2009 Volkswagen GTI: sudden loss of power

Filed Jan 20, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 3 miles · GA

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: the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v913000. Took it to the dealer, they say they do not have the recall number yet.

Filed Dec 9, 2016 · Brakes · 93,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Nov 12, 2016 · Engine · 87,000 miles · WA

Premature engine failure while driving due to a known defective timing chain tensioner which vw has sent a tsb about but refuses to do a recall to replace. Instead they expect customers to pay $1500 to have the newly updated tensioner installed. Engines are failing both under and just out of warranty. Sudden loss of power and control of the engine while driving causing the ability to steer and maneuver the vehicle to a safe stop in traffic.

Filed Sep 12, 2016 · Driver assistance · 90,050 miles · SC

Abs module failure after 90k miles. Result in loss of power steering, antilock braking system functionality, and traction control at the same time. Also, prevents speedometer and other gauges from reading accurately. Major safety concern and seems to be an wide issue specific to 2009 vw gti/rabbits. Manufacturer should be responsible for replacement/compensation to owners.

Filed Aug 19, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 88,000 miles · TX

Abs module failure at 88k miles. Multiple fault codes presents with constant beeping and an error message reading " engine fault! Workshop! In the heads up display (epc, emergency brake, electronic steering assist off, traction control off fault codes). This is a safety feature failure that can result in loss of power steering, antilock braking system functionality, and traction control at the same time. The failure of this module represents a serious danger to occupants in the vehicle as the safety features are disabled due to the failure of this crucial part. This can happen at any speed while driving/turning.

Filed Jun 18, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 120,000 miles · NJ

When driving the car, a lot of the warning lights flash out of nowhere. The ABS light, traction, power steering, epc lights all flash. I also lose power steering. On top of that, the speedometer does not work. This happens abruptly and sometimes at high speeds. It is extremely dangerous. From what I've read, it is the ABS module failing. This seems to be a common problem of 09 gtis and needs to be recalled!

Filed Dec 11, 2014 · Engine · 114,000 miles · NY · fire

While traveling at 55 MPH in sixth gear on the new york state thruway, I suddenly lost power and the engine abruptly turned off. I consequently quickly decelerated and was almost rearended before being able to turn onto the shoulder. I smelled a burning odor and got out of my car. Eventually, the vw dealership advised me that the #2 coil had failed and caught fire. Consequently, the wiring harness for the ignition coil and plastic cover surrounding the coil had been destroyed by the fire. This is the second incident involving an ignition coil on this vehicle. Approximately 12 months ago, the #4 ignition coil failed leading to rapid deceleration as I was driving. This appears to be a chronic problem with the ignition coils that may result in otherwise avoidable accidents.

Filed Jul 18, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 56,000 miles · TX

When I started the vehicle after it had sat for a week without starting, warning lights appeared for ABS, traction control, and brakes. I drove it around the block to test things out, and things seemed to be running pretty much like normal, so I drove it to a mechanic. They ran a diagnostic, and 8 codes came up, all having to do with the ABS system. It was determined that the ABS control module would need to be replaced. I didn't want to do the repairs at that mechanic, so they told me I could drive the car, but that I wouldn't have ABS or traction control. Upon driving it a few miles, the lights turned off, and everything was functioning as normal. When I started it the next day, the lights were back on, but I decided to drive it to work, based on what the mechanic had told me. About a mile down the road, the speedometer stopped working, and the car then began to change gears at random, which presented an all new safety risk. At this point I also lost power steering. I managed to pull over and turn off the car. When I started the car again, just the brake warning lights were on, so I decided to drive home, considering I was only about a mile away. Everything was functioning properly on that drive. My complaint mostly has to do with the ABS control module, as it appears that this is a relatively common issue for this model year, and it definitely puts people at risk, especially if it is affecting other systems, as well.

Filed Aug 15, 2009 · Transmission · 900 miles · FL

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. The next day, we were told that an inquiry was open with vw tech and called later to say it was a sensor issue and would be 2-3 days. On the thursday evening, I was called to say it was a megatronic unit and would be 30 days - I requested a new car as I had only had this for 3 weeks and was told a manager would call me on friday. The same service consultant called me on friday and said they had worked late with vw tech and decided that it was not megatronic but a temperature sensor. The car remains at the dealership and I have been told it should be ready next friday. I am not sure that the dealership or vw tech are sure themselves what this problem is.

Filed Jul 23, 2009 · Transmission · 800 miles · NY

My 2009 vw gti with dsg very briefly lost power while attempting to accelerate on the highway. The engine revved, but the transmission felt as if it were not in gear. This lasted 2-3 seconds, during a merge. Had there been fast-moving traffic closer behind, I could have easily been rear-ended. Lifting off the accelerator and re-applying seemed to get the car back in gear. This was the only occurrence. The car has not been taken for service; I am submitting this complaint in response to the federal safety agency's investigation into vw's dsg.

Filed Jul 17, 2009 · Transmission · 5,000 miles · VA

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. The only way to get back into gear is to restart the car - and vw tells me that this also resets the fault indicator so that they can diagnose the problem. This problem causes a safety hazard -- losing all power to the engine when I am trying to merge into traffic or in a crowded place where I cannot coast to a safe place to stop and restart the car is extremely dangerous. The general shifting of the car in low gears is also somewhat jerky, but this problem pales in comparison to the complete loss of power at random times.