The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit has 2 recalls and 62 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is service brakes.
Pictured: a 2008 model; the 2009 may differ in details. Photo: 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit by SWVA Railfan Productions, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2009 compares
Highest
Fewest complaintsMost complaints
Highest complaint count among 4 Rabbit model years — the most of any year.
2recalls
62complaints
6crashes
2fires
2injuries
90,555median miles
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.
Does your car have an open recall? Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Dec 20, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V913000 · 135,683 vehicles
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.
Remedy & notes
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Fuel System
Dec 10, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V621000 · 228,236 vehicles
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.
Original NHTSA wording
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.
Original NHTSA wording
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.
Remedy & notes
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.
Volkswagen safety recall no. 20I4/U1.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.
Complaints by year filed
2009 vs. other Volkswagen Rabbit years
Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2009. Click a bar to switch year.
Questions
Does the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit, the latest from Dec 20, 2016 (electronic stability control). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit?
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention service brakes (44), electronic stability control (25), electrical system (11). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.
Recalls by Model
