ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2009 Volkswagen GTI
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 167 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen GTI, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 596 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2013 | 1 | 29 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 30 |
| Jul 2014 | 4 | 34 |
| Aug 2014 | 4 | 38 |
| Sep 2014 | 2 | 40 |
| Oct 2014 | 3 | 43 |
| Nov 2014 | 5 | 48 |
| Dec 2014 | 2 | 50 |
| Jan 2015 | 2 | 52 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 53 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 54 |
| May 2015 | 2 | 56 |
| Jun 2015 | 4 | 60 |
| Aug 2015 | 3 | 63 |
| Sep 2015 | 3 | 66 |
| Oct 2015 | 3 | 69 |
| Nov 2015 | 3 | 72 |
| Dec 2015 | 3 | 75 |
| Jan 2016 | 3 | 78 |
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 79 |
| Mar 2016 | 4 | 83 |
| Apr 2016 | 3 | 86 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 87 |
| Jun 2016 | 3 | 90 |
| Jul 2016 | 2 | 92 |
| Aug 2016 | 5 | 97 |
| Sep 2016 | 5 | 102 |
| Oct 2016 | 1 | 103 |
| Nov 2016 | 6 | 109 |
| Dec 2016 | 5 | 114 |
| Jan 2017 | 2 | 116 |
| Feb 2017 | 7 | 123 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 124 |
| May 2017 | 3 | 127 |
| Jun 2017 | 3 | 130 |
| Jul 2017 | 1 | 131 |
| Aug 2017 | 3 | 134 |
| Sep 2017 | 2 | 136 |
| Dec 2017 | 4 | 140 |
| Mar 2018 | 2 | 142 |
| Jun 2018 | 2 | 144 |
| Jul 2018 | 2 | 146 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 147 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 148 |
| Apr 2019 | 1 | 149 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 150 |
| Jul 2019 | 3 | 153 |
| Aug 2019 | 1 | 154 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 155 |
| Dec 2019 | 1 | 156 |
| Jan 2020 | 1 | 157 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 158 |
| May 2020 | 2 | 160 |
| Jun 2020 | 1 | 161 |
| Jul 2020 | 1 | 162 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 163 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 164 |
| Sep 2022 | 1 | 165 |
| Sep 2023 | 1 | 166 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 167 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes9833.9%
- Driver assistance7325.3%
- Electrical3110.7%
- Steering206.9%
- Powertrain (other)186.2%
- Engine175.9%
- Transmission144.8%
- Fuel system41.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWER
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
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the ABS control unit indicator light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a communication loss; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The failure mileage was 132,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11732775
- Incident
- Apr 14, 2026
- Mileage
- 132,000 mi
The warning light went on engine oil pressure off. Search manual. Then it wouldn't start. But lights where on so we put a new starter. But it wouldn't turn the engine. So We thought it must be the battery needs a jump start. And then wire from battery to starter caught on fire? I Googled the problem, and found that there had been recalls for that faulty wire before.
- NHTSA ID
- 11543629
- Incident
- Jul 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the ABS warning light, traction control warning light, and the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). Upon reprogramming the ABS module, the dealer informed the contact the ABS module failed the diagnostic test and needed to be replaced; however, the dealer informed the contact that he had to pay for the repair even though the recall remedy stated that the ABS module replacement was free of charge. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11482449
- Incident
- Aug 25, 2022
- Mileage
- 17,000 mi
I recently purchased this used car and discovered that there is a recall on it. I made an appointment for the recall service. Prior to the appointment, the ABS warning light came on while driving the car. I took the car to University Volkswagen. They charged me for a diagnostic on the ABS system and have advised that the ABS module needs to be replaced and that I must have that done, before they can address the recall. I asked the service advisor if the issues with the ABS system were due to the recall issue, and he told me it was difficult to say. I escalated the issue, and they still tell me that I have to pay $3000 to replace the ABS module before they can do the recall work. It seems that if the ABS failure is due to the recall, that it should not be up to me to pay for the ABS module so that they can test the ABS module. Can you please help me with this situation, or advise me what steps to take next?
- NHTSA ID
- 11462527
- Incident
- Apr 18, 2022
ABS MODULE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE ON THIS MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN GTI. SOME VINS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT USES THE SAME ABS SYSTEM AND ABS MODULE THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. ALL VINS THAT USE THIS ABS MODULE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
- NHTSA ID
- 11388670
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2021
- Mileage
- 110,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO YOUNG VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 191 COMMERCE PARK DR, EASTON, PA 18045, (610) 991-9100, HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO CIOCCA VOLKSWAGEN OF ALLENTOWN LOCATED AT 1346 LEHIGH ST, ALLENTOWN, PA 18103, (610) 890-7050, WHERE AN UNKNOWN SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11331995
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2018
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE, I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE VW OF MURIETTA CALIFORNIA DEALER TO GET THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF ON 1/11/20 AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY ASSUMED THAT THE MODULE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO CLEAR THE RECALL IN THE SYSTEM. THEN ON 4/10/20 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE AND MENTIONED THE STILL ACTIVE RECALL, THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE MODULE WAS UNABLE TO BE UPDATED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN ESTIMATE OF $1800 TO FIX THE RECALL. ON 4/16/20 I CALLED VW OF AMERICA TO WHICH THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT VW OF MURRIETA DID NOT HAVE AN OPEN CLAIM WITH THEM ABOUT MY VEHICLE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 11328709
- Incident
- Apr 15, 2020
- Mileage
- 115,000 mi
AFTER DRIVING MY CAR FOR FIVE MINUTES, I HEARD A LOUD "POP" FROM THE CAR'S RIGHT SIDE. I LOOKED OVER AND OBSERVED THAT MY RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR WAS BLACK BUT STILL INTACT. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND EXITED MY CAR, I FELT THE MIRROR WHICH FELT TO NO LONGER BE FLAT BUT WARPED IN VARIOUS SPOTS. IT IS QUITE APPARENT THE MIRROR OVERHEATED. MY MIRROR FUNCTION NOB WAS NOT IN THE "HEAT" POSITION AND WAS SET TO THE LEFT SIDE MIRROR POSITION. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 11325090
- Incident
- May 18, 2020
- Mileage
- 132,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.
ENGINE
Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
ENGINE
Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
ENGINE
Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
AIR BAGS
Inquiries
ENGINE
Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2023 | 6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 56.5 |
| 2021 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 179 | 4 | 2 | 51.8 |
| 2018 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 58.5 |
| 2017 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 2016 | 66 | 4 | 1 | 56.9 |
| 2015 | 97 | 6 | 1 | 61.5 |
| 2014 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 55.5 |
| 2013 | 34 | 2 | 3 | 51.7 |
| 2012 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 52.9 |
| 2011 | 54 | 2 | 3 | 48.9 |
| 2010 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 44.1 |
| 2009Viewing | 167 | 2 | 1 | 50.0 |
| 2008 | 67 | 1 | 1 | 42.1 |
| 2007 | 77 | 1 | 0 | 36.5 |
| 2006 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 45.8 |
| 2005 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 48.4 |
| 2002 | 124 | 2 | 2 | 54.5 |
| 2001 | 74 | 2 | 2 | 60.3 |
| 2000 | 45 | 3 | 2 | 53.8 |
| 1999 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 39.3 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 35.0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1995 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 58.2 |
| 1994 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.