2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen recalls and problems

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen has 1 safety recall and 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

0 / 0

Injuries / deaths

0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen recalls

Recall 16V-913: Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Dec 20, 2016 · 135,683 vehicles affected · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.

Risk: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Service Brakes	9
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	5
Electrical System	5
Unknown or Other	4
Seat Belts	2
Fuel/Propulsion System	1
Structure	1
Steering	1
Power Train	1
Air Bags	1

Most reported parts

Structure › Body — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 107,500 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · reported Sep 11, 2026

at or around 6:52pm on 9/11/2026, what I assume is the seatbelt pretensioner deployed while I was driving down a smooth road. absolutely no potholes or anything of the sort, I was just regularly driving down the road and it snapped and tightened up onto my chest, started smoking inside, and injured the left side of my neck. I have a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen 2.5 SE. I don't understand what happened, but this is a clear safety concern, and this absolutely terrified me. I immediately pulled over and checked under and around the car, there was nothing.

Power Train · reported Jan 22, 2024

While driving the vehicle, suddenly and without warning it downshifted, went into limp mode and became stuck in second gear. Fortunately, I was driving on a secondary road with little traffic. Had I been on a major road or highway, its likely I would have been rear ended resulting in injury/death. I have taken vehicle to dealership where it has been confirmed it is the DSG transmission caused by a faulty Mechatronics unit. I am being told the entire transmission needs to be replaced. Had VW recalled and fixed the problem earlier, I would not need a new transmission now. VW is refusing to pay…

Service Brakes · reported Nov 11, 2023

Random unwanted braking action during driving and dangerous steering force to the right side.I had to use both hands and force to keep car on the road on the interstate. No fault codes found VW Dealership could not find any Problem.They replaced the ABS Modem to a cost of $2669 but the problem remains.The brakes lock up when just backing up on my driveway too.I have read on the VW forums that a lot of people are having the same problems on 2009, 2012,2013 Jetta.I am afraid to take the car on the road and especially on the interstate again!

Unknown or Other · reported Sep 7, 2022

The car had an ignition problem. I could not turn the car off using the key. For many years it is had a problem of not always being able to easily start the car with the key. But time time I could not turn the car off without pulling a fuse. Obvious safety issues if a car won't turn off and basically useless vehicle. It had not been inspected by others, but online I found this problem is not uncommon. There where no warning messages of the problem prior to failure. As mentioned before, for years it has been difficult to turn on. First time I could not turn it off.

Unknown or Other · reported Sep 11, 2020

I purchased a 2009 vw jetta gli 4 door car and less than 1 day later the epc, ABS lights came on and many of the gauges were not working properly (Speedometer, fuel, etc.) the sensors were fixed and the used dealership that sold me the car has had it off and on, in and out of the shop fixing those things, said the ABS module needed replaced. The dealership said it is on the recall for replacement and that the local vw dealership would fix it free of charge. The vw dealership told my husband and I today that the code didn't match to replace the ABS module. I looked the vehicle up in the…

Other Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen years

2014 2013 2012 2011 20102009

Compare all Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen years · All Volkswagen models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen: 16V-913 (electronic stability control (esc), service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen?

Owners report service brakes problems most often (9 reports), followed by electronic stability control (esc) (5). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 107,500 miles.

Are Volkswagen recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Volkswagen dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.