Model year record

2009 Volkswagen Passat

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 213 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V148000

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Component
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
363,713
Reported to NHTSA
2018-03-06
Owners notified
2018-03-16

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V509000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
280,915
Reported to NHTSA
2017-08-16
Owners notified
2018-06-26

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V078000

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Component
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
659,493
Reported to NHTSA
2016-02-10
Owners notified
2017-03-10

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 08V577000

Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)

Component
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
130
Reported to NHTSA
2008-11-03
Owners notified
2008-12-05

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine6178,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system4690,000 mi
Steering2059,000 mi
Electrical system1762,800 mi
Air bags1224,000 mi
Power train1050,800 mi
Unknown or other982,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)746,400 mi
Engine and engine cooling487,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline4109,307 mi
Suspension45,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump362,800 mi
Service brakes3190,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery260,000 mi
Seat belts2190,000 mi
Vehicle speed control215,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine110,430 mi
Equipment110,430 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch135,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission147 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic13,785 mi
Structure: body174,000 mi
Visibility/wiper140,286 mi

The 2008 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2010 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.