YearToAvoid

2009 Volkswagen CC Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2009 Volkswagen CC ranks 3rd worst of 10 model years with a Complaint Index of 78 and 136 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 43% of complaints, followed by Fuel System (29%) and Engine (25%), with four recalls on record.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
78/100
#3 of 10 CC years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
136
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
5
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2015
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
18.5 city / 28 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2009 Volkswagen CC problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags59 (43%)
  2. Fuel System39 (29%)
  3. Engine34 (25%)
  4. Electrical System13 (10%)
  5. Other8 (6%)
  6. Steering8 (6%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain7 (5%)
  8. Brakes3 (2%)
  9. Seat Belts3 (2%)
  10. Structure & Body3 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering wheel intermittently loses power to controls, triggers the airbag warning light, and disables the horn, sometimes traced to a faulty clockspring.
  • Engine stalls while driving, followed by popping noises, blue smoke, and in one case a fire that fully engulfed the vehicle.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly accelerates while parking or maneuvering at low speed, leading to a collision despite braking.
  • Steering response delays or drifts at highway speed, with some owners reporting the steering wheel shakes or locks up entirely.
  • Engine dies suddenly during driving, sometimes with no fault code found by dealers despite repeated visits.
  • Fuel tank and gas cap warning lights illuminate repeatedly, with one case where the dealer reported the fuel tank had imploded.
2009 Volkswagen CC complaints: complaints filed per quarter192009 Q22011 Q42013 Q42015 Q12016 Q22017 Q32018 Q4
136 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q2 to 2019 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (19).

2009 Volkswagen CC recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V148000Mar 6, 2018Airbags363,713 vehicles

    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 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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 17V509000Aug 16, 2017Fuel System280,915 vehicles

    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.

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

    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.

  3. NHTSA 16V078000Feb 10, 2016Airbags659,493 vehicles

    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 the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

    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.

    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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2009 Volkswagen CC →

2009 Volkswagen CC fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,625
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other CC years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002008200920102011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008No verdict010—
2009Avoid78136422
2010Avoid100242423
2011Caution5686425

All Volkswagen CC years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Volkswagen CC reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 CC ranks 3rd worst out of 10 model years, with a Complaint Index of 78 and an Avoid verdict relative to other CC years.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen CC?
Airbags make up 43% of complaints, Fuel System 29%, and Engine 25%. Median mileage at failure for these areas ranges from about 88,500 to 89,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Volkswagen CC have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists four recalls for the 2009 CC covering airbags (two separate campaigns), the fuel pump control module, and a seat belt wiring harness issue.
Which Volkswagen CC model years should be avoided?
NHTSA data flags 2009, 2010, and 2012 as Avoid years for the CC, with 2010 having the highest Complaint Index at 100.
Are there any do-not-drive recalls on the 2009 Volkswagen CC?
No, none of the four recalls for the 2009 CC are classified as do-not-drive or park-outside recalls.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.