MAY 2008 -- Volkswagen is recalling 4,000 MY 2008 Passat sedans and wagons and MY 2009 Tiguan passenger vehicles equipped with 2.0T FSI ULEV II engines. These vehicles have an engine control module (ECM) containing software that may not properly control engine idle with the air conditioning turned on. In rare cases, the ECM may unexpectedly increase engine RPM. An engine surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine rpm may surprise the vehicle operator and can result in a crash without warning. Dealers will inspect and update the ECM software. The recall is expected to begin during June 2008.  08V235

APRIL 2008 -- 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. If this occurs, the heat shield may contact the exhaust system, which can result in a vehicle fire. 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. 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. Dealers will install additional underbody heat shields on vehicles with automatic transmissions to cover the possibly damaged areas and flash all 1.8T vehicles 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 is expected to begin on or about May 30, 2008. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. This recall was the subject of a Preliminary Evaluation, PE08-008, and an Engineering Analysis, EA07-014, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 08V156

APRIL 2008 -- Volkswagen is recalling 76,900 MY 2004-2005 New Beetle and MY 2003-2005 New Beetle convertibles equipped with an advanced (dual-stage) air bag system. This system may have air bag frontal crash sensors that contain a solder joint on the circuit board that may crack under certain high temperature conditions. If this occurs, the air bag indicator light will illuminate and the fallback algorithm will ensure that the front air bags always deploy in a frontal crash in which the vehicle's deceleration is high enough to activate the frontal air bags. In low-severity frontal impacts, the front air bags may deploy more forcefully than designed, increasing the possibility of injury to out-of-position front seat occupants. Dealers will inspect each vehicle to determine that the specific defect crash sensor is present on one or both sides of the vehicle. All of the defect crash sensors will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before July 31, 2008. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. This recall was the subject of a Preliminary Evaluation, PE08-012, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 08V-178

JANUARY 2008 -- Volkswagen is recalling 510 MY 2008 New Beetle Special Edition Triple White Sedan vehicles. An incorrect adhesive may have been used to attach the roof spoiler to the rear glass of the vehicle. If the incorrect adhesive was used, the spoiler could become loose or fall from the vehicle without warning, even though initially the spoiler may feel secure. If this happens, the spoiler could cause injury by striking persons outside the vehicle or could become an obstacle to other drivers, possibly resulting in a crash. Dealers will replace the roof spoiler on these vehicles. The recall is expected to begin during February 2008. 08V-036

JANUARY 2008 -- Volkswagen is recalling 96 MY 2008 Touareg vehicles. A fuel supply line was changed during production which could lead to insufficient sealing of the fuel supply line connector. This condition could lead to a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel supply line, if necessary. The recall is expected to begin during February 2008. 08V-035

SEPTEMBER 2007 -- VW is recalling 340,000 MY 2005-2008 Jetta and MY 2006-2008 Rabbit, GTI, and R32 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Some vehicles may not have had a required cap installed which disables the headlight horizontal aim and some vehicles may contain a cap that disables the vertical aiming screw. Noncompliance can inhibit proper headlamp aim adjustment for roadway illumination. Improperly aimed headlamps could cause reduced road visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect for the presence of a cap in the socket of the low beam horizontal aiming screw and install one if missing, and inspect for the presence of a cap in the socket of the vertical aiming screw and if present, the cap will be removed. The recall is expected to begin on or about October 31, 2007. This recall was the subject of an investigation, OA-108-070412I, conducted by the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. 07V442

August 2007 -- VW is recalling 34,358 MY 2003 Passat and Audi A4 and A6 vehicles equipped with 1.8L turbo, 2.8L V6, or 3.0L engines. A change in the electrical motor components in the fuel pump can lead to an inoperative fuel pump and, ultimately, stoppage of fuel supply to the engine causing it to stall. If fuel flow to the engine is interrupted, the vehicle could stall without warning and thus present a potential risk of crash. Dealers will install new fuel pumps. The recall is expected to begin during September 20007. This recall is a supplement to a previous campaign (please see 06V017). 07V-375

NEWS:    2008 Volkswagen Passat & 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:  

• VW Passat  

• Volkswagen Tiguan

NEWS:  Volkswagen Recalls 410,000 Passats

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — April 7, 2008 -- Volkswagen Group of America Inc. says it's voluntarily recalling about 410,000 gasoline powered Passats because of potential problems including damage to a heat shield.

Volkswagen announced the recall Friday, saying no accidents or injuries have been recorded related to the 1999 to 2005 model year Passats.

Some Passats with an automatic transmission may have an underbody heat shield that could be subject to damage. And some with 1.8T engines have a fuel line that requires potential replacement.

Also, some all-wheel-drive Passats will be inspected for potential fuel tank ventilation valve damage.

Volkswagen plans to notify owners of the recall, but says drivers who smell fuel should take the vehicle to a Volkswagen dealer or authorized repair shop

NEWS:   Volkswagen Recalls 2008 Triple White New Beetle

WASHINGTON, D.C.(edmunds.com) -- Feb. 19, 2008— Volkswagen is recalling 510 units of the 2008 Special Edition Triple White New Beetle because an incorrect adhesive may have been used to attach the roof spoiler to the rear glass.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall is expected to begin around February 29. "The spoiler could become loose or fall from the vehicle without warning, even though initially the spoiler may feel secure," said the federal agency in its recall summary of the vehicle. "If this happens, the spoiler could cause injury by striking persons outside the vehicle or could become an obstacle to other drivers, possibly resulting in a crash."

When the Triple White was announced in March 2007, VW was anticipating a limited production of just 3,000 vehicles.