NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
69 reportsClear category filter72,648 miles · May 25, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
ON 11/14/2014, I PAID MY VW DEALER $1102 TO HAVE THE FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, MY CAR HAD 72,648 MILES ON IT. EARLY IN 2017, VW ANNOUNCED A RECALL OF SOME 2009 CARS OVER THE SAFETY ISSUE OF A FAULTY ABS COMPUTER. MY CAR WAS NOT LISTED IN THIS RECALL- BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE, AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED …
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ON 11/14/2014, I PAID MY VW DEALER $1102 TO HAVE THE FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, MY CAR HAD 72,648 MILES ON IT. EARLY IN 2017, VW ANNOUNCED A RECALL OF SOME 2009 CARS OVER THE SAFETY ISSUE OF A FAULTY ABS COMPUTER. MY CAR WAS NOT LISTED IN THIS RECALL- BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE, AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR MY REPAIR COSTS.
NHTSA ODI #10991602
96,000 miles · May 4, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, BRAKE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND EPC INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THAT THE REPA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, BRAKE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND EPC INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,500-$2,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE ABS MODULE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK, THE RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA ODI #10983465
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
55,000 miles · Feb 22, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
HELLO, I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT THE RECALL THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS FOR 2009-2010 GTI'S. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE THAT CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN TO OUR CARS. WHAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IS HOW MY FRIEND GOT A RECALL KETTER AND I DID NOT (WE HAVE THE SAME EXACT CARS).. MY ABS MODULE WENT OUT LAST YEAR AND I REMEMBER DRIVI…
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HELLO, I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT THE RECALL THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS FOR 2009-2010 GTI'S. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE THAT CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN TO OUR CARS. WHAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IS HOW MY FRIEND GOT A RECALL KETTER AND I DID NOT (WE HAVE THE SAME EXACT CARS).. MY ABS MODULE WENT OUT LAST YEAR AND I REMEMBER DRIVING ON THE ROADS EVERY DAY WITHOUT TRACTION, ESC CONTROL, PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE DASH WAS LIGHTENED UP.. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND HAD TO PAY 1600 DOLLARS OUT MY TUITION FUND JUST TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT IS NOW A RECALL A YEAR LATER! I AM WONDERING IF VW FIGURED THAT MY CAR WAS GOOD AND THOUGHT I WOULDNT NEED A RECALL LETTER. BUT GUESS WHAT, IF MY FRIEND IS GETTING HIS GTI ABS MODULE REPAIRED FOR FREE BY VOLKSWAGEN, I THINK ITS ONLY FAIR FOR ME TO GET MY MONEY BACK THAT I SPENT FOR THIS PROBLEM.. I HAVE THE RECIEPTS AND I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS IN THE VOLKSWAGEN DATABASE!
NHTSA ODI #10956202
84,000 miles · Feb 10, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes
ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS ON PERMANENTLY. BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS ALWAYS. STEERING WHEEL, EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIKE ALL COME OUT INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN STEERING WHEEL LIGHT IS ON STEERING IS STIFF AT LOW SPEEDS. SPEEDOMETER ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP AND PLEASE REFUEL COME UP RANDOMLY ON THE INFO SCREE…
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ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS ON PERMANENTLY. BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS ALWAYS. STEERING WHEEL, EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIKE ALL COME OUT INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN STEERING WHEEL LIGHT IS ON STEERING IS STIFF AT LOW SPEEDS. SPEEDOMETER ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP AND PLEASE REFUEL COME UP RANDOMLY ON THE INFO SCREEN EVEN WHEN GAS IS FULL. WHEN SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING, AUTOMATIC DSG TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFT GEARS MAKING CAR QUICKLY AND DANGEROUSLY DECELERATE. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING ON WET OR SNOWY ROADS. CAR HAS ALSO LOCKED DOORS WHILE IN PARK WHEN SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING, LOCKING ME OUT OF THE CAR. GIRLFRIEND ALSO WITNESSED IT HAPPEN WHILE WAITING IN IDLING CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10953955
145,000 miles · Feb 8, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
WHEN I BRAKE SOMETIMES THE BRAKES LOCK UP, ABS LIGHT COMES ON, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON. THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL I SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTART. HAS HAPPENED AT SLOW AND FAST SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #10950296
3 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS, BRAKE AND THE ESC SYSTEMS ILLUMINATED MAKING A BEEP NOISE, THE GAS INDICATOR SAID THE CAR HAD LESS GAS THAN REALLY HAD. WHILE IN THE ROAD THE CAR LOST POWER. I THINK IT IS RELATED WITH THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000. TOOK IT TO TH…
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THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS, BRAKE AND THE ESC SYSTEMS ILLUMINATED MAKING A BEEP NOISE, THE GAS INDICATOR SAID THE CAR HAD LESS GAS THAN REALLY HAD. WHILE IN THE ROAD THE CAR LOST POWER. I THINK IT IS RELATED WITH THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER YET.
NHTSA ODI #10946674
74,900 miles · Dec 9, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
2009 75,000 MILES. ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY THROW UP THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS BUT THIS WOULD GO AWAY SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. I GET IN MY CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND START DRIVING FOR MAYBE 1/16TH OF A MILE AND EVERYTHING JUST FREAKS OUT. SPEEDOMETER IS DROPPING TO …
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2009 75,000 MILES. ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY THROW UP THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS BUT THIS WOULD GO AWAY SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. I GET IN MY CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND START DRIVING FOR MAYBE 1/16TH OF A MILE AND EVERYTHING JUST FREAKS OUT. SPEEDOMETER IS DROPPING TO ZERO (WHILE IN MOTION DOING ABOUT 15 MPH) AND FLUCTUATES ALL OVER BETWEEN 0 AND 20 MPH. BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. TRACTION LIGHT IS ON. ABS LIGHT IS ON. STEERING LIGHT IS ON. EPC LIGHT IS ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. AND THE MFD IS SAYING "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP". AS TIME HAS GONE ON IT NOW TENDS TO HAPPEN ATLEAST 15+ TIMES A DAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10934067
118,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
ABS BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE, EVERY TIME THE ABS OR STABILITY CONTROL IS ACTIVATED THE SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY FAIL AND DASH LIGHTS ALL TURN ON WITH THREE LOUD CHIMES. OTHER TIMES THE FAILURE HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. POWER CYCLING THE VEHICLE RESETS EVERYTHING BUT THE FAILURE WILL SOON OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS A WELL K…
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ABS BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE, EVERY TIME THE ABS OR STABILITY CONTROL IS ACTIVATED THE SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY FAIL AND DASH LIGHTS ALL TURN ON WITH THREE LOUD CHIMES. OTHER TIMES THE FAILURE HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. POWER CYCLING THE VEHICLE RESETS EVERYTHING BUT THE FAILURE WILL SOON OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2009 MODELS AND IN MY OPINION IS DANGEROUS -- ABS & STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ARE CRITICAL TO SAFETY DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. SOME TIME AGO I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, MY WHEELS ALL LOCKED UP AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS -- NOT WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT ON A VEHICLE THAT COMES WITH ABS BRAKES. I JUST NOW LEARNED I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS. I REGULARLY TURN THE IGNITION OFF/ON WHILE DRIVING TO POWER CYCLE AND RESET THE ABS MODULE WHEN IT ERROR FAILS - THOUGH I DON'T EXPECT IT TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10928704
60,000 miles · Nov 19, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
FAILED ABS MODULE WHICH MAKES SPEEDOMETER, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10927056
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