The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 363,919 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)16V9130002016-12-20135,683 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
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. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer…
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…
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. …
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES
39
4crashes2injuries
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11
1fires
STEERING
10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
POWER TRAIN
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
1crashes
AIR BAGS
2
2crashes1injuries1deaths
ENGINE
2
1crashes1fires1injuries
Total complaints123
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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 (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 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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.