NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Volkswagen GTI Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2009 Volkswagen GTI has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 167 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Volkswagen GTI, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2009 Volkswagen GTI owner complaints

Owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Volkswagen GTI, describing incidents dated November 9, 2008 to April 14, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Service Brakes 98 complaints
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 69 complaints
  • Power Train 32 complaints
  • Electrical System 31 complaints
  • Steering 20 complaints
  • Engine 17 complaints

Of the 167 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 167 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11732775 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11543629 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11482449 · Filed

    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…

Read all 167 complaints

Owner-reported

2009 Volkswagen GTI mileage at failure

151 of the 167 complaints on file for the 2009 Volkswagen GTI give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Service BrakesMedian 80,000 milesMiddle half 65,000–105,000 milesBased on 86 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)Median 80,000 milesMiddle half 60,000–100,000 milesBased on 62 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009 Volkswagen GTI in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

ABS and Stability Control Becomes Inoperative

NHTSA #16V913000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · NHTSA notice

Reported December 20, 2016 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 135,683 vehicles

Repair completion: 42.73% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 45F2/45F5 · Owners notified February 14, 2017 · Vehicles built April 30, 2008 – November 20, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX

NHTSA #09V333000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported August 20, 2009 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 16,000 vehicles

Volkswagen campaign 37E3/S7 & 37E5/J7 · Owners notified October 20, 2009 · Vehicles built September 1, 2008 – August 19, 2009 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

VW RECALL NO.37E3/S7 & AUDI RECALL NO. 37E5/J7.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Volkswagen GTI model years

Check your 2009 Volkswagen GTI VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen GTI at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volkswagen VIN