2009 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

60Engine complaints

41.1%Of all 146 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE60 · 41.1%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM46 · 31.5%

STEERING20 · 13.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17 · 11.6%

AIR BAGS12 · 8.2%

Share of the 146 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Volkswagen Passat overview page.

What owners report

“TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP AND DISCUSS A RECENT INCIDENT. ON APRIL 19TH 2019 OUR 2009 VW PASSAT WAS IN OUR…”NHTSA complaint 11202770 — filed 04/21/2019

“TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILURE. ENGINE REQUIRES MAJOR REPAIRS”NHTSA complaint 11179839 — filed 02/13/2019

“STOPPED RUNNING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT- TOWED TO DEALERSHIP -TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER ISSUE”NHTSA complaint 11121715 — filed 08/22/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Volkswagen Passat have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2009 Volkswagen Passat: 60 of 146 complaints on file (41.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Volkswagen Passat have in total?

146 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, 2 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.