Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2009 Volkswagen Beetle, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Volkswagen Beetle year.
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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.
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.
Campaign 19V679000
Issue: 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.
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.
Campaign 10V621000
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA has no NCAP crash-test rating for this model year, which is common for older, low-volume and heavy-duty vehicles.
The parts named most often across 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
1 crash
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
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 center. There are no warning indicators that the lights are not functioning. The issue was present when the used vehicle was purchased in 2020.
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 can’t be reset. There has been a recall on previous models of the car, and it should be extended to this model’s year. It poses a risk to safety as if there were to be an issue with the airbags where the light would warn me, I wouldn’t know because the light is already on and it would be impossible to determine if there was a problem. If there is an airbag issue, in case of an accident it would be a huge safety risk. Since this part has already been recalled previously, there is no reason the recall shouldn’t be extended.
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 STUCK HALF WAY CLOSED AND ASSUMING IT'S THE SAME ISSUE WITH A POOR DESIGNED CABLE SYSTEM THAT ROUTINELY FAILS. VERY ANNOYING WITH CABLE SYSTEMS NOT ONLY USED FOR THE WINDOW REGULATORS BUT FOR THE RETRACTABLE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND DOOR LATCHES. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY.
JUST PURCHASE A USED 2009 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THIS IS HER DREAM CAR AND SO EXCITED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON OUR WAY HOME FROM THE CAR LOT. THE ENTIRE HOUSING UNIT JUST GONE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR AS IS, SO WE ORDERED 2 NEW HEADLIGHTS HOUSING UNITS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED YESTERDAY. TODAY, THE FIRST TIME DRIVING SINCE GETTING BACK FROM SHOP, THE PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT HOUSING FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE ONLY 3 MILES FROM LEAVING OUR HOUSE CRASHING ALL OVER THE ROAD BEHIND US WHERE OTHER VEHICLES HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY. WE DID NOT EVEN HIT A BUMP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ANYONE AND ESPECIALLY A NEW TEEN DRIVER. IT IS NOT SAFE! OUR MECHANIC TOLD US IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. RESEARCHING SEVERAL THREADS HAVE CONCURRED HIS STATEMENT OF LIGHTS FALLING OUT OR CONNECTIONS FREQUENTLY COMING LOOSE SO THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SLIGHTEST BUMP WHILE DRIVING. VW BEETLE LIGHTS ARE GARBAGE. SO VERY DISAPPOINTING VW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES FOR THE MORE SAFETY CONCERN AS WELL AS THE CONTINUOUS EXPENSE OWNERS INCUR HAVING TO REPLACE ENTIRE UNITS, OR BULBS, OR CONNECTIONS AND THE LABOR COSTS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WE'VE HAD THE CAR A WEEK AND HAVE ALREADY SPENT $500 REPLACING LIGHTS AND THE LABOR AND THEN THE DANG THING FALLS OUT AGAIN. I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL MY DAUGHTER IS SAFE IF THE HEADLIGHTS FALL OUT EVERY TIME SHE DRIVES IT. *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FREQUENTLY OUT. THEY BECOME DISCONNECTED EASILY AND THEN DON'T WORK. I HAVE GONE IN MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THEM FIXED AND I AM ALWAYS TOLD IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL. MY HEADLIGHT EVEN FELL OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING ONCE! THE BULBS SEEM TO DIES QUICKLY AS A RESULT AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIX THEM.
THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WILL QUIT WORKING AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHT (DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE THIS ISSUE) WILL LOOSEN FROM THE PIN MECHANISM INSIDE THE CAR. I REPLACED BULBS 3 TIMES BEFORE REALIZING THE BULBS WERE FINE AND IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE "HOOK" THAT TURNS AND HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT TIGHT WILL JAR AND COME LOOSE WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. DRIVING HOME LAST WEEK AND MY PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. EVERY MORNING I HAVE TO PUSH THE HEADLIGHTS BACK INTO TURN THE NUT TO SECURE THE LIGHT. BY THE TIME I GET TO WORK AT LEAST ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 2 YEARS.
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON LAST SPRING TOOK IT DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY AND THEY CHARGED ME 110 TO TELL ME MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON 900 TO HAVE FAULTY AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE REPLACED.. I AM WAITING ON A RECALL BUT WANTED TO REPORT THE ISSUE. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THAT'S WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON
THE WINDOWS ON THIS MODEL OF VM BEETLE IS DEFECTIVE I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARE DOCUMENTED AS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE.
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.
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
Showing 12 of 33 complaints.