Hear a clunk over potholes? Likely your sway bar links or control arm bushings. Here’s what to check first and whether it’s safe to keep driving.
Why Is My Passat B8 Clunking Over Bumps?
That clunking sound from the front suspension when you hit a bump or pothole is almost always a mechanical issue, not a sensor failure. The Volkswagen Passat B8 uses a McPherson strut front suspension with multiple bushings and ball joints that wear over time. The most common culprits are worn sway bar end links (often the first to go), followed by torn control arm bushings or loose strut mount bolts. Less frequently, a worn ball joint or a damaged stabilizer bar bushing can cause the noise.
