01 to 2005\-05\-31.

## Investigated as EA07014 and PE08008

This recall followed 2 NHTSA investigations. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- EA07014: Engineering analysis, opened 2007\-09\-28, closed 2008\-07\-07. PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM.
- PE08008: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2008\-01\-31, closed 2008\-05\-30. FUEL TANK LEAK. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V156000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V156000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [Edition26](/bulletins/10242399.md), 2023-09-18, Service bulletin
- [TB001403](/bulletins/10241265.md), 2023-08-28, Service bulletin
- [TT201301a](/bulletins/10238960.md), 2023-07-10, Service bulletin
- [TT201301](/bulletins/10238959.md), 2023-07-10, Service bulletin
- [TT200906](/bulletins/10238954.md), 2023-07-10, Service bulletin
- [TT240801](/bulletins/10238572.md), 2023-07-05, Service bulletin
- [TT230628](/bulletins/10238568.md), 2023-07-05, Service bulletin
- [TT 90\-12\-06](/bulletins/10157623.md), 2019-04-08, Service bulletin
- [TT 90\-12\-06](/bulletins/10156050.md), 2019-04-01, Service bulletin
- [TT 20\-09\-06](/bulletins/10124482.md), 2017-12-05, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V156000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V156000)

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