Home › Volkswagen › Passat › 2009

2009 Volkswagen Passat Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the engine (44% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles). It is 15th of 23 Passat model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.

Complaints146
Recalls4
Crashes reported5
Fires reported12
Injuries reported2

Most common 2009 Volkswagen Passat problems

  1. Engine

    64 complaints · 44%

    Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.

    My vehicle's check engine light came on and stayed on for several days, and the engine started running abnormally, so I took it to a mechanic. The mechanic discovered that the intake manifold needed to be replaced, in addition to other work on the engine and fuel system. I found out that Volkswagen had issued an…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 78,000 miles
    My car has 76000 miles and is otherwise in excellent condition. I just got a check engine light, and after replacing the pcv valve, and I was told by my mechanic that the rear main engine seal is leaking. The car is out of warranty at this point and now I have to spend almost $1000 in repairs. This is something that…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 76,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    53 complaints · 36%

    Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.

    I bought this car used and from the moment I took it of the lot 13 months ago I have been having problems. The care will stop, shake. I have already had it check 3 times and repaired twice. Fuel pump has been changed twice and I am having the same problem again. This is a huge safety hazard if I am on the expressway…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 90,000 miles
    I am writing to your organization because of the injustice I experienced with a recall at Volkswagen. A couple of years ago I had some issues with my Passat and took it to the dealer. Dealers doing what dealer's gauged me for whatever they could. This year, however, Volkswagen came out with recall for the part which I…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 92,000 miles
  3. Steering

    20 complaints · 14%

    Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles.

    The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel became hard to turn. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who stated that the steering gear control unit needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 59,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 30 MPH, the power steering failed and the vehicle stalled without warning. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a crash. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. There were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 62,000 miles
  4. Electrical

    18 complaints · 12%

    Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.

    The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle's engine stalled without warning. The failure was experienced several times and the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure. The dealer performed a diagnostic which located the failure…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 62,800 miles
    On sunday morning about 11:20 am as I turned my car on it immediately started to rattle followed by black smoke coming from under my hood. I immediately turned my car off, unlocked my hood and unbuckled my 3 boys out of their car seats and ran out of the car. As I made sure they were at a safe distance away from the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 60,000 miles
  5. Air bags

    12 complaints · 8%

    Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles.

    Recall update: currently, intake manifold needs to be repaired-engine light on-cost $1400.00. Took car to dealership for fuel pump was told it was replaced but would not give evidence that it was. Side frontal air bag never replaced-was told by dealership did not need it.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2020, at 75,000 miles
    The steering wheel controls stopped working one day, along with the horn. Several days later, the airbag warning light came on, and the display shows "airbag fault" every time I start the car. I purchased an extended warranty for this car, and vw refuses to cover the repair. My local dealership diagnosed the problem…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 90,000 miles
  6. Transmission

    10 complaints · 7%

    Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.

    Initial failure occurred while accelerating onto main thoroughfare. Vehicle lost all engine power and stalled out. Vehicle was send to vw dealer for repair where some warranty repairs were made as well as preventative maintenance that was advised. The car was returned as "repaired" and after driving home experienced…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 50,800 miles
    2009 vw Passat 2.0t. Oil leaking from rear main seal. Rear main seal failed at about 70,000 miles, not covered under warranty. First indication was smell of burning. Shortly before this failed, the pcv valve failed - also out of warranty. Warranty is for 5 years/60,000 miles.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 73,580 miles
  7. Other or unspecified

    9 complaints · 6%

    Half of these problems showed up before 94,500 miles.

    To replace the fuel pump control module. Nothing has happened yet; however, when the ignition is turned off, something keeps spinning. Erie it occurs sporadically. Right now the car is at the dealership and has been there for a couple of weeks. They are supposed to be repairing the main engine seal leak. To do this…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 82,000 miles
    This vehicle had catastrophic engine failure due to a faulty cam chain tensioner. This is been known by Volkswagen as a service bulletin was issued in 2011. I was driving on a city st. And had to push the vehicle to the side. The fuel pump and sending units have also failed in this vehicle along with the turbocharger…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 107,000 miles
  8. Stability control

    7 complaints · 5%

    Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.

    There is an interruption in electrical power to the fuel pump control module. This resulting in the fuel pump running continuously, resulting in a drained battery and cause a loss of motive power while the vehicle is in motion, this happened today on highway and almost I was going to have a fatal accident. Us. Vw and…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 50,000 miles
    The steering wheel lock was defective on my 2009 Volkswagen Passat. The vehicle had less than 35000 miles on it. This is a safety issue. The steering wheel locked up on several different occasions while I was trying to take the vehicle out of the garage. The steering wheel lock also caused the vehicle to stall. In…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 34,851 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2009 Volkswagen Passat recalls

  1. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 18V148000 · March 6, 2018 · 363,713 vehicles

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 16, 2018. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69q9. Note: this recall partially supersedes recall 16v-078.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 volkswagen cc, 2010-2014 golf, 2010-2014 eos, 2007-2010 passat sedan and wagon, and 2012-2014 passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

  2. Fuel system: fuel pump

    NHTSA 17V509000 · August 16, 2017 · 280,915 vehicles

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began june 26, 2018. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20ae.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 volkswagen cc, 2006-2010 passat and passat wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.

  3. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 16V078000 · February 10, 2016 · 659,493 vehicles

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on april 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 golf, 2007-2010 passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 passat sedan and eos, 2009-2014 cc, 2009-2012 audi q5, 2010-2012 s5 cabriolet and 2010-2012 audi a5 cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

  4. Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)

    NHTSA 08V577000 · November 3, 2008 · 130 vehicles

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: 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.

    Full defect 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.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

NHTSA defect investigations

Questions about the 2009 Volkswagen Passat

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (64 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); fuel system (53 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); steering (20 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Passat have?
4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 6, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2009 a bad year for the Volkswagen Passat?
It is 15th of 23 Passat model years by number of complaints, with 146 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Volkswagen Passat years

Volkswagen Passat problems by year