2009 Volkswagen Golf/GTI
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 115 of 170 complaints (68%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 68 in 2008 to 170 in 2009.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | vs. 2009 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100–3,250 | 3,100–3,250 | 3,100 | 2,400–3,100 | 2,300–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–25 | 24–25 | 25 | 25–32 | 25–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–22 / 29 | 20–22 / 29 | 21–22 / 29–31 | 21–29 / 30–39 | 21–29 / 31–39 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 355–370 | 355–370 | 355 | 315–355 | 315–355 | |
| Complaints filed | 79 | 68 | 170 | 122 | 165 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Golf/GTI have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2009 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
Brakes: 115 of 170 NHTSA complaints (68%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Volkswagen Golf/GTI get?
EPA rates it 25 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
EPA estimates $3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (high) | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (low) | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 355 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 115 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP; ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · Campaign 16V913000 · Dec 20, 2016
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 09V333000 · Aug 20, 2009
Defect: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.
Consequence: THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.