Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, there was a burning odor coming from outside the vehicle, and the odometer was inoperable. The ABS, Brake, DRL, and EPC warning lights were illuminated. During the failure, the vehicle drove like the parking brake was engaged. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, while driving and experiencing the failures, the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the contact exited the vehicle, and observed smoke coming from all four wheels. …
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the brake pads made grinding sounds. The brake pedal went to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control) which was associated with the VIN. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who performed the recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control) by updating the ABS control module software; however, the failure recurred. …
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC)) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the ABS warning chime was activated, and the warning light had illuminated on the instrument panel along with several other unknown warning lights. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer attempted to charge for the ABS module replacement despite the recall campaign stating that the ABS module should be replaced. …
The contact's friend owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while his friend was driving 50 mph three days after purchasing the vehicle, the ABS, brake and ETC warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that his friend continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that his friend was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle was repaired; however, the warning lights remained illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control) could not be completed on the vehicle until the issues indicated by the warning lights were repaired. …
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light, EPC warning light, and power steering warning light illuminated. The contact mentioned that the EPC warning light and power steering warning lights illuminated intermittently; however, the ABS warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the transmission failed to shift as needed, and the speedometer failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who informed the contact that they were unable to diagnose the vehicle due to other warning lights being illuminated, not just the ABS warning light. …
The contact's daughter owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that on several occasions while her daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, several unknown warning lights intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS control module software needed to be updated and the ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that she would be responsible for the cost of the repair. No additional assistance was provided. …
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that ABS and the ESC warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had denied the recall repair coverage due to lack of communication between the computer and the ABS module. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the ABS and ESC warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the failure that the was experiencing was not related to the recall because the computer was not able to communicate with the ABS module. The contact was referred the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 123,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stopped driving the vehicle due to safety concerns. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
ABS Module Assembly all packet, It turns that this kind of vehicles are controling the power Steering, anti skid braking system, brake lights, ABS, Skid lights come ON and the Steering also come ON it is scanned and remove the codes once and seemed to work for a day or two and down again, goes back to scan and now me and the mechanic test drive it together and found that the Main ABS modulator is not connecting and goes on and of the scanner where it carries a faulty communication among its components and causing all this disconfort? problem herein is that it is hard to tell when will it do it again or why is it failing? and causing all kind of problem with lgihts blinking all the time? but the biggest problem here is: that I am not the only one complaning about it, there is many people complaning about the problem! …
Brake complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 205 complaints about the brakes of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, 23% of the model year's 889 complaints. The component named most often is antilock › control unit/module (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Volkswagen Jetta brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 14 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to brakes 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.