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2009 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 110.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

111 reports with mileage · 35 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports12 fire reports1 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

2 reports
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190,000 miles · Mar 5, 2021
Seat BeltsService Brakes

2009 VW CC PULLING OUT INTO CROSS TRAFFIC THE ELECTRIC CONTROLLED PARKING BRAKE LOCKS UP. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES NOW. I REFUSE TO SELL THE CAR LIKE IT IS OR LET ANYONE DRIVE IT. IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE SEATBELT. IF IT HAPPENS I UNDO MY SEATBELT AND REINSERT IT TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S N…

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2009 VW CC PULLING OUT INTO CROSS TRAFFIC THE ELECTRIC CONTROLLED PARKING BRAKE LOCKS UP. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES NOW. I REFUSE TO SELL THE CAR LIKE IT IS OR LET ANYONE DRIVE IT. IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE SEATBELT. IF IT HAPPENS I UNDO MY SEATBELT AND REINSERT IT TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT PROGRAMMED TO BE A FAIL SAFE SYSTEM. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11399319

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2016
Power TrainSeat BeltsSuspension

TENSION BELT, SHAKING & JUMPING THE ENGINE FEELS LIKES IT'S GOING TO FALL, THE MANIFORD VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXTENDED THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEMS WARRANTY FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE, FOR CERTAIN 2008 ' 2011 MODEL …

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TENSION BELT, SHAKING & JUMPING THE ENGINE FEELS LIKES IT'S GOING TO FALL, THE MANIFORD VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXTENDED THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEMS WARRANTY FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE, FOR CERTAIN 2008 ' 2011 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN 2.0T ENGINE VEHICLES WITH ENGINE CODES CBFA AND CCTA., "WHICH I WENT TO THE VW SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY WASN'T TRYING TO HONOR ANY OF RECALLS OR THE EXTENDED, THIS WAS THE WORST SERVICE I EVER HAD, "I ALWAYS TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TOYOTA DUE ALL MY SERVICE, AS I WAS SAYING, "I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT'S WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE, THEY STARTED TRYING TO HAVE ME FIX OTHER STUFF ON MY CAR, COSTING $2,400.00, THE MAN WAS FORCING ME TO DO AN ENGINE SERVICE, AND WHEN I SAID I WASN'T READY TO DO THAT, HE BECAME MAD AND STARTED SAYING NOTHING WRONG WITH THE EXTENDED MANIFOLD, EVERYTHING WAS WORKING GOOD ON MY CAR UNTIL I BROUGHT MY CAR IN, EVEN THE MECHANICS MAN WAS SAYING HOW MY CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, THE CRAZY THING, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT THAT WAS MADE WITH THE VW CUSTOMER CARE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, & THEY HAD MY CAR FOR OVER 7 HOURS AND ALL WAS DONE WAS AND REGULAR OIL CHANGE, "WHICH I THOUGHT THEY DID AN TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE SINCE THAT'S WAS WHAT THEY WAS TELLING ME I NEEDED, BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AND I DIDN'T NEED A REGULAR OIL CHANGE, I JUST HAD ONE TWO MONTHS PRIOR, THEY WAS LIKE SAL-VERGERS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF RECALLS AND EXTENDED SERVICES, THEY NOT TRYING TO HONOR OF FOR FILL ANY OBLIGATION OF THE LAW, IT'S LIKE THEIR SALES PEOPLES IS TOLD TO MAKE THE PEOPLE WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY, RECALLS, FOUND SOMETHING WRONG, OR MAKE SOMETHING WRONG OTHER THEN THE CUSTOMER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY, RECALL, FOR MORE INFO CALL [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10874299

Official recalls

4

18V148000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Mar 6, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

17V509000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Aug 16, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

16V078000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 10, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

08V577000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Nov 3, 2008

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE09022 · Transmission Fluid Hose Chafe

Opened May 4, 2009 · Closed Jul 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

ON MAY 4, 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATIONS (ODI) OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE09-022 TO INVESTIGATE AN OWNER COMPLAINT (ODI NO. 10260517) ALLEGING CONTACT BETWEEN THE ATF COOLING LINE AND THE RADIATOR FAN BLADES.THE COMPLAINT INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT RESULTED IN RAPID ATF FLUID LOSS WHICH RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE.THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 50 MILES OF SERVICE. IN ITS RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER FOR PE09-062, VW INDICATED THAT THE INSTALLATION AND DESIGN OF THE ATF COOLING LINES ARE THE SAME FOR BOTH THE REGULAR PASSAT AND PASSAT CC MODELS.VW HAS NOT CHANGED THE DESIGN OR INSTALLATION OF EITHER THE LINES OR RADIATOR FAN SINCE SUBJECT VEHICLE SALES BEGAN.VOLKSWAGEN FURTHER STATED THAT IT IS NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER INCIDENTS OF ATF LINE CONTACT WITH THE RADIATOR FAN IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR ANY SIMILARLY EQUIPPED VEHICLES.VW BELIEVES THAT THE ONE INCIDENT IS AN ISOLATED CASE OF IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINES. ODI INSPECTIONS OF SEVERAL MY 2009 PASSAT VEHICLES DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY CONCERNS WITH ATF COOLER LINE ROUTING THAT COULD RESULT IN CONTACT WITH THE RADIATOR FAN BLADES.CONSIDERING THE VERY SHORT TIME IN SERVICE OF THE INCIDENT VEHICLE, IT IS LIKELY ANY SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH SIMILARLY MIS-POSITIONED ATF LINES WOULDHAVE ALREADY FAILED AND BEEN REPAIRED.THE ABSENCE OF ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS SUPPORTS VW'S ASSESSMENT THAT THE SINGLE KNOWN FAILURE WAS A RANDOM AND ISOLATED EVENT. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.