2009 Volkswagen Passat: engine failure

Filed Apr 3, 2025 · Engine · SC

The check engine light and oil pressure light appeared on my dash screen as I was driving home from work. I pulled over to the nearest repair shop to have the vehicle diagnosed. Upon arriving, the mechanic noticed my oil was low and filled the car with oil. Once that was completed, the car would not start. I noticed it made unusual noises after several more failed attempts. I had the vehicle towed to an authorized dealership to further troubleshoot and they were able to confirm that the engine jumped time due to a failed timing chain tensioner, which requires a new engine since mine is an interference engine. Due to the timing chain tensioner failing, there was catastrophic damage done to the engine leaving the vehicle inoperable.

Filed Jul 11, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 80,000 miles · MD

My vw passat 2009 sustained engine failure due to failure timing chain/timing chain tensioner and now needs very expensive engine repair or replacement of engine. Car drove okay for 15 minutes in the morning then it was then parked for about 2 hours. When trying to re-start the car, the car would not start. Mechanic noted absent compression in 2 cylinders and diagnosed it to be due to timing chain slipping. This happened at 80,000miles and less than 10 years (9 years 9 months) of purchase of the vehicle. Vw's extended warranty covers repair/replacement of timing chain but does not cover repair of engine damage resulted due to timing chain failure. The car was serviced at vw dealer regularly and there was no warning or indication of impending failure of the timing chain. Other owners of vw vehicles have also complained of having identical problems on online community with some people complaining of engine stalling while driving. This appears to be a defective design rather than wear and tear due ageing and I feel that vw should recall the affected vehicles to repair the problems.

Filed Jul 10, 2018 · Engine · 104,000 miles · CT

Bad tensioner belt LED to blown engine.

Filed Jun 25, 2018 · Fuel system · 109,307 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 volkswagen passat. While driving 65 MPH or while at a stop sign, the vehicle vibrated and stalled. The engine indicator illuminated as well. The vehicle was able to restart on the second attempt. The vehicle was taken to roseville volkswagen (830 automall dr., roseville, ca 95661, (916) 945-2997) where it was diagnosed that the engine failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the vehicle stalled while driving home from the dealer. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as the fuel pump module. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v509000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer was notified and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The failure mileage was 109,307. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 2, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 107,000 miles · CA

This vehicle had catastrophic engine failure due to a faulty cam chain tensioner. This is been known by volkswagen as a service bulletin was issued in 2011. I was driving on a city st. And had to push the vehicle to the side. The fuel pump and sending units have also failed in this vehicle along with the turbocharger diverter valve which was a defective item. All these items have been known by volkswagen for some time. The cost of repair on the vehicle has been over $5,000. I believe all these issues should have been a recall item. Failures on some of them have been happening at 20,000 miles. They could pose a safety hazard depending on where you were driving. Volkswagen has denied any reimbursement on most of these items. Had consumers known of these issues the cost would have been significantly less if the defective parts have been replaced. I am currently joining an active class action suit against volkswagen for the timing chain tensioner.

Filed Dec 12, 2017 · Engine · 92,100 miles · IL

My vehicle was in motion on a city street and suddenly it started shaking while driving and when I braked, it shaked even more vigorously. I took it to a local mechanic who said there is an issue with the engine and the dealership will have to look at it. They recommended that I tow the car to the dealership and advised against driving it. I towed the car to the dealership. After two days the dealership calls me stating that the timing chain has jumped and there is no compression. They would have to repair or replace the engine. The dearlship technician said that they have had several vw vehicles brought in with similar issues but vw has refused to issue a recall or take any action to correct this issue. This is a dangerous safetly hazard. If I was driving on a highway and this happened, I could have easily caused a big accident because I literally had very little control over the car and what it was doing. This is a defect in the car's manufacturing and vw needs to do something urgently to fix the issue. There are other cars and owners out there unaware of this potentially dangerous issue and the federal safety agency needs to bring this to everyone's attention. Thank you.

Filed Nov 3, 2017 · Engine · 113,000 miles · IN

Found out there was a timing chain issue with the vehicle where it jumped 22 degrees. After research have found on a number of forums that this is a widespread issue with this engine in both vw and audi vehicles. Vw will not issue a recall, the claim is, due to it being too widespread and extremely expensive. Under most circumstances from what I have read, it causes catastrophic engine failure. Luckily, mine did not jump that far, but it still was an expensive repair that shouldn't have had to happen. Well now I have had $4200 in repairs made to my engine due to this issue and I think vw should have paid for it.

Filed Oct 19, 2017 · Engine · 124,000 miles · WA

Sudden loss of engine oil causing engine failure

Filed Jul 9, 2017 · Engine · 105,000 miles · TX

Car was parked and would not start. Had towed to mechanic--castastropic engine failure due to broken timing belt tensioner. 105k miles--maintenance upkept. Obviously there is a latent defect in the tensioner system of the timing chain that can cause the chain to “jump a tooth” in the vehicle’s camshaft, which causes serious and sometimes fatal damage to the engine. Unfortunately the defect is impossible for car owners to discover, but audi and volkswagen knew of the tensioner system problem since at least june 2010. Normally, the timing chain is meant to function perfectly for at least 120,000 miles. Because the system is not on the schedule for recommended maintenance from the manufacturers. However, with the defective tensioner, the timing chain frequently fails well before that mark, but often after the warranty has expired. This issue caused my engine to have catastrophic engine failure. Why has the vw owners not been notified and why hasn't the ntsb done anything about this. 7k+ to get a new engine. This is an internal part and not a scheduled maintenance issue.vw should be held accountable. People don't have money to purchase a car and have the engine fail before car is paid for.

Filed Jan 19, 2017 · Engine · 105,500 miles · MA

Vehicle started rough and was vibrating. Shut off and vehicle would not restart. Towed to dealer who informed that an internal failure occurred causing the timing chain to slip and that the engine would need to be replaced. Dealer informed me that, "these things just happen sometimes". However, an internet search revealed that this is an ongoing and repeated issued for many vw and audit owners and that there are three class action lawsuits filed for timing chain tensioner problems. Vw of america was not helpful. Why should the consumer be out thousands of dollars for engine replacement for what should be a known defect. The vehicle only has 105,000 miles.

Filed Dec 28, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 100,000 miles · FL

There is a latent defect in the tensioner system of the timing chain that can cause the chain to 'jump a tooth' in the vehicle's camshaft, which causes serious and sometimes fatal damage to the engine. Unfortunately the defect is impossible for car owners to discover, but audi and volkswagen knew of the tensioner system problem since at least june 2010. Normally, the timing chain is meant to function perfectly for at least 120,000 miles. Because the system is not on the schedule for recommended maintenance from the manufacturers. However, with the defective tensioner, the timing chain frequently fails well before that mark, but often after the warranty has expired. This issue caused my engine to have catastrophic engine failure.

Filed Aug 25, 2016 · Engine · 69,000 miles · CA

My wife was driving the car to the airport and stopped at the cell phone waiting area. Tried to start again and car didn't start. Changed the battery with aaa and still didn't start. Towed it to dealer. They said the timing chain tensioner failed and it completely damaged the engine. Engine needs to be replaced which costs about $7k. I have checked about this problem in internet and many people are complaining about the same issue and vw knows about this issue for some time. As this can happen in middle of the traffic and can cause a fatal accident, we request you to investigate and make volkswagen recall and replace this part. Also, vw should take responsibility for the failed part and the repairs caused due to this part as it knows about this and ignored. I also see there is a lawsuit going on this issue. Check the link http://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2016/volkswagen-timing-chain-tensioner-lawsuit.shtml vw really should be more responsible to avoid serious accidents