The 2009 Volkswagen Passat has 7 recalls, the most serious being a driver's frontal airbag inflator that can rupture or explode in a crash, sending metal fragments into the cabin and potentially causing serious injury or death.
The front passenger airbag is also affected by a separate issue: if the right front seatbelt buckle wiring gets damaged by seat movement, the airbag control module can deactivate the passenger's frontal airbag, leaving that occupant without protection in a crash. On the steering side, the electromechanical steering control unit can malfunction due to a damaged capacitor, causing the system to stop processing the driver's input correctly. When this happens, the steering wheel may vibrate and the steering motor can shut off, making the vehicle harder to control. There is also a fuel delivery concern: an electrical interruption to the fuel pump control module can cause the pump to fail and stall the engine.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown caused by long-term exposure to high humidity, high heat, and repeated temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator can build up excessive pressure during deployment and rupture, potentially causing injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag inflator with a safer alternative at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump control module may lose electrical power, causing the fuel pump to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump control module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator may build up too much internal pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right front seatbelt buckle wiring harness may be routed incorrectly, causing wires to get damaged when the seat moves. This can disable the passenger's front airbag.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the right front seatbelt wiring harness and reroute it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A damaged capacitor in the steering control unit may cause the system to malfunction immediately after starting, when the steering wheel is first moved at speeds under 5 mph, preventing the vehicle from responding to steering input as intended.
What the fix does
The steering gear will be replaced to restore proper steering control.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A damaged capacitor in the steering control unit may prevent the system from processing your steering input immediately after start-up at speeds below 5 mph, causing the vehicle not to respond as intended.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the steering gear to restore proper steering system function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
