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.
I have just started to encounter problems with my ABS module. I received a recall on the module and took it in to an authorized Volkswagen dealer asap. Left the car with them for a day in hope to receive news that they were going to order my module and have it completed in a few days. I was wrong. They called me and claimed that it was not going to be covered in the recall. I don't understand how something so critical to the safety of everyone on the road will not be replaced, even when there is a recall on the part. My car absolutely freaks out while driving. I lose my speedometer, my steering is not as responsive as it should be and my dash cluster freaks out. I'm personally scared to drive my own car because I do not want to kill or injure other people or myself while driving the car I need to get around to work, and run daily errands. I scanned my check engine light with multiple people and systems and received a code U0121 which read connection failure in ABS module and was told the module most likely does not have ground. This has happened to so many 09 VW vehicles, yet I've read so many forums and have talked to so many other 09 VW owners who said their cars "did not qualify" for this recall as well. The dealer quoted me 1,300 to fix this issue. I'm lost at words on how I have a recall on an obvious problem which is a manufacture error and I have to pay 1,300 to replace it or good luck with whatever accident you many get in. This has happened on freeways, city streets, and the scariest part is coming down the mountain which I have to drive 5 days out of the week for work. This a problem with these cars and only a few are being taken care of while the rest have to pay or goodluck.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Gti. While driving 35 mph, when the brake pedal was depressed, the check engine, ABS, brake, electronic stability control, and epc indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The dealer estimated that the repair would cost $1,500-$2,000. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred several other times. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V913000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electronic stability control). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the manufacturer denied the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that since the ABS module control failed to work, the recall repair could not be performed. The failure mileage was 96,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Gti. When the brake pedal was depressed at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to respond and the instrument panel warning indicators flickered on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown steering mechanism failed and the steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS control module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V913000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electronic stability control). The failure mileage was 95,120.
16V913. The manufacture has failed to cover the cost of replacing the ABS module. The reason given was that although my VIN is covered, the ABS module part number is not on the list of parts that are covered. My car has experienced all the symptoms of recall number 16V913 and the software update did not fix the issue.
An 25,2017 manufacturer recall number45F2 NHTSA recall number16V913 recall statusrecall incomplete summary on certain vehicles, a fault within the antilock brake system (ABS) may cause the module to fail during ABS and/or electronic stability control(ESC) activation. This will cause warning lights for ABS, brake and the ESC systems to illuminate. Safety risk if this happens, the brake system related vehicle stabilizing functions (ABS/ESC) may not be available, increasing the risk of a loss of vehicle control and could lead to a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Remedy to help correct this defect, your authorized Volkswagen dealer will update the ABS control module software with improved diagnostic capability to detect insufficient pcu ground connection. ABS modules with insufficient ground connections will be replaced. The software update will take less than an hour to complete; if the ABS module requires replacement, this work can take up to a full day to complete. The recall repair will be performed for you free of charge. Took car to dealership and was told module did not fail in a way that VW would cover the replacement costs.
- Staunton, VA, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
ABS and stability control lights on permanently. Brake light blinks always. Steering wheel, epc and check engine like all come out intermittently. When steering wheel light is on steering is stiff at low speeds. Speedometer only works intermittently. Engine fault workshop and please refuel come up randomly on the info screen even when gas is full. When speedometer is not working, automatic dsg transmission will randomly downshift gears making car quickly and dangerously decelerate. Has almost caused accidents while driving on wet or snowy roads. Car has also locked doors while in park when speedometer not working, locking me out of the car. Girlfriend also witnessed it happen while waiting in idling car.
When I brake sometimes the brakes lock up, ABS light comes on, traction control and brake light come on. The lights stay on until I shut off car and restart. Has happened at slow and fast speeds.
The vehicle was in motion when the warning lights for ABS, brake and the ESC systems illuminated making a beep noise, the gas indicator said the car had less gas than really had. While in the road the car lost power. I think it is related with the ABS and stability control recall: NHTSA campaign number: 16V913000. Took it to the dealer, they say they do not have the recall number yet.
Vehicle has failed ABS module, as diagnosed by mechanic. ABS light is on and brake light flashes, as to be expected. While in motion, on either city street or freeway, vehicle randomly downshifts to first gear and is unable to switch back. Only way to get car working again is to turn car off and on, a dangerous proposition when you're on the freeway. In addition, power steering goes out and engine fault workshop! comes on after a few minutes in motion. Speedometer also randomly stops working while tachometer goes out of control. What begins as a simple brake problem is now an undriveable car. Have had to push car to side of the road several times because of this. Completely unsafe conditions to drive in.
2009 89,000 miles. ABS control module failure for the past couple of weeks my car would intermittently throw up the ABS and traction lights but this would go away shortly afterwards. I get in my car about 30 minutes and start driving for maybe 1/16th of a mile and everything just freaks out. Speedometer is dropping to zero (while in motion doing about 15 mph) and fluctuates all over between 0 and 20 mph. Brake light is on. Traction light is on. ABS light is on. Steering light is on. Epc light is on. Check engine light is on. And the mfd is saying "engine fault workshop". as time has gone on it now tends to happen atleast 15+ times a day. It now happens as soon as I turn the key on. I'm to scared to even drive it. I don't want to drive my 10 year old son in it. Please do a recall, not something we should have to pay out of pocket for!!!
ABS module and pump is faulty, which seems to be the case with many other Volkswagen Gti specific to the 2009 year. This causes the ABS and traction control to not work, along with loss of power steering, no or faulty reading on speedometer and gas gauge at any speed in both city and highway driving. Cornering is very difficult as the power steering is turned off. Incredibly dangerous and should be addressed and fixed by VW of America.
2009 75,000 miles. ABS control module failure for the past couple of weeks my car would intermittently throw up the ABS and traction lights but this would go away shortly afterwards. I get in my car about 30 minutes and start driving for maybe 1/16th of a mile and everything just freaks out. Speedometer is dropping to zero (while in motion doing about 15 mph) and fluctuates all over between 0 and 20 mph. Brake light is on. Traction light is on. ABS light is on. Steering light is on. Epc light is on. Check engine light is on. And the mfd is saying "engine fault workshop". as time has gone on it now tends to happen atleast 15+ times a day.
The ABS pump module fails on 2009 cars regularly. The ABS, stability control and traction control no longer functions and Volkswagen refuses to do anything about it. Took my car to the dealer when it was under warranty for them to look at and all they could say was is that they could not duplicate the problem. Now it is out of warranty and the issue is constant to the point where I do not drive the car due to the speedometer and steering being affected by this issue. The car was on the highway and when the brakes were hard pressed the car skidded.
ABS brakes and stability control failure, every time the ABS or stability control is activated the systems immediately fail and dash lights all turn on with three loud chimes. Other times the failure happens during normal driving. Power cycling the vehicle resets everything but the failure will soon occur again. This is a well known problem with 2009 models and in my opinion is dangerous -- ABS & stability control system are critical to safety during emergency braking. Some time ago I had to use the brakes to avoid an accident, my wheels all locked up and my vehicle began to skid sideways -- not what one would expect on a vehicle that comes with ABS brakes. I just now learned I can file a complaint. This issue has been ongoing for over approximately 18 months. I regularly turn the ignition off/on while driving to power cycle and reset the ABS module when it error fails - though I don't expect it to work when needed.
Was traveling on the interstate around a curve during rush hour traffic and had to apply the brakes pretty hard on that curve. The ABS activated very shortly and then was followed by the ABS light and traction and brake light coming on with an audible chime and the tires then locked up, which then caused the car to start to spin sideways. Luckily was able to correct it before disaster. This has happened on many occasions, basically whenever the ABS is engaged, the system is disabled right in the middle of needing it, very dangerous. I do not have the $1,000+ to fix this problem.
First occurrence ABS and traction control lights on dash momentarily while on freeway. Second occurrence, city driving, ABS, traction control, steering dash lights, dash display "engine faulty workshop" along with beeping sound, speedo wildly fluctuating while driving straight at constant speed around 40 mph, then a couple of seconds later the lights go out and everything appears normal. Reading forums of similar issues indicated an expensive replacement of the ABS module. Car has approx 106K miles.
ABS control module is well known to go out, very dangerous and expensive fix for low miles, not able to see speed, no traction control, and causes brake lock up during wet weather
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Gti. While driving 5 mph and turning the steering wheel, the power steering failed. Various warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
While driving the vehicle steering system became tight, ABS and brake light came on as well as check engine, steering system malfunction, epc and stability control lights lit up on dash. Also, fuel gauge would drop to empty and speedometer went to zero miles per hour while the car was in motion. This happened on a city street going straight or turning.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- El Paso, TX, USA