NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
20 reportsClear category filter88,000 miles · May 15, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering
MY CAR WAS AFFECTED BY THE 2017 RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE. I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CORNER AND HIT BRAKES TO SLOW A LITTLE, THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/STEERING LIGHT(S) CAME ON AND MY BRAKES LOCKED MOMENTARILY CAUSE ME TO SLIDE. I CALLED LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED(AND VW AMERICA) THAT BECAUSE THEY W…
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MY CAR WAS AFFECTED BY THE 2017 RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE. I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CORNER AND HIT BRAKES TO SLOW A LITTLE, THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/STEERING LIGHT(S) CAME ON AND MY BRAKES LOCKED MOMENTARILY CAUSE ME TO SLIDE. I CALLED LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED(AND VW AMERICA) THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PULL CODES FROM THE MODULE I WOULD NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE IT MYSELF AND THEN THEY COULD PERFORM THE RECALL. THIS IS COMPLETE AND UTTER STUPIDITY. THE MODULE WAS RECALLED DUE TO FAILURES. THEY SHOULD COVER THE COMPLETE COST TO REPLACE AND RECODE. I WAS QUOTED 2100.00 MY CAR ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11324642
125,000 miles · Feb 13, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering
A NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON AND SOUND ALARMS COME ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES ON ITS OWN AT TIMES AND THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VW DEALER LOCATED IN COUNTRYSIDE IL (AUTOBARN) KNOWING THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM. THE DEALER EXPLAI…
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A NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON AND SOUND ALARMS COME ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES ON ITS OWN AT TIMES AND THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VW DEALER LOCATED IN COUNTRYSIDE IL (AUTOBARN) KNOWING THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS NOT WORKING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT ($2,400) PARTS AND LABOR AND THAT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PART.
NHTSA ODI #11309047
62,300 miles · Dec 22, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering
WHILE TAKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL, MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A LOSS OF DRIVE.AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN OFFICIAL VW DEALERSHIP THEY SPENT 2 DAYS DIAGNOSING THE 6 PAGES OF FAULTS THAT CAME UP AND INFORMED ME THAT THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED AND WILL REQUIRE …
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WHILE TAKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL, MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A LOSS OF DRIVE.AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN OFFICIAL VW DEALERSHIP THEY SPENT 2 DAYS DIAGNOSING THE 6 PAGES OF FAULTS THAT CAME UP AND INFORMED ME THAT THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA ODI #11290692
80,000 miles · Sep 23, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering
ABS CODE 16352 PRESENT. CAR LOST CONSISTENT ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSISTANCE MAKING FOR VARYING STEERING WHEEL RESISTANCE DURING TURNING. MOST DASH INFORMATION (SPEED, FUEL GAUGE, ETC.) FLUCTUATED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR ALL VW VEHICLES WITH ABS CONTROL MODULE ISSUES, NOT JUST SOME. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF…
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ABS CODE 16352 PRESENT. CAR LOST CONSISTENT ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSISTANCE MAKING FOR VARYING STEERING WHEEL RESISTANCE DURING TURNING. MOST DASH INFORMATION (SPEED, FUEL GAUGE, ETC.) FLUCTUATED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR ALL VW VEHICLES WITH ABS CONTROL MODULE ISSUES, NOT JUST SOME. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF VW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SPECIFIC FAULT I THREW WAS NOT COVERED (UNDER EXISTING RECALLS) EVEN THOUGH ALL ABS CONTROL MODULE ISSUES RESULT IN EVENTUAL FAILURE OF DASH CLUSTER AS WELL AS OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS (WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED RESULTING IN ONGOING COSTLY SHOP VISITS).
NHTSA ODI #11257293
59,000 miles · Jul 15, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET IN DRY CONDITIONAT A STEADY SPEED THE ESC LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL I HAD PARKED THE CAR FOR SOME TIME AND RESTARTED IT. THE LIGHT THEN CAME BACK ON AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THIS TIME IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE ELECTRIC POWER STE…
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ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET IN DRY CONDITIONAT A STEADY SPEED THE ESC LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL I HAD PARKED THE CAR FOR SOME TIME AND RESTARTED IT. THE LIGHT THEN CAME BACK ON AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THIS TIME IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WHICH BEGAN TO FLASH ORANGE, THEN WAS SOLID ORANGE AND THEN FLASHED BETWEEN ORANGE AND RED. WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING LIGHT IS ORANGE THE STEERING ASSISTANCE IS REDUCED WHEN STRAIGHTENING AFTER CORNERING, HOWEVER WHEN IT IS RED THERE IS NO POWER ASSISTANCE AND THIS CONDITION CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING. NOW YESTERDAY(7/14/2019) WHEN DRIVING AT 40MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN THE DRY, THE ENGINE FAIL! WORKSHOP NOW!, ESP,EPC, ELECTRO STEERING, CEL AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ACCOMPANIED BY A CHIME AND THE SPEEDO WENT FROM 40 TO 0 AND BACK UP AGAIN WHILE IN MOTION. QUITE DISCONCERTING TO HAVE ALL THAT HAPPEN AT ONCE. AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE OK UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF A GAS STATION AT WHICH TIME WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE REVS WENT UP BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE UNTIL THE THIRD ATTEMPT. I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT THIS MAYBE A RESULT OF AN ABS MODULE FAILURE BUT MY VIN DOESN'T PULL UP ANY RECALLS AND MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOT ONLY DOES THIS SOUND LIKE IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, IT IS ALSO A HUGH SAFETY ISSUE! UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES AS IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND NOT SAFE TO TRY AND TAKE PICTURED WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA ODI #11232029
104,000 miles · Dec 13, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering
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.
NHTSA ODI #11054568
95,120 miles · Apr 5, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN STEERING MECHANISM FAILED AND THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN STEERING MECHANISM FAILED AND THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,120.
NHTSA ODI #10970644
67,000 miles · Jan 12, 2017
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering
VEHICLE HAS FAILED ABS MODULE, AS DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC. ABS LIGHT IS ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, AS TO BE EXPECTED. WHILE IN MOTION, ON EITHER CITY STREET OR FREEWAY, VEHICLE RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST GEAR AND IS UNABLE TO SWITCH BACK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR WORKING AGAIN IS TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON, A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION WHEN …
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VEHICLE HAS FAILED ABS MODULE, AS DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC. ABS LIGHT IS ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, AS TO BE EXPECTED. WHILE IN MOTION, ON EITHER CITY STREET OR FREEWAY, VEHICLE RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST GEAR AND IS UNABLE TO SWITCH BACK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR WORKING AGAIN IS TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON, A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION WHEN YOU'RE ON THE FREEWAY. IN ADDITION, POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP! COMES ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES IN MOTION. SPEEDOMETER ALSO RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING WHILE TACHOMETER GOES OUT OF CONTROL. WHAT BEGINS AS A SIMPLE BRAKE PROBLEM IS NOW AN UNDRIVEABLE CAR. HAVE HAD TO PUSH CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. COMPLETELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS TO DRIVE IN.
NHTSA ODI #10944646
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
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