2009 Volkswagen Passat problems
NHTSA has received 211 complaints about the 2009 Volkswagen Passat, and 30% of them involve engine. After that come fuel system (25%) and steering (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 211 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 30% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 9 and 16
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 162 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 21 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 23 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 34 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 25 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 36 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 8 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 162 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 75,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (59 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 9 complaints mention a crash; 16 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2009 ranks 18th most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Volkswagen Passat with enough data (67 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 volkswagen passat. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact crashed into an unknown object in the road. None of the front or rear air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries from a bump to the forehead. Also, there was an occupant in the rear passenger seat, who sustained severe injuries to the brain and remained hospitalized. A police report of the incident was filed. The vehicle was deemed destroyed and was towed to a impound facility.
2009 volkswagen passat overheated and caught fire while on a car dolly being pulled by a 2006 nissan x-terra. According to the fire dept and tow truck operator the fire was due to the transmission overheating. The consumer stated he noticed leaking from the front of the vehicle 3 hours prior to the fire. Ohio traffic crash report #10-0747-91.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen passat. While parked for 30 minutes the vehicle caught on fire. The fire started in the front under the engine. The fire department stated it could be an electrical fire or a leak in the engine. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The manufacturer has not been notified. The insurance company was performing an investigation. The failure mileage was 20,000.
We purchased a 2009 VW passat brand new in 2009. Since then, we have had it worked on multiple times, all for the same problem! The car shows no warning sign, and all of a sudden it shakes, shuts off, and will not restart. This has happened while driving, as well as when parked and trying to start the car. This is all in regards to defect in the fuel pump system. The fuel pump has been replaced three times, along with fuel pressure sensor, intake manifold, batteries, you name it.
Found out there was a timing chain issue with the vehicle where it jumped 22 degrees. After research have found on a number of forums that this is a widespread issue with this engine in both VW and audi vehicles. VW will not issue a recall, the claim is, due to it being too widespread and extremely expensive. Under most circumstances from what I have read, it causes catastrophic engine failure. Luckily, mine did not jump that far, but it still was an expensive repair that shouldn't have had to happen.