NHTSA vehicle safety data
2010 Volkswagen GTI Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2010 Volkswagen GTI has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 53 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 2010 Volkswagen GTI, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2010 Volkswagen GTI owner complaints
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Volkswagen GTI, describing incidents dated November 14, 2009 to February 7, 2024.
Most-cited components
- Engine 23 complaints
- Power Train 14 complaints
- Electrical System 9 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 5 complaints
- Service Brakes 3 complaints
- Air Bags 2 complaints
Of the 53 complaints on file, 4 report a crash; across all 53 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11577383 · Filed
The seatbelt is failing as it does not retract back into its holder and I am uncertain as to how safe and effective it is. Note that I have not done anything to cause this damage to it, it is through use and time. Volkswagen Group should approve fixes to it without additional cost to the customer.
ODI #11575395 · Filed
under emergency braking at around 70mph all 4 wheels locked up and abs/traction lights illuminated on dash. Caused a minor accident and flat spot on all 4 tires. ABS did not work. This is a know recall for 2009 models of the same vehicle. I replicated the issue a second time at a slower speed on a…
ODI #11496218 · Filed
About a month ago, while driving , the abs light, brake light and ESP light came on. After about 2 weeks of troubleshooting, a local mechanic troubleshot the issues to a faulty ABS module. After many phone calls with my local VW dealership I was able to set an appointment for a diagnostic. They…
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2010 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.
- Engineering Analysis EA18-003: Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Open since April 18, 2018
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 2010 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