2009 Volkswagen Beetle Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Beetle years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 17th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Volkswagen Beetle. That ranks 17th out of 21 Beetle model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (6 complaints, 18%), typically at around 72,850 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 33owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2009 Volkswagen Beetle problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 18% | 72,850 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 15% | 55,697 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 15% | 49,007 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 12% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 9% | 83,004 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 9% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 6% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 6% | 32,750 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 6% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 6% | 74,718 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 6% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 3% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | 78,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2009 Volkswagen Beetle recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Unknown or other
Problem: 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 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
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 this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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 small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may chafe against an underhood fuel supply line. The new beetle and the new beetle convertible vehicles may have a fastening clamp on a hydraulic hose of the power steering system that may be located in an improper position which could cause chafing against an underhood fuel supply line.
Risk: If chafing occurs, there is the potential for a fuel leak to develop. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
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 reservoir, or inspect the position of the fastening clamp and adjust the related fastening clamp into the correct position. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 31, 2011. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Heated seat is so hot it burned holes in the seat and my pants.
Headlamps do not stay illuminated regardless of speed. This issue occurs each time the car is used. This is a hazard when driving in low light conditions as others cannot see the vehicle and lack of lighting impairs ones ability to see the road. This issue has not been investigated by a service…
The airbag warning light is constantly lit up on the dashboard. It has been determined that it is a malfunction of the airbag control module and canât be reset. There has been a recall on previous models of the car, and it should be extended to this modelâs year. It poses a risk to safety as if…
headlamp connecters fail to connect at this time passenger side headlamp is not working, headlamp assy, fall out of their buckets in fenders.
At ~50k miles the front driver's side window regulator stopped working. Determined it was the cable starting to shed strands that would bind the motor. Replaced cables and trimmed out regulator which took me a weekend to complete the job. Now at ~63k miles the driver side rear window regulator is…
Other Volkswagen Beetle years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Beetle | 14 | 3 |
| 2018 Beetle | 17 | 3 |
| 2017 Beetle | 15 | 3 |
| 2016 Beetle | 48 | 3 |
| 2015 Beetle | 83 | 5 |
| 2014 Beetle | 50 | 5 |
| 2013 Beetle | 93 | 6 |
| 2012 Beetle | 65 | 6 |
| 2010 Beetle | 30 | 3 |
| 2009 | 33 | 2 |
| 2008 Beetle | 60 | 3 |
| 2007 Beetle | 56 | 2 |
| 2006 Beetle | 124 | 3 |
| 2005 Beetle | 261 | 3 |
| 2004 Beetle | 349 | 3 |
| 2003 Beetle | 314 | 2 |
| 2002 Beetle | 165 | 2 |
| 2001 Beetle | 203 | 2 |
| 2000 Beetle | 263 | 1 |
| 1999 Beetle | 174 | 1 |
| 1998 Beetle | 171 | 2 |
See all Volkswagen Beetle problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Beetle?
Owners most often report exterior lighting, air bags, visibility problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Volkswagen Beetle?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2009 Volkswagen Beetle a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Beetle model years, the 2009 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.