2009 Volkswagen GTI Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

20Steering complaints

12%Of all 167 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES94 · 56.3%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)69 · 41.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31 · 18.6%

STEERING20 · 12%

POWER TRAIN18 · 10.8%

Share of the 167 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Volkswagen GTI overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10907971 — filed 09/19/2016

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM BECAME TIGHT, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS CHECK ENGINE, STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, EPC AND STABILITY…”NHTSA complaint 10907635 — filed 09/19/2016

“ABS MODULE FAILURE AT 88K MILES. MULTIPLE FAULT CODES PRESENTS WITH CONSTANT BEEPING AND AN ERROR MESSAGE READING " ENGINE FAULT! WORKSHOP! IN THE HEADS…”NHTSA complaint 10897237 — filed 08/19/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Volkswagen GTI have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Volkswagen GTI: 20 of 167 complaints on file (12%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Volkswagen GTI have in total?

167 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 1 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.