2009 Volkswagen Passat Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat.

20082010
Complaints
211
per 10K Sold
189.5
US Sales
11,137
Crashes
9
Fires
16
Injuries
2
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2009 Volkswagen Passat Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#160 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:79,927 mi
Fires:8
#246 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:80,039 mi
Crash-related:2
#320 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:66,275 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat.

Engine Problems
60
complaints
Crashes
Fires
8
Avg Miles
79,927
Fuel System
46
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
80,039
Steering Defects
20
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
66,275
Electrical Faults
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
65,114
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
46,214
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
61,094
Electronic Stability Control
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
60,292
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Volkswagen Passat

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,304,121 vehicles.

18V148000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~363,713 affected

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.

17V509000Fuel Pump
~280,915 affected

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.

16V078000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~659,493 affected

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.

Other Volkswagen Passat Years

2009 Volkswagen Passat — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Volkswagen Passat has 211 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 60 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (60 complaints, avg 79,927 mi); Fuel System (46 complaints, avg 80,039 mi); Steering Defects (20 complaints, avg 66,275 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 72,659 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat include 9 crash-related reports, 16 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,304,121 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Passat reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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