2009 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,275 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 97/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Fuel system leads the reports, typically around 60,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1991–1992, 1994, 2008, 2018, 2020–2022.
Avoid
Where 2009 sits among all Jetta years
What owners report
“Engine abruptly stalled entering large multi-lane intersection, as engine repair light came on. Suddenly inoperative power train on the vehicle without any prior warning. Tdi diesel powered vehicle. Towed to dealership and diagnosed with hpfp (fuel pump) & fuel system failure.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Jetta
“Abs, esp, and brake light all activated at 93000 miles. Took vehicle in for recall service and was denied”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Jetta
“The key would not turn to turn off engine - so we were not able to turn the car off.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Jetta
“Automatic transmission shifts into neutral without warning. Car works properly after parking and restart.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Jetta
“Abs, traction control, and brake light warnings all flashing. Abs control module faulty and needed to be replaced”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Jetta
“I got the car off of some guy for 1600 dollars and I put a lot of money into and I have lights on the dash still on and the ecs is one and my steering wheel light is on as will.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Jetta
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,097 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 68,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 40,600 and 104,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master…
Fix: Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and…
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS)…
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced.…
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012…
Fix: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY…
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID…
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY…
Fix: VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and…
Led to recall campaign 11V490000.
Led to recall campaign 09V333000.
Technical service bulletins
1,054 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta drew 1,275 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 97/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2009 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta are fuel system (328 complaints), brakes & stability (205), and engine (169).
At what mileage do 2009 Volkswagen Jetta problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Volkswagen Jetta problems around 68,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 40,600 and 104,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.