NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
94 reportsClear category filter93,000 miles · Dec 9, 2016
Service Brakes
ABS MODULE AND PUMP IS FAULTY, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CASE WITH MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GTI SPECIFIC TO THE 2009 YEAR. THIS CAUSES THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL TO NOT WORK, ALONG WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING, NO OR FAULTY READING ON SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE AT ANY SPEED IN BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. CORNERING IS VERY DIFFICULT …
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ABS MODULE AND PUMP IS FAULTY, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CASE WITH MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GTI SPECIFIC TO THE 2009 YEAR. THIS CAUSES THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL TO NOT WORK, ALONG WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING, NO OR FAULTY READING ON SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE AT ANY SPEED IN BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. CORNERING IS VERY DIFFICULT AS THE POWER STEERING IS TURNED OFF. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED BY VW OF AMERICA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10934167
74,900 miles · Dec 9, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
2009 75,000 MILES. ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY THROW UP THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS BUT THIS WOULD GO AWAY SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. I GET IN MY CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND START DRIVING FOR MAYBE 1/16TH OF A MILE AND EVERYTHING JUST FREAKS OUT. SPEEDOMETER IS DROPPING TO …
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2009 75,000 MILES. ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY THROW UP THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS BUT THIS WOULD GO AWAY SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. I GET IN MY CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND START DRIVING FOR MAYBE 1/16TH OF A MILE AND EVERYTHING JUST FREAKS OUT. SPEEDOMETER IS DROPPING TO ZERO (WHILE IN MOTION DOING ABOUT 15 MPH) AND FLUCTUATES ALL OVER BETWEEN 0 AND 20 MPH. BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. TRACTION LIGHT IS ON. ABS LIGHT IS ON. STEERING LIGHT IS ON. EPC LIGHT IS ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. AND THE MFD IS SAYING "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP". AS TIME HAS GONE ON IT NOW TENDS TO HAPPEN ATLEAST 15+ TIMES A DAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10934067
128,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Service Brakes
THE ABS PUMP MODULE FAILS ON 2009 CARS REGULARLY. THE ABS, STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS IS THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOW IT IS OUT O…
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THE ABS PUMP MODULE FAILS ON 2009 CARS REGULARLY. THE ABS, STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS IS THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE ISSUE IS CONSTANT TO THE POINT WHERE I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE SPEEDOMETER AND STEERING BEING AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE HARD PRESSED THE CAR SKIDDED.
NHTSA ODI #10933637
118,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
ABS BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE, EVERY TIME THE ABS OR STABILITY CONTROL IS ACTIVATED THE SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY FAIL AND DASH LIGHTS ALL TURN ON WITH THREE LOUD CHIMES. OTHER TIMES THE FAILURE HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. POWER CYCLING THE VEHICLE RESETS EVERYTHING BUT THE FAILURE WILL SOON OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS A WELL K…
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ABS BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE, EVERY TIME THE ABS OR STABILITY CONTROL IS ACTIVATED THE SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY FAIL AND DASH LIGHTS ALL TURN ON WITH THREE LOUD CHIMES. OTHER TIMES THE FAILURE HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. POWER CYCLING THE VEHICLE RESETS EVERYTHING BUT THE FAILURE WILL SOON OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2009 MODELS AND IN MY OPINION IS DANGEROUS -- ABS & STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ARE CRITICAL TO SAFETY DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. SOME TIME AGO I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, MY WHEELS ALL LOCKED UP AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS -- NOT WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT ON A VEHICLE THAT COMES WITH ABS BRAKES. I JUST NOW LEARNED I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS. I REGULARLY TURN THE IGNITION OFF/ON WHILE DRIVING TO POWER CYCLE AND RESET THE ABS MODULE WHEN IT ERROR FAILS - THOUGH I DON'T EXPECT IT TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10928704
60,000 miles · Nov 19, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
FAILED ABS MODULE WHICH MAKES SPEEDOMETER, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10927056
103,000 miles · Nov 15, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AROUND A CURVE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES PRETTY HARD ON THAT CURVE. THE ABS ACTIVATED VERY SHORTLY AND THEN WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION AND BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON WITH AN AUDIBLE CHIME AND THE TIRES THEN LOCKED UP, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE CAR TO START TO SPIN…
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WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AROUND A CURVE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES PRETTY HARD ON THAT CURVE. THE ABS ACTIVATED VERY SHORTLY AND THEN WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION AND BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON WITH AN AUDIBLE CHIME AND THE TIRES THEN LOCKED UP, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE CAR TO START TO SPIN SIDEWAYS. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO CORRECT IT BEFORE DISASTER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS, BASICALLY WHENEVER THE ABS IS ENGAGED, THE SYSTEM IS DISABLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF NEEDING IT, VERY DANGEROUS. I DO NOT HAVE THE $1,000+ TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10926222
106,000 miles · Nov 5, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
FIRST OCCURRENCE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON DASH MOMENTARILY WHILE ON FREEWAY. SECOND OCCURRENCE, CITY DRIVING, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, STEERING DASH LIGHTS, DASH DISPLAY "ENGINE FAULTY WORKSHOP" ALONG WITH BEEPING SOUND, SPEEDO WILDLY FLUCTUATING WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT CONSTANT SPEED AROUND 40 MPH, THEN A COUPLE OF S…
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FIRST OCCURRENCE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON DASH MOMENTARILY WHILE ON FREEWAY. SECOND OCCURRENCE, CITY DRIVING, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, STEERING DASH LIGHTS, DASH DISPLAY "ENGINE FAULTY WORKSHOP" ALONG WITH BEEPING SOUND, SPEEDO WILDLY FLUCTUATING WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT CONSTANT SPEED AROUND 40 MPH, THEN A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND EVERYTHING APPEARS NORMAL. READING FORUMS OF SIMILAR ISSUES INDICATED AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS MODULE. CAR HAS APPROX 106K MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10924405
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2016
Service Brakes
ABS CONTROL MODULE IS WELL KNOWN TO GO OUT, VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE FIX FOR LOW MILES, NOT ABLE TO SEE SPEED, NO TRACTION CONTROL, AND CAUSES BRAKE LOCK UP DURING WET WEATHER
NHTSA ODI #10910964
105,000 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Service BrakesSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10907971
115,160 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM BECAME TIGHT, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS CHECK ENGINE, STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, EPC AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE WOULD DROP TO EMPTY AND SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO MILES PER HOUR WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET …
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM BECAME TIGHT, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS CHECK ENGINE, STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, EPC AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE WOULD DROP TO EMPTY AND SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO MILES PER HOUR WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING.
NHTSA ODI #10907635
Official recalls
2Dec 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.
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
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