2009 Volkswagen Rabbit Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Rabbit years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit. That is the most of any Rabbit model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is service brakes (39 complaints, 63%), typically at around 76,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 62owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 39 | 63% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 25 | 40% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 18% | 112,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 16% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 8% | 91,074 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 8% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 8% | 121,902 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 5% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 5% | 90,555 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 3% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 3% | 60,300 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 3% | 87,500 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 2% | 121,902 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | 173,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2009 Volkswagen Rabbit recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electronic stability control (esc); service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem: 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) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
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. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
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.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control) after the contact had experienced the failure. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the ABS warning…
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit. The contact stated while driving 20-30 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle stopped abruptly and pulled to the right. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving and applying a…
I am making a complaint against volkswagen for refusing to perform the abs safety recall. The ABS module is dead, I found out the hard way that I have no ABS or traction control. I stopped on the highway and lost control, I could have died and the van that hit me twice could did worse. The dealer…
ABS control module is malfunctioning and affecting steering and braking as well as the speedometer and acceleration. It was reported to the dealer and will be replaced, however the part is backordered with no ETA. Check engine, steering wheel , brake, EPC, and ABS lights present, first appearing…
Other Volkswagen Rabbit years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 62 | 2 |
| 2008 Rabbit | 23 | 2 |
| 2007 Rabbit | 54 | 2 |
| 2006 Rabbit | 13 | 1 |
See all Volkswagen Rabbit 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 Rabbit?
Owners most often report service brakes, electronic stability control (esc), electrical system problems. The top one, service brakes, accounts for 39 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Rabbit model years, the 2009 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.