Problems · by component

2009 Volkswagen Jetta fuel system, diesel problems

195 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta cite fuel system, diesel, 22% of all 905 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
195
22% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, diesel

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WIFE WENT OUTSIDE TO START HER TDI AND AFTER SITTING AND MAKING NO PROGRESS IN WARMING AND SMELLING A LOT OF UN-BURNT DIESEL SHE DECIDED TO SHUT IT OFF. AFTER SHE CAME INSIDE AND TOLD ME IT WAS NOT WARMING UP AND IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL VERY QUICKLY I WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK IT OUT. I COULD SEE THAT DIESEL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND, SO I OPENED THE HOOD AND FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL PUMP. I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT AT THIS POINT TO MAKE SURE NO FIRES WHERE STARTED. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK IT APART TO FIND OUT WHAT THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK AND AFTER REMOVING THE PUMP, ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL, AND RUBBER LINES I SAW THE END OF THE PUMP HAD POPPED OUT OF ITS CRIMPED ALUMINUM CASE. THIS WAS ALLOWING DIESEL TO LEAK PAST THE RUNNING ELECTRIC PUMP AND ONTO THE RUNNING ENGINE WHICH AT THE POINT OF TURNING IT OFF HAD COVERED THE ENTIRE SERPENTINE SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY IN FUEL. IT WAS A BOSCH PART #1K0 906 098A WE HAVE CONTACTED VW ABOUT THIS AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN EITHER OFFERING TO INVESTIGATE THE LEAK OR EXPEDITING THE BUYBACK PROCESS TO REMOVE THIS VEHICLE FROM THE ROADS AND MY DRIVEWAY KNOWING THAT IT LEAKED FUEL. VW DID…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2016Fuel system, diesel, EngineODI 10936533
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THAT THE HIGH COMPRESSION FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT REFUSED TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/21/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2015Fuel system, dieselODI 10788402
“WHILE DRIVING IN LOCAL, I WAS SO SCARED WHEN MY 09 VW JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI SUDDENLY STOPPED, COMPLETELY OUT OF POWER. THE CAR STOPPED RIGHT BEFORE WE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION. IT COULDN'T BE ABLE TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO ENGINE LIGHT ON, NO WARNING SIGNS. THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY SIGNS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED. I CONSIDER THIS AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IF THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN LIKE THAT WHILE ON FREEWAY, IT COULD LEAD TO MANY CAR ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS. THE DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT THERE IS METAL PIECES FLOW INSIDE THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSE FUEL SYSTEM DAMAGE AND BREAK DOWN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THIS ISSUES HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO CARS IN THE SAME MODEL WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER THE YEARS. NHTSA SHOULD HAVE SOLUTIONS FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THESE VW'S CAR MODELS TO PREVENT SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENTS ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2015Fuel system, dieselODI 10676430
“GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND ENGINE LOST MUCH OF ITS POWER. AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE OF ADDITIONAL DRIVING ENGINE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MANAGED TO COAST CAR OFF TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. CAR TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED AS A HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN METAL FLAKES CONTAMINATING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2015Fuel system, dieselODI 10676513
“DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 61MPH, ENGINE TURNS OFF. NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES WHILE I CHANGED LANES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, PRIMED FUEL SYSTEM, GAVE CAR BACK. AFTER FIVE DAYS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED GLOW PLUG CONTROL MODULE AND GAVE CAR BACK. DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN CAR AGAIN DIES, ENGINE TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TO CHANGE LANES AGAIN WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES TO GET OFF THE ROAD. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO HAVE A CAR TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2014Fuel system, diesel, Electrical system, EngineODI 10667681
“ON 11/3/2014 I DROVE MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI TO WORK ON INTERSTATE 90 , WHEN THE CARS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DECREASE SPEED. BY THE TIME I FOUND A SAFE SPOT TO PULL OVER THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTOSHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT MY CARS HIGHPRESSURE FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN AND CONTAMINATED THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM WITH METAL FROM THE SECONDARY FUEL PUMP.I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR USED JUST THIS FEBRUARY FOR $15000 AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY A BILL OF $7000 TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN.I DID DO SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY DRIVER WITH A 2009 VW JETTA WHERE THE HIGHPRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2014Fuel system, dieselODI 10662367

Showing 6 of 195 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Fuel system, diesel

Free remedy

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.

Fuel system, dieselReported Oct 3, 2011NHTSA 11V490000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.