2009 Volkswagen Passat reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 211
- 8 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 60 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 9 reported crashes · 2 injuries · 16 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,460
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Volkswagen median
-38
median 249 across 119 Volkswagen records
Vs 2007-2011
-48
median 260 complaints in 736 records
Top component share
28%
Engine: 60 complaints
What owners report fails — 2009 Volkswagen Passat
- ENGINE 60
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 46
- STEERING 20
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17
- AIR BAGS 12
3 recalls on record for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat
- NHTSA 17V509000 · 2018 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 18V148000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal
- NHTSA 16V078000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Volkswagen Passat
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Volkswagen Passat units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
NHTSA has 211 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (60 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Volkswagen Passat units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (60), fuel/propulsion system (46), steering (20), electrical system (17). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.