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2009 Volkswagen Beetle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Beetle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 49.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 8 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
84,436 miles · May 9, 2018
Steering

THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES. AFTER A CURSORY GOOGLE SEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VW BEETLES AND JETTAS. IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO HAVE A CAR WITH AN UNRELIABLE IGNITION, PARTICULARLY WHEN TRAVELING ALO…

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THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES. AFTER A CURSORY GOOGLE SEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VW BEETLES AND JETTAS. IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO HAVE A CAR WITH AN UNRELIABLE IGNITION, PARTICULARLY WHEN TRAVELING ALONE AT NIGHT. VW HAS PLACED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND ACKNOWLEDGED A FAULTY DESIGN FOR THE 2012-2013 BEETLES, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THE DESIGN FLAW IN EARLIER MODELS TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA ODI #11092771

92,000 miles · May 4, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

ENGINE STALLIG USUALLY WHEN TURNING, AFTER A STOP, WHEN GOING SLOW... WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS ISSUE BY TAKING THE CAR TO MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T RULE OUT A SOLUTION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IT SEEMS TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN WARMED UP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VERY SCARY BECAUSE THERE'S LOSS OF STEERING WHEEL POWER AND…

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ENGINE STALLIG USUALLY WHEN TURNING, AFTER A STOP, WHEN GOING SLOW... WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS ISSUE BY TAKING THE CAR TO MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T RULE OUT A SOLUTION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IT SEEMS TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN WARMED UP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VERY SCARY BECAUSE THERE'S LOSS OF STEERING WHEEL POWER AND IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS THINGS AND IT KEEPS GIVING US THIS ISSUE. SOMETIMES IT IDLES ROUGH. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE WHERE THE RPMS ARE DROPS BUT COMES BACK UP. WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR OPTIONS AND WE CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION

NHTSA ODI #11091999

117,000 miles · Jul 31, 2017
Electrical System

A YEAR AGO I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FIXED, AND SINCE THEN, THE WINDOW HAS BEEN FAULTY. I OWN A CONVERTIBLE, SO THE WINDOWS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN HALF AN INCH AND MINE DOES NOT. MOST TIMES WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR, THE WINDOW IS OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR, LEAVING A CRACK BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND MY CAR DOOR. LAST NIGHT, JULY 30TH…

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A YEAR AGO I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FIXED, AND SINCE THEN, THE WINDOW HAS BEEN FAULTY. I OWN A CONVERTIBLE, SO THE WINDOWS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN HALF AN INCH AND MINE DOES NOT. MOST TIMES WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR, THE WINDOW IS OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR, LEAVING A CRACK BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND MY CAR DOOR. LAST NIGHT, JULY 30TH OF 2017, I HAD ROLLED DOWN MY BACK WINDOW WHILE IDLE AND HEARD SOMETHING COMPAREABLE TO A FORK IN A GARBAGE DISPOSAL. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD NOT COME BACK UP, SEEING AS I HAD JUST FIXED THIS PROBLEM LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WITH THE FRONT WINDOW WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED AND MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. I PROCEEDED TO LOOK ONLINE TO LOOK FOR A RECALL WITH NO LUCK. ALTHOUGH I DID FIND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. NOT ONLY IS THIS FIX QUITE COSTLY, BUT IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S NOT DUE TO THE CARELESSNESS OF THE OWNER, BUT SIMPLY FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. I PROCEEDED TO CALL VW WITH NO LUCK BUT TO BE DIRECTED HERE TO YOU. I'M ASKING FOR A RECALL TO BE PUT INTO ACTION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11011697

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2017
Unknown Or Other

THREE OUT OF FOUR WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS A CONVERTIBLE.

NHTSA ODI #11003003

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2017
Electrical System

MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. FIRST IS WAS ON THE TWO BACK PASSENGER WINDOW. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE DRIVER WINDOW FAILED TO WORK. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT IT WAS THE REGULATOR THAT NEEDED REPLACING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTUR…

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MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. FIRST IS WAS ON THE TWO BACK PASSENGER WINDOW. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE DRIVER WINDOW FAILED TO WORK. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT IT WAS THE REGULATOR THAT NEEDED REPLACING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT VW SHOULD PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. EACH WINDOW COST 500 TO 600 DOLLARS.

NHTSA ODI #10944233

64,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
Structure

ALL 4 WIDOW REGULATORS AND/OR CABLES HAVE FAILED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. WITHOUT FIXING, THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN. THE COST WILL EXCEED $1000.

NHTSA ODI #10939197

92,000 miles · Aug 15, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion System

AFTER A BUSINESS TRIP INTO AUSTIN MY VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN I WOULD BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING JUST MY CAR ACTING DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN SPEED GOING FROM 85 TO ABOUT 40 TO EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE. ON THE WAY TO HOUSTON THERE WAS NO TROUBLE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING…

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AFTER A BUSINESS TRIP INTO AUSTIN MY VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN I WOULD BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING JUST MY CAR ACTING DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN SPEED GOING FROM 85 TO ABOUT 40 TO EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE. ON THE WAY TO HOUSTON THERE WAS NO TROUBLE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING EVENING BEING MY FIRST TIME DRIVING IT ALL DAY, I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN MY VEHICLE JERKED 4 OR 5 TIMES THEN STOPPED WHEN THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I TURNED OFF MY CAR THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE WHEEL WAS UNLOCKED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE IF IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN AND IT DIDN'T, BUT I STILL REFUSE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I KNOW WHAT'S WRONG.

NHTSA ODI #10895837

45,000 miles · Jun 10, 2016
Seat Belts

DRIVER AND PASSANGER SEAT BELT CATCHES AND LATER RELEASES RESULTING IN A LOOSE SEATBELT. ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT WHERE IT ATTATCHES TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS ALLOWED TO SLIDE BACK AND FORTH ACCORDING TO THE SEATS ADJUSTMENTS. HOWEVER, ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE OF THE SLIDING BAR RESPONSIBLE TO HOLD THE BELT HAS A 90 D…

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DRIVER AND PASSANGER SEAT BELT CATCHES AND LATER RELEASES RESULTING IN A LOOSE SEATBELT. ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT WHERE IT ATTATCHES TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS ALLOWED TO SLIDE BACK AND FORTH ACCORDING TO THE SEATS ADJUSTMENTS. HOWEVER, ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE OF THE SLIDING BAR RESPONSIBLE TO HOLD THE BELT HAS A 90 DEGREE NOTCH WHERE THE BAR ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. WHEN THE USER USES RESTRAINS THEMSELF MORE OFTEN THEN NOT THE BELT CATCHES IN THIS NOTCH AREA. NOT ALLOWING THE BELT TO PROPERLY SLIDE FORWARD INTO THE USERS CURRENTS POSITION. THUS DURING SOME POINT OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BELT FREES ITSELFS FROM THE BACK 90 DEGREE PORTIONS OF THE BAR SLIDING FORWARD. THIS RESULTS IN A LOSE BELT.

NHTSA ODI #10873550

78,000 miles · Mar 13, 2016
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE SLOWLY APPROACHING A PARKING SPACE IN A SHOPPING CENTER MY 2009 VW BEETLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING OVER THE CURB AND SIDEWALK, AND CRASHING INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. IT THEN REBOUNDED ABOUT 6-8 FEET. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T.

NHTSA ODI #10846319

28,792 miles · Mar 7, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSEGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSEGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,792.

NHTSA ODI #10840386

Official recalls

2

19V679000 · Unknown Or Other

Sep 25, 2019

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: 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.

10V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Dec 10, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.