NHTSA complaint: 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ON JUNE 22, 2016, WHILE DRIVING ON A WINDING ROAD THE ABS/ESC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED. THEY WENT AWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THEN, ON NOVEMBER 15, 2016, I MADE A DEFENSIVE DRIVING MANEUVER AFTER BEING CUT OFF BY ANOTHER CAR. I WAS DRIVING APPROX 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES QUICKLY TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CARE TO SKID. THE CAR BEGAN TO FISHTAIL AND LOSE CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER PROPERLY AND THE ABS SYSTEM NEVER ENGAGED. THE CAR SPUN AND DID 180 DEGREE TURN SLAMMING INTO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WALL CAUSING OVER $4000 IN DAMAGE TO THE CAR. AFTER THE CRASH THE ABS/ESC CAUTION LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THEN ON JAN. 5 2017, DURING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS (SNOW PACKED ROADS), MY CAR SLID OFF THE FREEWAY AND BECAME STUCK. I HAD TO REQUEST EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE SERVICES TO PULL ME OUT. I WAS TRAVELING UNDER 10 MPH AND THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE. ONCE AGAIN THE ABS AND ESC WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED TURNING OFF WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS APPEAR TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation