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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
65,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING ON THE CANYON AND WENT INTO A TURN AT 40MPH. I HEARD A BEEP AND MY ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ALL WENT ON AT ONCE. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON BUT THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED. THE CAR FELT WEIRD WHILE DRIVING AND I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER CHECKING THE CODES…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE CANYON AND WENT INTO A TURN AT 40MPH. I HEARD A BEEP AND MY ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ALL WENT ON AT ONCE. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON BUT THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED. THE CAR FELT WEIRD WHILE DRIVING AND I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER CHECKING THE CODES THROUGH MY VAGCOM CABLE I HAD A 01130 - ABS OPERATION CODE. THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON BUT THIS SAME ISSUE KEPT HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CANYON UNTIL I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. I STOPPED PULLING OVER AND JUST DROVE WITH THE LIGHTS CAREFULLY ALL THE WAY HOME. THE ABS SEEMS TO BE TURNED OFF AS THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY ON WET ROADS AND ON CANYONS. I TRIED CONTACTING VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID THEY DO NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM. THEY WANTED $2000+ FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. I THINK THIS IS NOT FAIR AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN FOR ALL 2009 VW GTI'S. MANY 2009 GTI'S HAVE FAULTY ABS UNITS. I HOPE THIS WILL BE LOOKED INTO AND HOPEFULLY VWOA WILL START A RECALL CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU FOR READING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628237

49,000 miles · Aug 23, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS DRIVING AND HIT A PATCH OF SNOW AS I BRAKE AND MY CAR SLID A LITTLE AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGED AND I JUST KEPT SLIDING ALMOST HITTING A CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH TURNED AND THERE WAS A LOUD BEEPING SOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627798

49,199 miles · Aug 23, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

ON 8/8/2014, I TURNED ON MY CAR TO GO WORK. ONCE I TURNED ON THE IGNITION/ENGINE, ALL WARNING LIGHTS (POWER STEERING, ENGINE, ELECTRONICS, ABS, ESP AND BRAKING) CAME ON OR FLASHING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS (3 TIMES) TO RESTART THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. WITH A LAST RESTARTING ATTEMPT THAT MORNING, A…

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ON 8/8/2014, I TURNED ON MY CAR TO GO WORK. ONCE I TURNED ON THE IGNITION/ENGINE, ALL WARNING LIGHTS (POWER STEERING, ENGINE, ELECTRONICS, ABS, ESP AND BRAKING) CAME ON OR FLASHING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS (3 TIMES) TO RESTART THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. WITH A LAST RESTARTING ATTEMPT THAT MORNING, ALL WARNINGS LIGHTS WENT AWAY AND I DROVE OFF TO WORK. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WAY, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AGAIN. THIS TIME, POWER STEERING, ABS, SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, ETC. ALL MALFUNCTIONED PERIODICALLY DURING MY DRIVE. DURING THE DRIVE, I HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST I WAS DRIVING OR HOW MUCH GAS I REALLY HAD AND WITH NO POWER STEERING AND ABS ETC. I DID ARRIVE AT WORK SAFELY BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME SERIOUS AND PERHAPS DANGEROUS MANEUVERS WITH A NONWORKING POWER STEERING, ABS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP IN BRAINTREE MA THE NEXT MORNING. AFTER A WEEKEND OF DIAGNOSIS AND A RANDOM REPAIR TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULT AND IT NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. SINCE THAT VW DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME A PRECISE DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT REPAIRING RANDOM PARTS OF MY CAR AND HAD ME PAID FOR IT, I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER VW DEALERSHIP IN DANVERS MA. AFTER HOURS OF DIAGNOSIS, I GOT THE SAME RESULT THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS AT FAULT. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND PAID THOUSANDS FOR THE REPAIR. NOW THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE. BUT KNOWING THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULT IS VERY COMMON AMONG MY MODEL OF THE CAR AT ALL MILEAGE FROM RESEARCH AND TALKING WITH LOCAL MECHANICS, I WANT TO MAKE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE DANGERS BEHIND A RANDOM FAILURE IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE THAT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF BOTH ELECTRONIC AND MECHANIC COMPONENTS IN THE CAR WHICH CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, OR EVEN DEATHS WITHOUT SLIGHTEST WARNING ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627693

45,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

ABOUT A MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR DURING ONE OF THE LARGER SNOW STORMS THIS YEAR IN VA. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WAS STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I GET "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS," ON MY DASH, BEEPING THREE TIMES AND FLASHING ECS, AS WELL AS ABS. I DROVE TO WORK WITHOUT HUGE INCIDENT KNOWING MY ABS AND ECS WERE TURNED OFF AT THIS PO…

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ABOUT A MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR DURING ONE OF THE LARGER SNOW STORMS THIS YEAR IN VA. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WAS STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I GET "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS," ON MY DASH, BEEPING THREE TIMES AND FLASHING ECS, AS WELL AS ABS. I DROVE TO WORK WITHOUT HUGE INCIDENT KNOWING MY ABS AND ECS WERE TURNED OFF AT THIS POINT, AND PARKED TO SEE IF TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF WOULD RESET THE LIGHTS. I DIDN'T WORRY UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING WHEN ON MY HOME AFTER A 12 HOUR NIGHT SHIFT WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME I WAS MOVING AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN ON ICE AFTER THE NIGHT OF SNOW, AS SOON AS I HIT THE BRAKE THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AGAIN, CAUSING ME TO SLIDE INTO A CURB, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND IT TO BE A FAULTY OR BAD ABS CONTROL MODULE, I THEN TOOK MY CAR INTO VW A FEW WEEKS LATER TO GET SERVICED FOR THE ISSUE, AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE SHIPPED THE CAR TO SPAIN WHILE I AM HERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND HAVE REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ICE, SNOW, OR EVEN WATER, TWICE IN A WEEK PERIOD. NOW SINCE MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER A CERTIFIED PRE OWNED WARRANTY WHILE IN SPAIN I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED, SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE! HERE IS A LINK TO OTHERS WHO'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.GOLFMKV.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=151505 AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS S PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN FIXED WITH A NEW PART. MAKING THIS A PRETTY GOOD REASON TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615178

64,400 miles · Jul 18, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

ABS LIGHT ON AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING WITHOUT ANY REASON (SOMETIMES IT DISAPPEAR), DEALER SAID I HAVE TO CHANGE ABS MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614610

56,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD SAT FOR A WEEK WITHOUT STARTING, WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED FOR ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKES. I DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TO TEST THINGS OUT, AND THINGS SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PRETTY MUCH LIKE NORMAL, SO I DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND 8 CODES CAME UP, ALL HAVING TO DO…

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WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD SAT FOR A WEEK WITHOUT STARTING, WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED FOR ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKES. I DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TO TEST THINGS OUT, AND THINGS SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PRETTY MUCH LIKE NORMAL, SO I DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND 8 CODES CAME UP, ALL HAVING TO DO WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE REPAIRS AT THAT MECHANIC, SO THEY TOLD ME I COULD DRIVE THE CAR, BUT THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL. UPON DRIVING IT A FEW MILES, THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL. WHEN I STARTED IT THE NEXT DAY, THE LIGHTS WERE BACK ON, BUT I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO WORK, BASED ON WHAT THE MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME. ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, AND THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO CHANGE GEARS AT RANDOM, WHICH PRESENTED AN ALL NEW SAFETY RISK. AT THIS POINT I ALSO LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, JUST THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE HOME, CONSIDERING I WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE AWAY. EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY ON THAT DRIVE. MY COMPLAINT MOSTLY HAS TO DO WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, AS IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR, AND IT DEFINITELY PUTS PEOPLE AT RISK, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS AFFECTING OTHER SYSTEMS, AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614567

120,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS, CAUSING ESP AND ABS SYSTEM TO BE DISABLED UNTIL IGNITION IS RESTARTED. HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES DURING THE WINTER. FAULT IS NOTICEABLE BY BLINKING LIGHTS THAT DO NOT TURN OFF UNTIL IGNITION IS RESTARTED. I WOULD USUALLY DO THIS WHILE ROLLING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS NOT DIFFICULT WITH A MANUAL. DEALE…

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ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS, CAUSING ESP AND ABS SYSTEM TO BE DISABLED UNTIL IGNITION IS RESTARTED. HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES DURING THE WINTER. FAULT IS NOTICEABLE BY BLINKING LIGHTS THAT DO NOT TURN OFF UNTIL IGNITION IS RESTARTED. I WOULD USUALLY DO THIS WHILE ROLLING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS NOT DIFFICULT WITH A MANUAL. DEALER FIXED THIS SAYING IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE BY CLEANING THE MODULE AND RE-ATTACHING IT IN THE SPRING FOR FREE. THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN IN MAY, AND THE DEALER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ABS SENSOR FAULTS WERE RELATED. I STARTED TO GET THE WINTER BLINKING LIGHT FAULTS AGAIN. I PAID OUT OF POCKET $600 FOR THE PART, AND ABOUT $500 FOR LABOR TO GET THE REVISED MODULE INSTALLED, WHICH I SAW WAS THE PROPER FIX OTHER DEALERS WERE DOING FOR PEOPLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610570

63,000 miles · Apr 20, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHT (FLASHING), ABS AND ESP LIGHT ON. LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL/ABS FUNCTIONALITY. POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING EVENT. AS PER OWNERS (ONLINE FORUMS) IT HAPPENS TO 2009 GTI OWNERS. ABS CONTROL MODULE/PUMP ISSUE. HAPPENS TO 2009 GTI OWNERS WITH VARIOUS MILEAGES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583764

74,000 miles · Oct 21, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesTraction Control System

SEVERAL 2009 GTI OWNERS ARE REPORTING THAT THEY ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. UPON LOSS OF TRACTION, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CAN GENERATE A FAULTY SIGNAL, CAUSING THE ECU TO DISABLE ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES NOW ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER WHEN ROADS ARE SLIPPERY AND IT IS …

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SEVERAL 2009 GTI OWNERS ARE REPORTING THAT THEY ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. UPON LOSS OF TRACTION, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CAN GENERATE A FAULTY SIGNAL, CAUSING THE ECU TO DISABLE ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES NOW ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER WHEN ROADS ARE SLIPPERY AND IT IS NEEDED MOST. THE FOLLOWING IS THE COMMON CEL CODE: 1 FAULT FOUND: 01130 - ABS OPERATION 008 - IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT ADDRESS 03: ABS BRAKES (-----) LABELS: 1K0-907-379-60EC1F.CLB PART NO SW: 1K0 907 379 AE HW: 1K0 907 379 AE COMPONENT: ESP MK60EC1 H35 0104. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548671

52,574 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Power Train

PURCHASED USED 2009 VW GTI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION ON 03 AUG 13. ON 06 AUG 13 UPON BRAKING AND TURNING A CORNER THE TRANSMISSION SEEMINGLY DROPPED OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE REVVED FREELY, THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGED WITH A LOUD CLUNK IN THE DRIVELINE. OVER THE NEXT WEEK THE FREQUENCY OF THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING INCREASED UNTIL 12 A…

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PURCHASED USED 2009 VW GTI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION ON 03 AUG 13. ON 06 AUG 13 UPON BRAKING AND TURNING A CORNER THE TRANSMISSION SEEMINGLY DROPPED OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE REVVED FREELY, THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGED WITH A LOUD CLUNK IN THE DRIVELINE. OVER THE NEXT WEEK THE FREQUENCY OF THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING INCREASED UNTIL 12 AUG 13. ON 12 AUG 13 THE TRANSMISSION WOULD TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS(UPWARDS OF 30) TO ENGAGE EITHER 1ST OR REVERSE AND IN DOING SO WOULD AGAIN CLUNK ON ENGAGEMENT. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO AN UNKNOWN GEAR, THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFT INDICATOR STARTED TO FLASH, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART TO CONTINUE. WITHIN ONE MILE THE SAME PROCESS HAD TO BE REPEATED. THIS CONTINUED FOR THE REST OF THE 10 MILE TRIP TO MY HOME. THIS CAR IS ONE THAT WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS CAR BUT OBVIOUSLY STILL HAS ISSUES. CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP ON 16 AUG 13 TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535064

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