Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 10 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
at or around 6:52pm on 9/11/2026, what I assume is the seatbelt pretensioner deployed while I was driving down a smooth road. absolutely no potholes or anything of the sort, I was just regularly driving down the road and it snapped and tightened up onto my chest, started smoking inside, and injured the left side of my neck. I ha…
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at or around 6:52pm on 9/11/2026, what I assume is the seatbelt pretensioner deployed while I was driving down a smooth road. absolutely no potholes or anything of the sort, I was just regularly driving down the road and it snapped and tightened up onto my chest, started smoking inside, and injured the left side of my neck. I have a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen 2.5 SE. I don't understand what happened, but this is a clear safety concern, and this absolutely terrified me. I immediately pulled over and checked under and around the car, there was nothing.
NHTSA ODI #11763740
135,000 miles · May 29, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
ABS, ESC INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND WITH BRAKE INDICATOR FLASHING AND AUDIBLE SOUND. DIAGNOSED AT CAPISTRANO VW AS FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. REPAIR DECLINED DUE TO $2,500 COST, BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED IN SAFETY RECALL 45F2, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 16V913 (ALTHOUGH VIN NOT IND…
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ABS, ESC INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND WITH BRAKE INDICATOR FLASHING AND AUDIBLE SOUND. DIAGNOSED AT CAPISTRANO VW AS FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. REPAIR DECLINED DUE TO $2,500 COST, BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED IN SAFETY RECALL 45F2, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 16V913 (ALTHOUGH VIN NOT INDICATED AS PART OF RECALL ACCORDING TO NHTSA RECORDS). WILL FOLLOW UP WITH DEALERSHIP. NHTSA SHOULD NOTE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO CAUSE MANUFACTURER TO EXPAND NUMBER OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. VW'S RESPONSE APPEARS TO BE INADEQUATE SO FAR.
NHTSA ODI #11210711
139,000 miles · Sep 4, 2018
Electrical System
MY CAR IGNITION ARE CONTINUE FAILING ON ME. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOME TIMES WAS NOT WORKING. THE KEYS GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. WE CAN'T TURN OFF THE ENGINE.SOME TIMES WE CAN'T TURN ON THE ENGINE. I'M AFRAID ITS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT IGNITION WILL FAIL DURING DRIVING.
NHTSA ODI #11124427
155,558 miles · Jul 18, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
VW REFUSING TO COMPLETE ABS MODULE RECALL BECAUSE ABS MODULE ALREADY HAS FAULT CODES STORED. THE POINT OF THE RECALL IS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FAULTY ABS MODULES, BUT IN OUR CASE, SINCE THE MODULE ALREADY CONTAINS FAULT CODES, THE DEALERSHIP AND VW CORPORATE ARE REFUSING TO PERFORM THE SAFETY RECALL
NHTSA ODI #11006157
71,000 miles · Jan 11, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL MILEAGE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED, AND THE ABS CORD WAS BURNED AN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL MILEAGE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED, AND THE ABS CORD WAS BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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