Buy Volkswagen Passat Fender

Quick Summary

Volkswagen Passat fenders-also called front wings, wheel-arch panels, or mudguards-shield the tire opening, keep debris off the body, and give crash-energy a controlled path away from the cabin.¹ They are made of stamped high-strength steel on every U.S.-market Passat generation (B5 through B8), though aftermarket fiberglass and aluminum options exist for weight savings.² Common issues include stone dings, parking-lot bends, and rust at the lip where the plastic wheel-liner traps moisture.³ Front fenders swap across several model-year spans-1998-2000 vs 2001-2005 (B5/B5.5), 2006-2010 (B6), 2012-2015 (NMS/B7 facelift), and 2016-2022 (B8/NMS2)-but each span has its own mounting-tab pattern and head-lamp contour.⁴ Repair jobs are straightforward for DIYers with basic tools: bumper loosened, liner out, eight to ten 10 mm bolts removed, panel lifted off, test-fit, gap-check, then torque to spec.

Fender Basics

Fenders sit over the wheel well to catch mud, water, and gravel that the tire throws up. They keep those messes off the windshield of other cars and off the Passat's own doors.¹ In British English the piece is called a "wing," while older manuals sometimes call it a "mudguard" or "wheel-arch panel."¹ On modern unibody cars, only the front pieces are called fenders; the rear equivalents are welded quarter-panels.¹

Generations & Fitment

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Always cross-check VIN and part number before ordering (example PN 561 821 021 for 2012 left front).⁶

Materials & Construction

Volkswagen moved from mild to high-strength stamped steel to trim weight while holding cost well below aluminum.² The panel is roughly 1 mm thick, e-coat primed, and bolts to the A-pillar, cowl bracket, door jamb, rocker, and bumper cover.⁸ The inner edge is sealed by a polypropylene/EPDM wheel-liner that clips to expanding nuts.⁸

Common Problems

• Lip rust: Dirt rubs paint off the inside lip; moisture then embeds and causes blistering. Technical Bulletin "Front Fender - Corrosion on Wheel Arch" covers 2001-2010 cars and allows warranty repair if perforation is absent.⁷ ¹³
• Mis-alignment: After a parking scrape, gaps may differ side-to-side. A simple loosen-and-shim realignment (keep 3-5 mm hood gap) solves it.⁴
• Cracks/Bends: Cracks weaken crash performance and can slice tires; replacement is safer than filler in most cases.³

Diagnosis & Repair

1. Remove front bumper cover (four Torx screws in wheel well, two under grille).⁷
2. Take out wheel-liner halves.⁸
3. Unbolt fender (usually 10 mm heads-four under hood, three in door jamb, one low on rocker).⁵
4. Lift lightly to clear locating pins; avoid bending the thin steel lip.
5. Test-fit new panel, check hood and door gaps, then torque bolts to 9 Nm.⁴
6. Seal joints with seam sealer, reinstall liner and bumper, road-test for squeaks.

Paint & Finish

The factory e-coat resists rust for up to 12 years but must be top-coated.⁷ Color codes sit on the trunk-well sticker (e.g., "LA7W Pure White"). Blend into the door for metallic shades to hide flop differences. Wet-sand and polish after clear-coat for OEM-level gloss.

Care & Prevention

• Rinse wheel arches after winter salt drives.¹³
• Spray cavity wax inside the lip yearly.
• Replace damaged wheel-liners; a torn liner lets debris sandblast paint.⁸
• Touch-up stone chips promptly with clear paint pen.

Safety & Legal

A bent fender can rub the tire and overheat it; inspection laws in many U.S. states require "no body contact with steering components."³ NHTSA warns that untreated wheel-arch corrosion can propagate to structural rails if road splash reaches them.¹³

Environment & Recycling

Passat fenders are 100 % recyclable steel; local scrap yards pay by weight. Removing plastic liner clips before recycling improves material purity. Scrap value roughly offsets paint-shop disposal fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What's the difference between a fender and a quarter-panel?
A: On most cars, the front panels are bolt-on fenders; the rear wheel-arch metal is welded into the body and called a quarter-panel.¹

Q: Will a 2014 fender fit my 2013 Passat?
A: Yes-2012-2015 NMS cars share the same front wing stamping and bolt pattern.¹¹

Q: Why does the inner lip rust first?
A: The plastic liner traps salty water; movement rubs paint off the thin edge, letting rust start.⁷⁻¹³

Q: Can I use fiberglass aftermarket panels?
A: They weigh less but can crack on light impacts and need special flex-additive primer.²

Q: How long does a DIY swap take?
A: About two hours for a practiced home mechanic with basic sockets and a trim-clip tool.⁵

Q: Do I need to remove the door?
A: No. Just open it fully; one bolt hides behind the hinge area but is reachable with a ¼-inch ratchet.⁵

Q: What torque for the bolts?
A: Volkswagen lists 8-10 Nm for M6 fender screws; hand-tight plus a quarter-turn is close.⁸

Q: My fender is dent-free but paint is faded-can I wrap it?
A: Yes, vinyl wrap bonds well to the e-coat after a light scuff and degrease.

Q: Does insurance cover corrosion?
A: Usually no, but Volkswagen's 12-year perforation warranty may cover confirmed rust-through on eligible vehicles.⁷

Q: Are there safety recalls on Passat fenders?
A: No direct recalls, but a corrosion bulletin exists for 2001-2010 models.¹³

Sources

1. Wikipedia "Fender (vehicle)" (Wikipedia)
2. TheTruthAboutCars on VW switching to high-strength steel (thetruthaboutcars.com)
3. Toyota of Orlando blog on signs a fender needs replacement (Toyota of Orlando)
4. YouTube "How to Replace Front Fenders on Passat B6/B7" (YouTube)
5. YouTube "DIY 2020-2022 Passat Fender Removal" (YouTube)
6. Volkswagen official part listing 561 821 021 (VW Parts Store)
7. NHTSA Technical Bulletin "Front Fender - Corrosion on Wheel Arch" (NHTSA)
8. Volkswagen Workshop Manual wheel-housing liner overview (Workshop Manuals)
9. Wikipedia "Volkswagen Passat (B6)" production data (Wikipedia)
10. Wikipedia "Volkswagen Passat (B5)" model years (Wikipedia)
11. Wikipedia 2010 facelift ("B7") details (Wikipedia)
12. PistonHeads forum on wheel-arch rust contribution offer (PistonHeads)
13. VW Audi Forum discussion on fender rust causes (Vw Audi Forum)
14. NHTSA corrosion repair procedure (wheel-arch dirt, liner removal) (NHTSA)