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2009 Volkswagen Gti

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

167 reports
114,000 miles · Jan 19, 2020
Power Train

MY PRNDS LIGHTS FLASHING. WHEN I PUT CAR IN D OR R NOTHING HAPPENS. ACTS LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON WHY. FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11300342

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

110,000 miles · Aug 29, 2019
Power TrainService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (POWER TRAIN) BY HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN PARKVILLE (9215 HARFORD RD, PARKVILLE, MD 21234, (877) 398-1963). AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE DE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (POWER TRAIN) BY HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN PARKVILLE (9215 HARFORD RD, PARKVILLE, MD 21234, (877) 398-1963). AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS SHOWING THE INCORRECT FAILURE CODES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AND TWITCHING AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, THE STEERING BECAME LOOSE, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INITIALLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED; HOWEVER, THEY LATER CALLED THE CONTACT BACK STATING THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE INCORRECT FAILURE CODES WERE VAG00290 (DRIVER'S SIDE REAR ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WITH MECHANICAL FUNCTION) AND VAG00285 (PASSENGER SIDE FRONT ABS SPEED SENSOR). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DEALER THAT THE RECALL HAD TO MATCH TWO OF THE SPECIFIC CODES, WHICH WAS WHY THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RUN AROUND FOR A WEEK WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, STATING THEY WERE WAITING TO HEAR FROM EACH OTHER. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #11252241

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

56,000 miles · Jul 15, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

ONE OF THE HID HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE BULB FAIL WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH TO BE ILLUMINATED. I WENT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT A NEW BULB. UPON REMOVAL OF THE BULB ACCESS COVER I FOUND THAT ALL THE INSULATION ON ALLOF THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT TO HAVE DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE BARE WIRES TO TOUCH AND…

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ONE OF THE HID HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE BULB FAIL WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH TO BE ILLUMINATED. I WENT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT A NEW BULB. UPON REMOVAL OF THE BULB ACCESS COVER I FOUND THAT ALL THE INSULATION ON ALLOF THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT TO HAVE DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE BARE WIRES TO TOUCH AND SHORT OUT. I THEN INSPECTED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE EXACT SAME CONDITION. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE TWO NEW HEADLAMP UNITS AT A COST OF $500 PER UNIT. I THEN CONTACTED VWOFA ( CUSTOMER CARE REF #[XXX]) ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT AGAIN BEING OUT OF WARRANTY IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO INCUR THE REPAIR COSTS. AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60K AND THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PLEASE INVESTIGATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI #11232001

151,000 miles · Jul 14, 2019
Air BagsEngineExterior Lighting

TAKATA RECALL MY VOLKSWAGEN HAS MANY PROBLEMS THAT I BELIEVE ARE FACTORY DEFECTS. STARTING WITH THE AIRBAG FAULT WARNING THAT COMES ON AS SOON AS I START THE VEHICLE. THEN ITSTARTED LOOSING COOLANT TO TBE POINT THAT K WAS HAVING TO PULL OVER EVERY 30-50 MILES TO PUT MORE. AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGIN HAS BEEN RUNNING FO…

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TAKATA RECALL MY VOLKSWAGEN HAS MANY PROBLEMS THAT I BELIEVE ARE FACTORY DEFECTS. STARTING WITH THE AIRBAG FAULT WARNING THAT COMES ON AS SOON AS I START THE VEHICLE. THEN ITSTARTED LOOSING COOLANT TO TBE POINT THAT K WAS HAVING TO PULL OVER EVERY 30-50 MILES TO PUT MORE. AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGIN HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. THEN THE CHECK COOLANT COMES ON AND SHORTLY AFTER IT SAYS CHECK OIL PRESSURE TURN OFF ENGINE. IVE HAD TO PUT MORE WORK INTO THIS CAR THAN WHAT ITS WORTH. THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF RANDOMLY THE BRIGHTS DONT WORK OR WHILE IM DRIVING ONE WILL TURN OFF OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME AND THIS HAPPENS ANYWHERE IF MY CAR IS IN MOTION. . THE IMAGE BELOW THAT SHOWS THE RADIATOR CONNECTOR THAT HAS KB WELD ON IT BECAUSE MY ENGINE GOT SO HOT THAT THE TOP HOSE BROKE OFF CAUSING A DOMINO EFFECT OF PROBLEMS ANLONG WITH COSTLY REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #11231751

150,000 miles · Jun 30, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON STREET ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THE CAR WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO A UNKNOWN GEAR AND ALL LIGHTS START FLASHING PUTTING THE CAR INTO A NEUTRAL THAT DOESN'T FIX UNTIL IT'S RESTARTED.

NHTSA ODI #11228559

100,000 miles · Apr 11, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. PARKED THE CAR IN MAY OF 2017 AND HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE. VW HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH I'VE BROUGHT THE ISSUE OF THE VEHICLE HAVING TROUBLE SWITCHING TO REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. HAVE RECEIV…

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THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. PARKED THE CAR IN MAY OF 2017 AND HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE. VW HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH I'VE BROUGHT THE ISSUE OF THE VEHICLE HAVING TROUBLE SWITCHING TO REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE THE ABS/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. REPEATEDLY TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO NO AVAIL. ** NOTE: VW HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE ISSUES "FREE OF CHARGE" AS STATED. THAT I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR INSPECTION BY A DEALERSHIP AND SINCE I'M 'OUT OF WARRANTY', I'M SURE THEY'D CHARGE ME FOR THE SERVICE AS WELL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO 'OPEN INSPECTIONS' DONE TO LOOK INTO THE RECALL BEFORE MY PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE AS A PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED CAR FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS IN DEC. 2010. ** TRIED SUBMITTING THIS BEFORE, WHICH CAUSED AN ERROR AND FAIL. IT ERASED ALL MY DATA. PLEASE REVIEW MY ATTACHED DOCUMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11195675

120,000 miles · Mar 13, 2019
Power Train

MY CAR DISENGAGES ITSELF WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE I GIVE IT GAS IT SUDDENLY CATCHES GEAR AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS RECALL TELLING ME THERE ARE NON BUT WHEN CHECKED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THERE IS.DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX DSG RECALL#09V333000

NHTSA ODI #11186628

Official recalls

2

16V913000 · 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

1

PE09035 · 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