Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 Volkswagen GTI. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗ABS and Stability Control Becomes Inoperative
- Summary
- 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.
DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX
- Summary
- 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
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (167)
167 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 167 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 98 | 58.7% |
| Electronic stability control | 69 | 41.3% |
| Power train | 32 | 19.2% |
| Electrical system | 31 | 18.6% |
| Steering | 20 | 12% |
| Engine | 15 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 3.6% |
| Air bags | 4 | 2.4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 1.8% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 1.8% |
How 2009 compares with other GTI years
Best and worst GTI years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8 | 1 |
| 2006 | 43 | 2 |
| 2007 | 77 | 1 |
| 2008 | 67 | 1 |
| 2009 | 167 | 2 |
| 2010 | 53 | 1 |
| 2011 | 55 | 2 |
| 2012 | 40 | 2 |
| 2013 | 34 | 2 |
| 2014 | 10 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 356 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 25 | $3,300 | 356 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 25 | $3,300 | 356 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2009 GTI for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2009 Volkswagen GTI FAQ
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen GTI have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 16V913000 (brake), 09V333000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2009 Volkswagen GTI problems?
Owners filed 167 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (98), Electronic stability control (69), Power train (32) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2009 Volkswagen GTI get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 21 city, 31 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2009 GTI compare with other years?
Among the 2005–2014 Volkswagen GTI model years at least five years old, the 2005 drew the fewest complaints (8) and the 2009 the most (167). The 2009 drew 167. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.