The Lemon Index
2008
2010Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 15,752 in the U.S. in 2009 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 27 complaints in its first 3 years.
27 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2009 Honda Civic 812009 Toyota Corolla 2842009 Hyundai Elantra 46
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2009 Volkswagen Golf
- Brakes: ABS module / pump86 complaintsmostly at 61,000–100,000 miles (98,000–161,000 km)
- Throttle body / loss of power8 complaintsmostly at 82,000–90,000 miles (132,000–145,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 170 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Volkswagen Golf (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,100 and 37,000 miles (1,800–59,000 km) (the middle half of the 25 complaints, of all 27 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 16V913000 (brakes) and 09V333000 (transmission & drivetrain) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Volkswagen's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 27 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Transmission problems in every Volkswagen Golf year →
Check engine light on? Codes owners of the Volkswagen Golf (2007–2011) name most: P0087 Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too Low · P0106 Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Sensor Range/Performance · P0751 Shift Solenoid A Performance/Stuck Off · P2723 Pressure Control Solenoid E Performance/Stuck Off. Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 36K miles (2K to 59K km) on the car (25 of all 27 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
The mechatronic unit in my dsg transmission was found to be defective. It would cause the car to shudder and jerk back and forth when starting from a dead stop. It would also do the same thing while in reverse.
2009 Volkswagen Golf owner · NHTSA complaint 10281607
Fixes owners look up most.
From 197 YouTube videos · 29.2M views · 2006–2009 Volkswagen Golf
Most-watched topics
- Windows, doors & mirrors2.0M views
How To Check and Replace a Door Latch MK5 GTIHumbleMechanic · 456K views · 8 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical1.4M views
VW Golf Mk5 2004 - 2009 radio removal & refit + part numbers neededPJs projects (Pjsprojects) · 675K views · 4 videos - Death wobble & steering693K views
VW Key stuck? VW GOLF MK5 How to Remove and Replace Steering Lock and key barrelDFC Garage · 630K views · 2 videos - Transmission & shifter414K views
My clutch pedal stuck to the floor on my 2007 VW Rabbit (Blown Clutch Master Cylinder) DIYNick The Denver Dirt Jumper · 245K views · 4 videos
Show 2 more
- Oil changes & service361K views
Vw Beetle Jetta Golf 2.5 Oil Change. How to Change Oil on VW New Beeltle 2.5 2006 - 2011World Mechanics · 123K views · 5 videos - No-start: theft light, key & ignition354K views
Vw Golf Mk5 ignition lock cylinder removeCarFixEasy · 231K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
Volkswagen Golf MK6 2007 - 2012 review - CarBuyerCarbuyer · 1.0M views
VW Golf Mk5 Known Problems & Things that will Break inc GTIDriven By Satch · 238K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2009 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Recalls 2
- Brakes · recall issued 2016
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2009
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Volkswagen Golf recall, all years · All Volkswagen recalls
Every Volkswagen Golf year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 1 older years (1999–1999, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 22 Volkswagen Golf years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2009 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/volkswagen-golf/?y=2009" title="Volkswagen Golf reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="652" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/volkswagen-golf/2009/">Lemon Index</a> (2009 Volkswagen Golf reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2009 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
We can't score it: only 15,752 were sold in the U.S. in 2009 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 27 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2009 Volkswagen Golf problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (67%), electrical (7%) and airbags (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Golf have?
2 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage do 2009 Volkswagen Golf problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 1,100 and 37,000 miles (1,800–59,000 km) (the middle half of the 25 complaints, of all 27 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2009 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2009 Volkswagen Golf have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 67% of its owner complaints.
What Volkswagen Golf year is better than the 2009?
Nearby, the 2012 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about average). Across every year, 2014 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works