IllustrationWITHOUT WARNING, THE ABS MODULE IN THE CAR FAILED, GIVING WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. RECALL WORK WAS PURSUED WITH THE A VW DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, BUT THE RECALL WORK WAS DENIED, SAYING THIS FAILURE WAS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
2009 Volkswagen Gti
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Gti years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
200–25K
1425–50K
4550–75K
3575–100K
37100–150K
2150K+
153 reports with mileage · 14 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes. Review the 94 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
69 reportsABS FALIURE. ABS WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATES, ACTIVATES SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY, BRAKING ABILITY IS HAMPERED, DOES NOT WORK NORMALLY. OCCASSIONALLY ANTILOCK BREAKS ENGAGE AT LOW SPEED BREAKING. BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY. SPEEDOMETER EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTION, FLUCTUATIONS NOT RELATED TO SPEED OCCURED. STABILITY MALFU…
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ABS FALIURE. ABS WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATES, ACTIVATES SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY, BRAKING ABILITY IS HAMPERED, DOES NOT WORK NORMALLY. OCCASSIONALLY ANTILOCK BREAKS ENGAGE AT LOW SPEED BREAKING. BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY. SPEEDOMETER EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTION, FLUCTUATIONS NOT RELATED TO SPEED OCCURED. STABILITY MALFUNCTIONED DURING BREAKING AND AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFTING.
MY GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS (PRNDS) FLASH AND MY CAR EITHER WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR OR WILL LIMP. IT HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WILL SLAM INTO A LOW GEAR CAUSING RPM TO MAX TO 8000 AND ACTS AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. ALSO THE NUMBER 3 FUSE ON TOP STARTED SMOKING AND MELTED INSIDE THE FUSE BOX. …
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MY GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS (PRNDS) FLASH AND MY CAR EITHER WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR OR WILL LIMP. IT HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WILL SLAM INTO A LOW GEAR CAUSING RPM TO MAX TO 8000 AND ACTS AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. ALSO THE NUMBER 3 FUSE ON TOP STARTED SMOKING AND MELTED INSIDE THE FUSE BOX. FEARED MY CAR WAS KING TO CATCH FIRE.
WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS FLASHING,SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING ,FUEL GAUGE STOPS WORKING. STEERING WHEEL MOVES FUNNY. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE PROGRAM THAT THEY INSTALLED BUT NOW THEY JUST SAY THAT THE UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY ARE ASKING 2400.00 FOR THE REPAIR BUT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY OWNERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL THE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ESC). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO GUNTHER VOLKSWAGEN OF FORT LAUDERDALE (1660 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317, (954) 797-1660) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED PER THE RECALL BECAUSE INSUFFICIENT PCU GROUND CONNECTION WAS NOT DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MODULE COULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED EXACTLY WHAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 16V913000 AND IT IS THE MODEL AND YEAR AS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN. WITH IGNITION ON AND WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN 4-5-POSSIBLY 6 LIGHTS COME ON MY DASHBOARD A CHIME STARTS DINGING AND THE ABS,ESC,AIRBAG,EPC, BARKE PEDAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON DASH ALONG WITH EITHER THE SP…
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MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED EXACTLY WHAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 16V913000 AND IT IS THE MODEL AND YEAR AS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN. WITH IGNITION ON AND WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN 4-5-POSSIBLY 6 LIGHTS COME ON MY DASHBOARD A CHIME STARTS DINGING AND THE ABS,ESC,AIRBAG,EPC, BARKE PEDAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON DASH ALONG WITH EITHER THE SPEEDO OR TACHOMETER START JUMPING. VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR DRIVING BUT VEHICLE MUST BE RUNNING.
ABS CONTROL MODULE. ABS LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT AND BLINKING E-BRAKE LIGHT. NO TRACTION CONTROL OR ABS WHILE DRIVING.
I GOT A RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE FOR MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO VOLKSWAGEN I WAS TOLD THE RECALL WENT THROUGH BUT THERE IS CODES THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. WITH THAT BEING SAID I HAVE TO PAY 2,600 DOLLERS FOR A NEW ABS MODULE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MOST 2009 GTI'S WHY H…
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I GOT A RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE FOR MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO VOLKSWAGEN I WAS TOLD THE RECALL WENT THROUGH BUT THERE IS CODES THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. WITH THAT BEING SAID I HAVE TO PAY 2,600 DOLLERS FOR A NEW ABS MODULE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MOST 2009 GTI'S WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THE ACTUAL MODULE ITS SELF SINCE SO MANY ARE HAVING ISSUES.
I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT LAST YEAR WITH COMPLAINT #: 10907462. SUMMARY OF THE UNEXPECTED ABS MODULE BREAKDOWN THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. THE MODULE BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME ON 09/06/216 ON MY WAY TO WORK AND IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I SLOWED DOWN THE SPEED TO AROUND 45 AFTER I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHE…
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I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT LAST YEAR WITH COMPLAINT #: 10907462. SUMMARY OF THE UNEXPECTED ABS MODULE BREAKDOWN THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. THE MODULE BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME ON 09/06/216 ON MY WAY TO WORK AND IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I SLOWED DOWN THE SPEED TO AROUND 45 AFTER I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THE LIGHTS AND BEEPING DID NOT STOP WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED AND REPAIRED (PAID OUT OF POCKET) AT VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, THE ABS MODULE APPARENTLY HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON GTI AND GLI JETTA. MOST RECENTLY, THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ABS MODULES ON CERTAIN VW VEHICLES; HOWEVER MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PART THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME A CAR CRASH ON THE HIGHWAY! PLEASE INVESTIGATE INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE THE VW OFFICIALLY EXTEND THEIR QUALIFICATION FOR RECALLS. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO ONLY RECALL CERTAIN VEHICLES AS OTHER CARE MODELS/YEARS ALSO USE THE EXACT SAME MANUFACTURER DEFECT ABS MODULES!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE MAKING A TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE FUEL GAUGE RANDOMLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL ANCIRA VOLKSWAGEN DEALER LOCATED IN SAN ANTONIO, TX WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE MAKING A TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE FUEL GAUGE RANDOMLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL ANCIRA VOLKSWAGEN DEALER LOCATED IN SAN ANTONIO, TX WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE CODES DID NOT MATCH THE FAULTS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS DENIED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,600.
Official recalls
216V913000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Dec 20, 2016
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 Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
Consequence & remedy
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 service at 1-800-893-5298.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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 Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
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 service at 1-800-893-5298.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
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 Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
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 service at 1-800-893-5298.
09V333000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Aug 20, 2009
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE09035 · Vehicle Stall/loss Motive Power
Opened Jul 17, 2009 · Closed Nov 19, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:manual Transmission
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH FEATURE A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX WITH TWO WET RUNNING CLUTCHES (DUAL CLUTCH) IN WHICH THE CLUTCH MECHANISM AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ELECTROHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY A MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT.THE DSG MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER INCLUDES EXTENSIVE SELF DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AND PREVENT SYSTEM/COMPONENT DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF COMPONENT FAILURES OR HARSH OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE BASIC HIERARCHY OF FAULT MODES INCLUDES SOME THAT ONLY RESULT IN THE STORAGE OF A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) AND CAUSE NO LOSS OF FUNCTION, SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND REDUCE VEHICLE OPERATION TO A LIMP HOME MODE, AND SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER (I.E., OPEN CLUTCH).THE DRIVER IS ALERTED TO THE LATTER TWO MODES BY THE DASH GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (PRNDS) FLASHING. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT RESULTS IN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER IS EXCESS GEARBOX TEMPERATURE.THE SYSTEM INITIALLY RESPONDS TO INCREASED GEARBOX TEMPERATURE BY RAMPING DOWN ENGINE TORQUE.IF THE TEMPERATURE KEEPS RISING THE MECHATRONIC UNIT RESPONDS BY OPENING THE CLUTCH.IN A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT SUBMITTED TO NHTSA ON AUGUST 20, 2009, VOLKSWAGEN DESCRIBED A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESSES OF THE DSG GEARBOX TEMPERATURE SENSORS USED IN APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2009 AND 2010 VOLKSWAGEN (EOS, JETTA AND GTI) AND AUDI (A3 AND TT/TT ROADSTER) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DSG TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2008 THROUGH AUGUST 2009 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 09V-333, VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. 37E3/S7 AND AUDI RECALL NO 37E4/J7). VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT, THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DSG MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED BY THE CONNECTOR SUPPLIER DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD.WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL.IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH.IN ADDITION, THE DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.VOLKSWAGEN ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN THE DEFECT CONDITION. ODI IDENTIFIED 40 COMPLAINTS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR DEFECT CONDITION DESCRIBED BY VOLKSWAGEN.VOLKSWAGEN RECEIVED 139 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE CONDITION, WITH 7 INVOLVING VEHICLES REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING A 172 TOTAL COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLKSWAGEN.ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS INVOLVE THE MY 2009 AN 2010 VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL 09V-333. ODI ALSO IDENTIFIED COMPLAINTS OF HARSH/JERKY SHIFTING IN SOME VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES WITH DSG.VOLKSWAGEN ATTRIBUTED THIS CONDITION, WHICH TYPICALLY OCCURS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, TO EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE BUSHINGS OF THE TWO SOLENOID VALVES IN THE MECHATRONIC UNIT THAT CONTROL CLUTCH OPERATION.VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE THIS CONDITION IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THE CHANGES IN SHIFT QUALITY DEVELOP GRADUALLY OVER TIME, DO NOT CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ANY FATALITIES, INJURIES OR SERIOUS CRASHES (THERE WERE THREE REPORTED PROPERTY DAMAGE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN MINOR BODY DAMAGE IN VERY LOW SPEED, PARKING MANEUVERS).VOLKSWAGEN ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIELD WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OF POTENTIALLY AFFECTED MECHATRONIC UNITS AS WELL