2009 Volkswagen RABBIT: complaints, problems and recalls

MY CAR IS A 2009 VW RABBIT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IT HAD ABOUT 10,000 MILES. I WAS IN GRIDLOCK TRAFFIC ON 1-84 ON JULY 3RD, 2009. AS I WAS WAITING IN TRAFFIC, I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THAT WHEN I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH THE RPM'S WOULD REV BUT IT TOOK THE CAR A BIT OF TIME TO MOVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SET AN APPOINTMENT BUT THEY WERE DISMISSIVE ABOUT THE WHOLE INCIDENT. THEN ON 8/30/09 ON A TRIP FROM SCHOON LAKE NY TO BETHEL, CT THE CLUTCH FAILED. AT THE BEGINNING OF MY TRIP FROM SCHROON LAKE, NY TO BETHEL, CT, I NOTICED THAT WHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293909 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A KNOCK SENSOR AND IT WOULD LIMIT THE ENGINE RPMS AND IT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO DOWN SHIFT. HE CONFIRMED WHEN ACTIVATED, THE AMOUNT OF FUEL PASSING THROUGH THE FUEL LINES WOULD BE LIMITED AND WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE DEALER TO RETORQUE THE KNOCK SENSOR UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURERS SERVICE BULLETIN. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE OWNER, HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318851 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2009 VW RABBIT. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER OWNING IT, I STARTED NOTICING A MOLDY SMELL IN THE CAR EVERY TIME I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND/OR THE HEAT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS MOLD IN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND THEY WOULD CLEAN IT. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I ASKED WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAID I NEED TO TURN OFF THE DEFROSTER/AIR CONDITIONER A FEW MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OFF THE CAR SO ANY MOISTURE DRAINS OUT. IN ESSENCE, THERE IS NO CURE, JUST A FIX. I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE. WHEN I ENTERE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10365115 at NHTSA ↗

I WANT TO INFORM YOU, THAT THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE FIRST GENERATION TPMS VALVE ADAPTERS USED IN THE 2009 VW RABBIT, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. IN COLD WEATHER, PART OF THESE VALVES CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND SNAP. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ALUMINUM USED IN THESE VALVE STEMS CORRODES OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, CAUSING THE VALVE ITSELF TO WEAKEN. OVER TIME, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SITUATION THAT MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE ALL THE AIR TO ESCAPE THE TIRE SUDDENLY - SOMETHING THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT. IN ADDITION TO COLD…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369192 at NHTSA ↗

2009 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SIDE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING DURING CRASH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON WAS HIT BY A PICK-UP MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON WAS INVOLUNTARY FORCED FROM THE NORTH BOUND LANE INTO THE CENTER TURN LANE WITH THE DRIVER'S NOSE OF THE CAR SLIGHTLY OVER THE YELLOW DOTTED LINE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DAMAGE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE/DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE THE RIM WAS BENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10458394 at NHTSA ↗

THE ABS, BRAKE, AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LAMPS CAME ON DURING A SCARY EVENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD AND QUICKLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING A CAR THAT SWERVED ACROSS TWO LANES AND CUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS FAILED, BUT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM WORKED LIKE A CAR WITHOUT ELECTRONIC CONTROLS, SO I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WHILE BRAKING AND STEERING NEAR THE TRACTION LIMIT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE LAMPS STAYED ON UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO ABS OR…

Owner-reported narrative. 72,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609573 at NHTSA ↗

LAST MONTH THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK REAR DOOR STOPPED LOCKING, EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE LOCK BUTTON. WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND PAID $400+ TO HAVE IT FIXED. A MONTH LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR DECIDES TO STOP LOCKING. ONE DOOR IS UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT THE FACT THAT BOTH DOORS STOPPED LOCKING WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF EACH OTHER IS PRETTY SUSPICIOUS. SOUNDS LIKE A SOLID CASE OF NEGLIGENCE ON VOLKSWAGENS PART. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650561 at NHTSA ↗

IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE ABS FAILS AND COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN UNTIL I RESTART THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY DRIVING IN SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669510 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Reported: 2016-12-20 (December 20, 2016)

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.