Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Volkswagen Passat
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Volkswagen Passat has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 146 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V148000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V509000 Fuel Pump Failure Cause Engine Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V078000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V577000 STEERING GEAR REPLACEMENT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 60 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 46 complaints
- Steering 20 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Air Bags 12 complaints
- Power Train 10 complaints
Of the 146 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 146 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Volkswagen Passat has a high number of complaints, particularly in engine and fuel systems, and several recalls impacting airbags, fuel pump, and steering, indicating reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | very common |
| fuel pump | 60,000–80,000 miles | $900–$1,500 | common |
| steering gear | 50,000–70,000 miles | $1,200–$2,200 | occasional |
| electrical system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | occasional |
| airbag inflator | 80,000–100,000 miles | No reliable estimate | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid service
- Spark plug replacement
- Timing belt replacement
- Fuel system inspection
- Coolant flush
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires
- Fuel pump noise
- Steering difficulties
- Airbag warning light
- Electrical shorts
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.