VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2009: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

General Information

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 08V577000

Make Model Year
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2009
Date Owners Notified Date Received by ODI Date Added to Database
2008-12-05 2008-11-03 2008-11-03

Production Dates: 2008-08-15 - 2008-09-23

Manufacturers Involved: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Manufacturer Campaign Number: 48J1/P3

Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 130

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

Summary

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

Notes

VW RECALL NO. 48J1/P3.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.