2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,936 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Volkswagen GTI engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Volkswagen GTI Owner Comments

problem #6

Jul 222018

GTI

  • 80,300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ABS faliure. ABS warning light activates, activates sporadically while driving randomly, braking ability is hampered, does not work normally. Occassionally antilock breaks engage at low speed breaking. Brakes do not function normally. Speedometer experienced malfunction, fluctuations not related to speed occured. Stability malfunctioned during breaking and automatic downshifting.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #5

Apr 012018

GTI

  • 100,200 miles
This has happened several times beginning in March, 2018. Epc light comes on (seemingly) randomly. Occasionally, check engine light/service engine now warning will also come on. Sometimes they all shut off after letting the car sit overnight. Epc light comes on sometimes when we turn the car on and sometimes while driving. We have had three incidents where we try to get onto the interstate (70mph) and can't get above approx 40mph. I've almost been rear-ended twice because of this. On another occasion, I couldn't get the turbo to kick in. So, driving at 65mph again on the interstate, I couldn't get up hills and would end up at approx 55pmh by the time I reached level ground. Again, cars swerving to get around me. My husband has had a complete loss of control of acceleration and had to coast over onto the side of the road. I had it happen once at a stop light, taking a long time and a lot of coaxing of the accelerator pedal just to get up to 40mph. These all happened on straight stretches of road and normal weather conditions. Restarting the car may or may not reset the acceleration issue and the epc light. Computer scan from VW dealer showed throttle body sensor, so we replaced that with same symptoms after a couple of days. Then, computer says it's accelerator pedal sensor. Replaced also with same results. Replaced spark plugs, air flow sensor, cleaned other sensors, still the same. This is very dangerous. I see in forums that we are not the only ones. It is expensive to keep chasing the problem but lives are at risk. Someone is going to get seriously hurt because their limp cars can't keep up with traffic. VW seems stumped. The only solution I see is getting rid of this dangerous car but I'd hate to pass that risk onto another person either! plus, dealers pay very little to take this off of our hands for the same reasons. Please help!!!!

- Tiffin, IA, USA

problem #4

Aug 132017

GTI

  • 65,000 miles
Epc light issue -which means electronic power control the vehicles computer suddenly cuts power away from the accelerater pedal causing rapid deceleration leaving the driver helpless to control the vehicles speed. I was merging onto a interstate into 70mph traffic and my epc light activated and left me unable to control my speed and safely merge into traffic almost causing a major accident -- very dangerous situation

- Carmel, NY, USA

problem #3

Apr 112015

GTI 4-cyl

  • 55,616 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving at speed, the ABS control module randomly fails, causing ABS brakes to skid under hard braking. Lose of steering and control is the result. In addition the partial steering is affected. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen, I can not understand why Volkswagen of american does not replace faulty units as this can cause fatalities and injuries. Many people are replacing these units through non-certified technicians, or diy. This should be installed by a VW certified tech. NHTSA should mandate a recall or someone could get seriously injured or die. There are so many cases of this floating around the internet forums and other social media. Does someone have to die for people to finally listen"???"

- Walnut, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 192014

GTI 4-cyl

  • 62,500 miles
Instrument panel displays check engine light, steering light, ABS light, traction control light, brake light, tire pressure light. ABS no longer works in a hard brake situation, wheels lock and car will skid. Engine also refuses to rev past around 3900 RPM unless manually upshift to a higher gear. Steering assist no longer works.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #1

Jul 132014

GTI 4-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
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.

- Houston, TX, USA

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