NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
94 reportsClear category filter55,000 miles · Jun 12, 2015
Service BrakesStructureWheelsCrash
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 34 FROM GREELEY CO TOWARDS LOVELAND CO AT SPEED LIMIT OF 65. I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO ADJUST MY SPEED FOR TRAFFIC, AS I APPLIED THE BREAKS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER A MOMENT I WAS IN A DITCH WITH BENT WHEELS AND BODY DAMAGE TO MY GTI FR…
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 34 FROM GREELEY CO TOWARDS LOVELAND CO AT SPEED LIMIT OF 65. I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO ADJUST MY SPEED FOR TRAFFIC, AS I APPLIED THE BREAKS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER A MOMENT I WAS IN A DITCH WITH BENT WHEELS AND BODY DAMAGE TO MY GTI FROM THE SPEED LIMIT AND MILE MARKERS SIGNED I STUCK. MOST LIKELY THESE TWO POST WERE PROBABLY WHAT KEPT THE CAR FROM ROLLING AND KILLING ME. POLICE AND INSURANCE HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE CRASH.
NHTSA ODI #10725005
53,050 miles · Jun 2, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. THEN A WARNING LIGHT THAT THE RIGHT, REAR TURN SIGNAL HAD FAILED. ONE WEEK LATER THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS COVERED IN WARNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING A "FAULTY ENGINE WORKSHOP" WARNING LIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, LEAVING ME WITH NO ABS BRAKING ON A WELL MAINTAINED, 50K MILE …
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ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. THEN A WARNING LIGHT THAT THE RIGHT, REAR TURN SIGNAL HAD FAILED. ONE WEEK LATER THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS COVERED IN WARNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING A "FAULTY ENGINE WORKSHOP" WARNING LIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, LEAVING ME WITH NO ABS BRAKING ON A WELL MAINTAINED, 50K MILE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THE TSI MKV GTI AT THIS MILEAGE. VW OF AMERICA OFFERED ME NO ASSISTANCE. VW SHOULD RECALL THIS PART BEFORE THEY SEE ANY ACCIDENTS LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #10722981
95,000 miles · May 26, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
THE ABS MODULE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES ONLINE. THE MODULE WILL FAIL CAUSING ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE LIGHTS TO ALL COME ON. MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD IS LIT NOW. THE CAR READS "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP" AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL DROP TO 0 MPH. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL CHANGE FROM EMPTY TO 3/4 TO 1/2 WHIL…
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THE ABS MODULE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES ONLINE. THE MODULE WILL FAIL CAUSING ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE LIGHTS TO ALL COME ON. MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD IS LIT NOW. THE CAR READS "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP" AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL DROP TO 0 MPH. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL CHANGE FROM EMPTY TO 3/4 TO 1/2 WHILE DRIVING. AUDIBLE BEEPS ARE HEARD FROM DASH.
NHTSA ODI #10721387
75,000 miles · May 4, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes
I PURCHASED MY 2009 GTI FEB 2015 AND THE CARFAX WAS GREAT; HOWEVER, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE RANDOMLY FAILED ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER CAUSING LOSE OF STEERING AND CONTROL, THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND IT WAS VERY SCARY. LOUD WARNING BEEPS WENT OFF AND WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. THE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED FLAS…
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I PURCHASED MY 2009 GTI FEB 2015 AND THE CARFAX WAS GREAT; HOWEVER, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE RANDOMLY FAILED ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER CAUSING LOSE OF STEERING AND CONTROL, THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND IT WAS VERY SCARY. LOUD WARNING BEEPS WENT OFF AND WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. THE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED FLASHING UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT AND DROVE IT HOME. I TESTED MY CAR AGAIN MINUTES AFTER ARRIVING HOME. IT SEEMED FINE, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER JUST A MINUTE OF DRIVING IT. I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER SERVICE CENTER. THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE TO BE THE ABS MODULE. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST IS $2,260. I CALLED VW AND THEY DO NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY CONSIDERING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE DANGER THIS MALFUNCTION IMPOSES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10714388
55,616 miles · Apr 14, 2015
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control
DRIVING AT SPEED, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE RANDOMLY FAILS, CAUSING ABS BRAKES TO SKID UNDER HARD BRAKING. LOSE OF STEERING AND CONTROL IS THE RESULT. IN ADDITION THE PARTIAL STEERING IS AFFECTED. THIS IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN DOES NOT REPLACE FAULTY UNITS AS THIS CAN CAUSE FAT…
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DRIVING AT SPEED, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE RANDOMLY FAILS, CAUSING ABS BRAKES TO SKID UNDER HARD BRAKING. LOSE OF STEERING AND CONTROL IS THE RESULT. IN ADDITION THE PARTIAL STEERING IS AFFECTED. THIS IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN DOES NOT REPLACE FAULTY UNITS AS THIS CAN CAUSE FATALITIES AND INJURIES. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPLACING THESE UNITS THROUGH NON-CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS, OR DIY. THIS SHOULD BE INSTALLED BY A VW CERTIFIED TECH. NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL OR SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE. THERE ARE SO MANY CASES OF THIS FLOATING AROUND THE INTERNET FORUMS AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR PEOPLE TO FINALLY LISTEN????? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10705516
29,000 miles · Mar 31, 2015
Service Brakes
I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON DRY CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY A LOUD WARNING TONE WENT OFF AND 3 WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE) STARTED FLASHING. THIS WAS IN HEAVY TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AND IT WAS TERRIFYING TO THINK THESE SYSTEMS HAD FAILED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND …
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I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON DRY CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY A LOUD WARNING TONE WENT OFF AND 3 WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE) STARTED FLASHING. THIS WAS IN HEAVY TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AND IT WAS TERRIFYING TO THINK THESE SYSTEMS HAD FAILED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP SAFELY. THE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED FLASHING UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT, SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME TYPE OF FLUKE. BUT TO BE SAFE I BROUGHT IT TO MY VW DEALER SERVICE CENTER. INITIALLY THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE DSG MECHATRONIC UNIT, WHICH THEY REPLACED. HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED AGAIN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. THIS TIME WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO VW THEY INDICATED THAT THE ABS MODULE AND PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT THE COST OF $3,600. VW REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. DUE TO THE HIGH COST INITIALLY I POSTPONED THE REPAIR, BUT SINCE THEN THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MORE TIMES AND I HAVE READ ABOUT NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE, SO I AM GETTING THE WORK DONE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED IT HAD ONLY 29,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER AND DRIVEN RESPONSIBLY. EVERY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED DURING MILD DRIVING CONDITIONS AND I WAS NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. IT JUST FAILS AT RANDOM. USUALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS THIS OCCURS WHILE TURNING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702866
61,000 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Service Brakes
THE VW DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. WHILE DRIVING A CAR WITH A FAILED CONTROL MODULE, THERE A NO SYMPTOMS, BUT IF YOU HIT THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE ABS SYSTEM, THE ABS SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. THE TIRES LOCK, AND THE CAR SLIDES. THEREAFTER, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, BUT P…
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THE VW DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. WHILE DRIVING A CAR WITH A FAILED CONTROL MODULE, THERE A NO SYMPTOMS, BUT IF YOU HIT THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE ABS SYSTEM, THE ABS SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. THE TIRES LOCK, AND THE CAR SLIDES. THEREAFTER, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, BUT POWER CYCLING THE CAR TURNS THE LIGHTS OFF, GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PROBLEM HAS RESOLVED. I WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE RISK OF SOMEONE BEING IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF AN ABS FAILURE IS HIGH. YOU WOULD ONLY FIND OUT THE PART HAD FAILED AFTER YOU NEEDED IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10671470
101,000 miles · Jan 1, 2015
Service Brakes
THE VEHICLE SEVERELY WONDERED UNDER HARD BRAKING WITHOUT ANY ALARM BEING TRIGGERED BEFORE THE INCIDENT. ONLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON. AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DESIGNED AS A FAIL-SAFE SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT SEEM GOOD…
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THE VEHICLE SEVERELY WONDERED UNDER HARD BRAKING WITHOUT ANY ALARM BEING TRIGGERED BEFORE THE INCIDENT. ONLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON. AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DESIGNED AS A FAIL-SAFE SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT SEEM GOOD ENGINEERING PRACTICE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10669505
8,300 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Service Brakes
TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP. CAR'S ABS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND CONTINUED TO STAY OFF UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE ABS LIGHT DISAPPEARED UNTIL NEXT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN ABS FAILED AGAIN. ISSUE HAS PERSISTED IN ANY TYPE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10659329
104,407 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-895 AT 55 MPH, NEARLY ALL OF MY WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, ALONG WITH "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP" ON THE MASS DISPLAY. THE VW DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. UPON RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2009 VW GTI'S. SOME HAVE REPORTED THAT THE THEIR B…
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WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-895 AT 55 MPH, NEARLY ALL OF MY WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, ALONG WITH "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP" ON THE MASS DISPLAY. THE VW DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. UPON RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2009 VW GTI'S. SOME HAVE REPORTED THAT THE THEIR BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP ON THEM. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND THEY DENY ANY ISSUES WITH THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10659328
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