Most common 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit problems
Share of the 62 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Rabbit complaints by model year
Best Rabbit years: 2006, 2008. Years to avoid: 2009, 2007. Compare all years →
2009 Volkswagen Rabbit recalls (2)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
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.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Remedy: 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…
What 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit owners say
Brakes all 44 →
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 moderate amount of pressure on the brake pedal. The check engine warning light and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module was not communicating with the transmission. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which he related to the failure; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times. …
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 refuses to perform the recall and is completely unhelpful. Yes there were warning lights and thats why I took it to the dealer. P.S. This happened a day before the accident. Two different VW dealers refused to perform the ABS module recall on my car even though Volkwagen customer care called to make my appointment, the car was too old, the repair was to expensive and also that the module wasnt communicating. It specifically says it in the recall, that if the module is not responding to replace it. …
Stability & traction control all 25 →
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 moderate amount of pressure on the brake pedal. The check engine warning light and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module was not communicating with the transmission. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which he related to the failure; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times. …
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 reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while idling, the vehicle occasionally stalled, and had to be restarted to operate as needed. The failure was intermittent. The contact stated that the ABS, tire pressure, and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the recall repair could not be completed due to there not being a specific diagnostic code showing the extending ambiance reading a code of only 100 times and the requirement was 125 times. …
Electrical system
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 approcimately February 2022.
While driving around town using the heated seats the passenger seat caught on fire. The cabin filled up with thick smoke and we could not breath. We had to stop the car in the middle of the road. My wife jumped out of the car and we put out the fire. This is a known vw problem that had a full recall in Canada. Astonishingly, there seems to be no mention of this problem on the NHTSA web site. The local vw dealer denied all knowledge of any heated seats catching fire but they instantly gave me a $755.00 quote to fix the problem with a firm estimate of four hours to replace the electrical elements in the seat. Although the vw dealer had no knowledge of this type of problem they seem to have intimate knowledge of exactly how to repair the seat. Very curious indeed......
2009 Volkswagen Rabbit engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 29 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit a good car?
Based on 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Rabbit rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Rabbit at the same age. It is one of the Rabbit years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit?
The brakes — 44 complaints, 71% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the stability & traction control (25) and electrical system (11).
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit, the most recent from December 20, 2016 (electronic stability control (esc)). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Rabbit?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009 and 2007. See the full Volkswagen Rabbit years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.