Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Volkswagen GTI owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I submitted a complaint last year with complaint #: 10907462. Summary of the unexpected ABS module breakdown that happened last year. The module broke down the first time on 09/06/216 on my way to work and it occurred while I was driving on the highway. I slowed down the speed to around 45 after I lost control of the vehicle when it happened and the lights and beeping did not stop with the engine light turned on. The car was eventually towed and repaired (paid out of pocket) at vw dealership. After searching online, the ABS module apparently has been a problem on GTI and gli jetta. Most recently, there is a recall on the ABS modules on certain vw vehicles; however my car was not one of them even though it is the same part that almost caused me a car crash on the highway! Please investigate into this problem and have the vw officially extend their qualification for recalls. …
The vehicle shifted gears in motion while driving on city streets. Parked the car in May of 2017 and haven't driven it since. Vw has refused to take responsibility, even though I've brought the issue of the vehicle having trouble switching to reverse from a parked position while I was at the dealership for service. Have received multiple occasions where the ABS/check engine light came on. Repeatedly taking it into the dealership to no avail. ** note: vw has refused to repair the issues "free of charge" as stated. That I'd have to pay for inspection by a dealership and since I'm 'out of warranty', I'm sure they'd charge me for the service as well. In addition, there was no 'open inspections' done to look into the recall before my purchase of the vehicle as a pre-owned certified car from the vw dealership. This was in dec. 2010. …
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen GTI. While driving 15 MPH and coming to a stop, the vehicle jerked forward without warning and the contact heard a loud noise coming from the transmission. After coming to a stop, the vehicle was not able to move and the gear selector lights were illuminated. The vehicle was shut off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,500.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen GTI. While the vehicle was idling, the rpms revved to a higher level and an oil leak was noticed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear main seal was leaking, which caused the vehicle to surge. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
My car disengages itself when shifting in reverse I give it gas it suddenly catches gear and almost caused an accident. 2009 Volkswagen GTI. Volkswagen dealer will not take responsibility for this recall telling me there are non but when checked on the NHTSA website there is.direct shift gearbox dsg recall#09V333000
Defective timing chain tensioner went and destroyed the entire engine that has less than 50,000 miles on it. Apparently this is a known issue with vw that I found out about after the fact. Luckily it happened in my driveway.
I own a new 2009 vw GTI, dsg, 2-door. I had it just over a month and has about 1100 miles on it. About 2 weeks ago, I parked in my condo and was in "park" and noticed the gear shift lights on the display (p-r-n-d-s) were flashing/blinking. I turned off key and next day everything was fine. About 3-4 days later the same thing happened while in "park" at my house. Again, next day everything was fine. Today, I was at a traffic light in "drive" with the foot on the brake and noticed the gear shift lights on the display were blinking again. When the light turned green, I stepped on the accelerator but nothing happened. The car was running, all power (radio, lights, etc) were operating fine, but it was like the car was in neutral. I shifted into park, reverse, neutral, then drive, and it did not correct the problem. I then turned the car off for 5 seconds then back on and it worked fine. …
I bought my 2009 vw GTI in January of this year (6 months ago). It now has 5100 miles. At about 2500 miles, the dsg automatic transmission started slipping out of gear at seemingly random times. It only happened a couple of times before my 3000 mile checkup. At that time, vw could not replicate the problem and told me that the car was "operating within specifications." in the last couple of weeks the problem has become a lot more frequent -- happening several times per day at seemingly random times (in parking lots and on the jersey turnpike). When it happens, it acts like I am holding in the clutch on an automatic (no gears at all) and the prindl light on the dashboard flashes. Once, the shift lever also froze and I could not shift out of drive. …
My car was purchased approximately 3 weeks ago. I first noticed an issue during the first week when around 20 minutes into my journey on the florida turnpike at 70 MPH where my GTI's RPM's suddenly swung around to the top for about 2 seconds, I did not notice a loss of power due to the time. This happened again the following week at exactly the same spot! My husband was then driving the vehicle 2 days later (the date listed as incident date), we were in traffic with foot on brake when car jumped and dashboard prnds lights all flashed around 5-6 times. The following day, about 20 minutes into journey at 40 MPH, the car disengaged gears and RPM counter went up to top again - perhaps 2-3 seconds. We decided to take car to dealership the next day (Monday aug 10), (the car did the same thing again on the way). We were called that day to say that they could not duplicate the issue. …
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle stall/loss motive power
The subject vehicles are equipped with direct shift gearbox (dsg) transmissions, which feature a 6-speed automatic gearbox with two wet running clutches (dual clutch) in which the clutch mechanism and gear changes are electrohydraulically operated by a mechatronic control unit.the dsg mechatronic controller includes extensive self diagnostic functions and strategies to ensure safe operation and prevent…
Transmission complaints in other GTI years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2009 Volkswagen GTI?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2009 Volkswagen GTI, 19% of the model year's 167 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Volkswagen GTI transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-333 (automatic transmission, Aug 20, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Volkswagen GTI transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 32,000 miles, and 48% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.