The 2009 Volkswagen GTI has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 151,683 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 295 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)16V9130002016-12-20135,683 affected
Defect
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…
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…
POWER TRAIN09V3330002009-08-2016,000 affected
Defect
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…
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.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES
94
4crashes
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
69
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
31
1fires
STEERING
20
POWER TRAIN
18
ENGINE
15
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
AIR BAGS
4
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
4
Total complaints295
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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;…”
“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;…”
“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…”
“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,…”
“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,…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE09035 Opened 2009-07-17 · closed 2009-11-19
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2009 Volkswagen GTI as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.