2007 Volkswagen RABBIT: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW, LESS THAN A DAY OLD FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WITH ONLY 240 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO DINNER, AND AFTER DINNER IT WOULD NOT START, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL. LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAK. MANUFACTURE SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A FUEL LINE THAT HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THEY RE-ATTACHED IT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176621 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER GETTING OFF FROM WORK IN NEW JERSEY THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. BATTERY WAS FINE BECAUSE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER, AND OTHER FEATURES WERE RUNNING. *AK FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE MILEAGE REACHED 9,000.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10190320 at NHTSA ↗

RABBIT ISSUES: 4 MONTHS IN. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA...WITH 300000 LMS ON THE CAR I WAS STUCK IN INNER CITY TRAFFIC JUST AFTER I PULLED OUT OF MY STREET WHERE I LIVED. IT WAS A WARM DAY IN JANUARY, AND I HAD LET THE CAR WARM UP , BUT WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC IT DECIDED TO STALL. I HAD TO WAIT A FEW SECONDS TO GET THE MOTOR TO TURN BACK OVER. THE CAR HAD BEEN SHAKING MORE THEN IT WOULD NORMALLY A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE. THEN, THE OTHER DAY, I STARTED THE CAR, CLEANED THE SNOW OFF, AND THEN DROVE OFF. GETTING OUT OF MY STREET HAD TO CROSS A REALLY BUS…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190436 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO RETURN HIS PHONE CALL. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND SET UP AND APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS SEATED, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. HE REFERRED TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE ENGINE SIZE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191914 at NHTSA ↗

EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR AT 6K MILES ON MY CAR DUE TO OVER TIGHTENING OF PARKING BRAKE AT FACTORY, THUS CAUSING PADS TO STICK AND WEAR OUT WAY TOO EARLY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210961 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2007 VW RABBIT, PURCHASED AUGUST 13, 2007. MANUFACTURED 05/2007 MY BRAKES APPEARED TO BE SQUEALING UNDER LIGHT DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING LOW SPEED BRAKING SITUATIONS. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NEAREST ME. WHEN ALLEGED REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE WAS COMPLETED THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT REMAINING PAD LIFE AVERAGED 80% FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. HOWEVER UPON COMPLETION OF WORK VEHICLE SQUEALED LOUDER THAN WHEN VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF FOR SERVICE. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE SQUEALS ORIGIN, THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,366 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212350 at NHTSA ↗

REAR BRAKE PADS WORN QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AT 12,000 MILES THEY STARTED WEARING DOWN AND THE METALLIC SOUND STARTED TO OCCUR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213322 at NHTSA ↗

2007 VW RABBIT MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHILE USING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE WAS METAL TO METAL AND THE RIGHT ONE WAS ALMOST METAL TO METAL. *KB THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE UNEVEN WEARING OF THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,966 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219445 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.

Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2010-12-10 (December 10, 2010)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.

Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.