Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving my car down at residential area and it came to a complete stop on its own I could not get it to accelerate it all I had to get out of my car pop the hood disconnect the battery and then I was able to put in a drive and accelerate all the lights are flashing on the control panel I had no control over my car whatsoever I took it into Tracy Volkswagen and they said they couldn't diagnose it because it wasn't connecting to my computer in my car. Tracy said the control module for the ABS didn't work and they couldn't replace it for me until the headquarters approved it or something about the recall didn't include the control module I can't afford to fix this it's all ABS connected that's what the safety call is for safety.
I brought my car to the dealership not even 2 years ago. They said they fixed my ABS moduler and the EPC updated the software and replaced the ABS moduler if they did then why is my car shutting down and causing me trouble and having issues. I just need this car fixed the correct way. They didnt fix it due to the way they went about it. I need my car fix due to my 8 year old daughter I take yo school and also taking my fiance to PT due to a terrible accident. I need answer or someone to answer why my car is acting up if they fixed it.. Thank You Dawn
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle would start to decelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The instrument panel lights all illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the brakes would make a squeaking noise. The ABS, the bracket and engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed but was not repaired. The VIN was included in a manufacturers recall where the ABS control module software needed to be updated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
While driving the vehicle all of a sudden starts to beep and the ABS light, epc light, check engine light, brake light, and skid control light show. The vehicle sometimes loses the speedometer reading which drops to 0. This sporadically happens, sometimes it'll stay for days and other times it'll go away after 10 minutes and not appear again for a day or two. It seems to be happening more and more frequently. It happens when in motion and when starting the vehicle. This makes it very difficult to drive since the speedometer malfunctions and in the snow the vehicle seems to handle worse than usual and the brake system does not kick in every time. The ABS module seems to be malfunctioning.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen. The contact stated they were attempting to park the vehicle and when she applied the brakes, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle until she crashed into the front of a glass building. There were no injuries, a police report was filed. The contact also stated that the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to determine what caused the failure and the dealer stated they could not find any error codes. The failure and current mileage was 29,000. Updated 10/12/11
Tl contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space the vehicle accelerated without driver intent and crashed into the front of the store. The impact stopped the acceleration. No injuries were reported. The police and fire department filed a report and it is available. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop to be repaired. The insurance company contacted Volkswagen and stated that they had no other complaints related to the failure on file. The failure and current mileages were 2,000. The VIN was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at any speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the speed reduced and the vehicle failed to accelerate without warning. The vehicle was restarted but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the valve body had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
The cars check engine light came on and lost power on the freeway. I took it to get checked and a diagnostic was done . I had just gone to the dealership a week before and had the back brakes and rotors replaced for $500 dollars and the oil changed for another $100. They said everything was fine.
After months of car bogging eventually my check engine light went on. Code read for oxygen sensor. Shortly after epc light came on. Car wouldn't move. After research I found that many Jetta's hv this issue. Recall?
Going down the interstate at 70mph beside a semi, the car slightly (not enough to take me out of my lane) pulls to the side & ding! Ding! Ding! 'ABS' & 'ESP' lights come on & the emergency 'brake' light on the dash starts flashing. No additional symptoms that I noticed on the next 15miles to work, just the dash lights. Upon arriving at work I park & shut the car off. Restart it. And everything appears as thou it was an aberration. No lights. No dinging. From a car that goes nuts when you're simply just low on wiper-fluid, it could be something major like an ABS module or 'speed sensor' (from what 100s of other owners say online) or something 'minor' like a corroded fuse. Needless to say, while I'm wincing at the potential repair costs, I'm in fear of & dreading my drive home this evening. I'm glad no one was hurt this time but as we all know, the odds are someone is going to get hurt. …
Acceleration complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, 3% of the model year's 889 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Volkswagen Jetta acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Volkswagen Jetta acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.