2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (2) · Vehicle Speed Control (1) · Engine (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Passat Wagon model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2018-03-06 · campaign 18V148000 · 363,713 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2017-08-16 · campaign 17V509000 · 280,915 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (469)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Service Brakes 2026-08-27 · V4622022067177_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
repair or replace information
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Electrical System 2026-07-15 · VOS-26-42 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the issue: da 0019 - hotfix 12-v battery test(s) – no battery diagnosis - inconclusive test result.
Showing the 6 most recent of 469 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-07-06 · Unknown Or Other · 75,000 mi · 🔥 fire“while driving 2009 vw passat wagon on i-495 south in haverhill, ma, at around 5 pm, smoke suddenly began billowing out of the vents. driver was able to pull onto the shoulder safely (near exit 48/ mile marker 105.6) and exit the car, which was engulfed in flames within a minute. no passengers, no injuries, no other cars were damaged. up to this p…”
2018-07-05 · Vehicle Speed Control · 75,000 mi“2000 rpm at idle with a/c on. normal with a/c off. same as nhtsa 08v235000. vw said this vehicle does not fall under that recall. vehicle tries to accelerate beyond brake control at idle only with a/c on.…”
2018-06-11 · Engine“since the summer of 2017 i have been having problems with my passat stalling, and or loosing poower when i am driving, last september 2017 i was told that a recall (20ae) was coming out that was related to my failures. around october 15, 2017 i found out that the recall was issued. since then i have been told by the local volkswagon garage that pa…”
2018-04-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 196,000 mi“fuel pump caused cutting off , delayed starting which led to the car being inoperable.…”
2018-02-07 · Electrical System · 65,200 mi“car stopped on a highway while in motion. went to the vw dealer. they found "faults for fuel module, and fuel pump unit." they removed and installed fuel pump and tube but didn't tell me it was a recalled item/part. i paid the full amount out of my pocket: $988.57…”
2018-01-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 65,200 mi“the vehicle stopped while in motion on highway. the dealer replaced fuel pump but didn't "relocate" it in the vehicle as suggested on your website. i paid $988. my question is: who should pay the "remedy" cost?…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.