Model year

2009 Volkswagen Passat

NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 146 complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 2 recalls and 6 complaints under PASSAT WAGON. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (60), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (46), STEERING (20). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 22–23 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,550–$3,750, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

18V148000 · Mar 6, 2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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…

17V509000 · Aug 16, 2017

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

16V078000 · Feb 10, 2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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…

08V577000 · Nov 3, 2008

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

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…

Complaints

146 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 5, fire flag on 12, injury field 2, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

  1. ENGINE60
  2. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM46
  3. STEERING20
  4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
  5. AIR BAGS12
  6. POWER TRAIN10
  7. UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
  8. ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)7
  9. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
  10. SUSPENSION4

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name Recalls Complaints
PASSAT WAGON 2 6

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (1). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
ActionSubjectOpenedClosed
PE09022TRANSMISSION FLUID HOSE CHAFE · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINESMay 4, 2009Jul 9, 2009

Safety ratings

NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
ConfigurationFuelCityHwyCombkWh/100 miRangeAnnual fuel cost
Passat · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline192923——$3,550
Passat Wagon · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline192822——$3,750

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2009 Volkswagen Passat at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Volkswagen Passat model years