2009 Volkswagen PASSAT: complaints, problems and recalls

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC SPORT VEHICLE THROUGH BOARDWALK VOLKSWAGEN OF RICHARDSON TEXAS, WHO HAD THE CAR SHIPPED TO THEIR LOCATION FROM TYNAN'S VW IN COLORADO. I PICKED UP MY BRAND NEW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC SPORT VEHICLE WITH 24 MILES ON THE AFTERNOON OF SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2009. ON SUNDAY, AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND FUMES STARTED COMING OUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT AND SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE RENDERING THE CAR A SAFETY HAZARD AND FIRE HAZARD. THE CAR …

Owner-reported narrative. 47 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260517 at NHTSA ↗

2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE ON A CAR DOLLY BEING PULLED BY A 2006 NISSAN X-TERRA. *KB ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPT AND TOW TRUCK OPERATOR THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE 3 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0747-91.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10284348 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF KEY (FOB OR WHAT EVER VW CALLS IT) TO START VEHICLE WHEN INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE AND RESULTED IN IGNITION SWITCH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. ON THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THE KEY ITSELF SHORTED OUT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO OPEN POWER DOORS; HOWEVER, THE KEY WOULD ALLOW ME TO OPEN THE POWER REAR HATCH SO THAT I COULD CRAWL THROUGH CAR TO UNLOCK DOORS. TODAY THE OTHER KEY STARTED ACTING UP FOR MY WIFE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO UNLOCK DOORS AND SHE HAD TO CRAWL THROUGH CAR TO UNLOCK DOORS. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,871 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293315 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE COLD. TRANS. IN EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. UPON RELEASING BRAKE CAR MOVES TOO FAST. WHEN APPLYING BRAKE NOTHING HAPPENS. AFTER REPEATEDLY APPLYING BRAKE THEY FINALLY CATCH HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T CATCH AND I REARENDED A PICKUP WAITING AT A STOP SIGN. I DON'T THINK I FAILED TO APPLY THE BRAKES PROPERLY BECAUSE I RAISED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED THEM AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE IMPACT BUT THAT IS NEVER-THE-LESS STILL A POSSIBILITY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,785 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294542 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT UNDER THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OR A LEAK IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS PERFORMING AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296333 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES MOTOR BEGAN MAKING AN IRREGULAR NOISE ( SOUNDED LIKE AN AIRPLANE ENGINE) BETWEEN 2-3RPMS AND THERE WAS SERIOUS VIBRATION THROUGH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CHUGGED ALONG AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND NOT THAT RESPONSIVE. THERE WAS SERIOUS VIBRATION THROUGH THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SERVICE CENTER ON FRIDAY AS IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY. UPON RETURNING ON MONDAY MORNING, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS (TWO) WERE MISSING AND THE THREADS FOR EACH WAS COMPLETELY STRIPPED. THE MOTOR WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,430 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327258 at NHTSA ↗

PARKED CAR AND WENT INTO THE STORE TO SHOP AND APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER SOMEONE SAID A CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THAT IT WAS A SILVER VW. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT AND FOUND THE WHOLE FRONT END ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357690 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK PILLAR HOLDING UP A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367752 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-11-03 (November 3, 2008)

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 THE SYSTEM AND THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RESPOND AS THE DRIVER INTENDS. THIS DEFECT CAN ONLY OCCUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER VEHICLE START-UP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 5 MPH.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2017-08-16 (August 16, 2017)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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.