ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, ALONG WITH E BRAKE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. DEALER SAYS IT'S THE ABS MODULE. CAR HAS 33,400 MILES. ABS LIGHT WILL GO OFF AFTER RESTARTING BUT WILL KEEP GOING INTO THE FAULT CODE OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE DRIVING. CAR WILL SKID IF EXCESSIVE BRAKING IS NEEDED. DANGEROUS FOR OWNER AND OTHER PEOPLE. ABS MODULE SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT AGAIN WITH VW CURRENT SITUATION W…
2009 Volkswagen GTI brakes problems
severe 35 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$450
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
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 …
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…
FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS GO SOLID, BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS, WHENEVER ABS KICKS IN (HAPPENS ANYTIME IT SNOWS). THEN THE ABS WILL NOT WORK AGAIN UNTIL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN. VW YOU NEED TO FIX THIS, OR PEOPLE WILL DIE IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF NO ABS!! MY CAR ONLY HAS 40,500 MILES.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2009 Volkswagen GTI?
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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