THERE IS A LATENT DEFECT IN THE TENSIONER SYSTEM OF THE TIMING CHAIN THAT CAN CAUSE THE CHAIN TO 'JUMP A TOOTH' IN THE VEHICLE'S CAMSHAFT, WHICH CAUSES SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. UNFORTUNATELY THE DEFECT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR CAR OWNERS TO DISCOVER, BUT AUDI…

12/28/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938333.0

2009 Passat · engine

DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN 2.0 TSI ENGINE DAMAGE THE CAR AND ENGINE NOT GETTING STARTED. MECHANIC ASKED FOR $3500 APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WHICH IS KNOWN DEFECT OF VW 2.0 TSI ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN MALL PARKING AREA.

12/27/2017 · NHTSA ODI #11057006.0

2009 Passat · airbags

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM WV IN APRIL 2016. IT IS NOT DECEMBER OF 2016 AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL I DO HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON, IN THE DASHBOARD SIGNALING THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ASAP. THANK YOU *TR

12/19/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10936198.0

2009 Passat · engine

MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN STOPED STARTING, SO I HAD IT TOWED INTO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY RAN A FEW TESTS AND DETERMINED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF MY ENGINE. AS A RESULT, I NEEDED TO PAY AROUND $7000-$8000 IN ORDER TO REPLACE. GIVEN I COULD…

12/18/2017 · NHTSA ODI #11055420.0

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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 08V577000 03/11/2008

VW IS RECALLING 130 MY 2009 PASSAT, PASSAT WAGON, AND PASSAT CC VEHICLES

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2009 Volkswagen Passat reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 152 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Volkswagen Passat is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2009 Volkswagen Passat?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 42 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Volkswagen Passat has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Volkswagen Passat?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 152 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

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Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 21 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Volkswagen. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.