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…

Read all 53 complaints

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.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

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