YearToAvoid

2009 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

NHTSA has 65 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2009 Volkswagen Passat, 45% of all 146 complaints for this model year. That is #5 highest engine complaint count among 18 Passat model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 9 fires. Median mileage at failure: 77,000 miles.

Engine complaints
65
45% of 146
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
9
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
77,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2009 Volkswagen Passat engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 24, 2010, latest Apr 3, 2025.

2009 Volkswagen Passat engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter72010 Q22013 Q12014 Q22015 Q42017 Q12018 Q32020 Q2
65 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q2 to 2025 Q2; peak 2018 Q2 (7).

Engine recalls for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Passat model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200567 (45%)
  2. 2006160 (28%)
  3. 200764 (24%)
  4. 200855 (33%)
  5. 200965 (45%)
  6. 201042 (26%)
  7. 20116 (38%)
  8. 201254 (11%)
  9. 2013116 (16%)
  10. 201492 (15%)
  11. 201562 (26%)
  12. 201629 (27%)
  13. 201710 (9%)
  14. 201813 (29%)
  15. 20192 (17%)
  16. 20205 (28%)
  17. 20212 (11%)
  18. 20223 (23%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Volkswagen Passat have engine problems?
NHTSA has 65 owner complaints about the engine in the 2009 Volkswagen Passat, 45% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 77,000 miles.
Which Volkswagen Passat year has the most engine complaints?
The 2006 Volkswagen Passat has the most engine complaints (160), compared with 65 for the 2009.
Is there a engine recall for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.