Volkswagen Rabbit Complaints

160 consumer complaints on file.

#10233526July 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 06 VW RABBIT (BOUGHT IN JUNE, PROBLEMS STARTED IN APPROX AUGUST) WILL STALL OR SPUTTER SPORADICALLY. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY WHEN WAITING AT A LIGHT, SITTING IN TRAFFIC, OR WHEN ABOUT TO TAKE OFF AND THE CAR IS IDLE. IT HAS HAPPENED MONTHS APART AND SOMETIMES DAYS APART. IF THE CAR DOES NOT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY IT SOMETIMES DOES A HARD JERK BACK AND FORTH LIKE WHEN YOU DON'T EASE OF THE CLUTCH RIGHT WHEN DRIVING A STICK (THIS IS AN A/T TRANSMISSION) AND THE RPM'S DROP TO JUST ABOVE 0. THE CAR STARTS BACK UP AFTER IT SHUTS OFF HOWEVER THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THE VERY LAST TIME THE CAR SHUT OFF I WAS NOT DRIVING. THE CAR WAS PARKED I GOT IN, STARTED IT, AND IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT BACK OFF. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THESE THINGS DO NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE SCAN CODES CLEAR UPON RESTARTING THE CAR. I DID SUGGEST THE NEXT TIME THE CAR SHUTS OFF TO HAVE THEM TOW IT SO THAT WAY THE CODES DO NOT CLEAR OUT BUT THEY DID NOT AGREE WITH THE SUGGESTION. THE ONLY SUGGESTION THEY CAN OFFER ME IS TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228354May 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT 2008 MODEL TWO MONTHS AGO, AND LESS THAN 4,500 MILES THE OXYGEN SENSOR WIRE RIPPED YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS MORNING I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TELLING ME THAT THE CUT WAS DUE TO AN ANIMAL!! (SO IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY). I LOOK AT THIS WIRE JUST BEFORE DROPPING THE CAR AT VW, AND CONCLUDED EITHER A MANUFACTURER DEFECT (ASSEMBLY PLAN, MANUFACTURING...). I WAS FURIOUS AT THEIR CONCLUSION, BECAUSE THIS COULD BE DUE TO A LOT OF FACTORS (DEFINITELY NOT AN ANIMAL!), BUT VW AMERICA MUST HAVE INSTRUCTED THEIR DEALERSHIP TO CONCLUDE IN THIS WAY. BECAUSE THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER 2008 VW JETTA (SAME ENGINE BUT 2 WEEKS OLDER THAN MINE), AND HER VW DEALER (DIFFERENT THAN MINE) CONCLUDED IT WAS AN ANIMAL. I STRONGLY DOUBTED THAT, BUT CONCEDED IT COULD HAPPEN (I NEVER SAW THE BROKEN O2 SENSOR IN HER CAR;) BUT WHEN SAW MINE, I KNEW IT WAS NOT AN ANIMAL: NO CHEWING MARK, NO MARKS AROUND THE SPOT DENOTING THE PRESENCE OF ANY ANIMAL. I HAVE A MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE WITH 7 YEARS EXPERIENCE AT A SHOP WORKING MOSTLY ON GERMAN CARS. I WAS SURPRISED TO HAVE TO DOUBT THE INTEGRITY OF VW AMERICA, BUT THEY DID NOT GIVE ME OTHER AVENUE TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER, IT IS: WE SAY SO AND YOU HAVE TO PAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219445February 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213322December 31, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
REAR BRAKE PADS WORN QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AT 12,000 MILES THEY STARTED WEARING DOWN AND THE METALLIC SOUND STARTED TO OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212350December 19, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
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 ME THAT "SQUEALING WAS NORMAL" I (OWNER) AM A BMW DIAGNOSTIC LEVEL III TECHNICIAN WITH OVER 10 YEARS SERVICE EXPERIENCE. EDUCATED AT UTI, I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE THEORETICAL EXPERTISE TO UNDERSTAND THE THE PRINCIPALS AFFECTING THE BRAKES SYSTEMS EMPLOYED BY GERMAN AUTO MAKERS. UPON ARRIVING HOME THAT EVENING, AFTER PROPERLY SECURING MY VEHICLE ON A STABLE AND LEVEL SURFACE I RAISED THE REAR WHEELS OFF THE GROUND AND INSPECTED FOR CAUSATION, ONLY TO FIND LESS THAT 5% FRICTION MATERIAL REMAINING. (APPROX 1.5MM) AND ROTOR DAMAGE HAD BEGUN WITH ROTOR SURFACE DEFORMATION THE NEXT LIKELY EVENT. TO ABATE THIS EVENT FROM OCCURRING, I REPLACED THE REAR PADS, AND THE SQUEALING ENDED. WHEN I INQUIRED WHETHER THE CAUSATION OF ACCELERATED AND UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PROPORTIONING VALVE, OR CALIPER DEFECT, THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REFERRED ME TO "NITSA.COM" (WHICH HAD ITS DOMAIN EXPIRE 2 YEARS AGO IN 2005) SHE STATED THAT VW WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY ANY SITUATION OTHER THAN THROUGH DEALER REPRESENTATION. THOUGH I RECTIFIED THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT, HAD I LISTENED TO THE DEALER RECOMMENDATION OF 80% PAD LIFE REMAINING I COULD HAVE DIED FROM METAL TO METAL CONTACT OF PAD BASE TO ROTOR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE OR CRASH. HAVING LITTLE TO NO RECOURSE. THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL ASSISTANCE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RENDER IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, PETER VILLAFANA *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210961December 5, 2007
PARKING BRAKE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191914May 29, 2007
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190436May 10, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 BUSY STREET TO MAKE THE TURN, WHEN I WENT TO HIT THE GAS TO GET INTO A FREE SPOT ON THE ROAD THE CAR REVVED REALLY HIGH, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T RESPOND. THE CAR DROVE LIKE I WAS ONLY WANTING IT TO GO 10 MPH , BUT I HAD HIT THE PEDAL TO GET IT TO GO WAY FASTER GIVEN THE BUSY STREET. THE REVVS WERE THERE LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL OR SOMETHING, BUT IT DIDN'T RESPOND. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR BOX TO SEE IF I HAD ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE SIFTER INTO NEUTRAL ,BUT I HADN'T IT. I ALMOST GOT KILLED. VERY STRANGE. I WHIPPED THE SWEAT OFF OF MY FOREHEAD AND KEPT DRIVING SLOWLY AND IT WAS OKAY. I EVEN TRIED THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN TO SEE IF IT WOULD NOT RESPOND, BUT IT DID ALMOST LIKE THERE WAS NO FUEL COMING THROUGH, BUT THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE THE REVVS WERE THERE. I WILL HAVE IT CHECKED OUT NEXT TIME I GO TO MY DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190320May 9, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187670April 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS AND 4700 MILES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE THAT WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177258December 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
***NOTE: THIS WAS A VW RABBIT, NOT A VW GOLF, BUT RABBIT WAS NOT AN OPTION UNDER THE REQUIRED MODEL*** AT 12:30AM ON DECEMBER 23, 2006, I PARKED MY 2006 VW RABBIT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I THEN PLUGGED IN THE BLOCK HEATER, AS USUAL. AT 11AM THAT SAME DAY, I WAS AWOKEN BY THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION AND MY CAR ALARM GOING OFF. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT NOT BEFORE IT TOTALED MY CAR. THE CAR WAS SIX MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES ON IT. THE BLOCK HEATER WAS INSTALLED BY THE VW DEALERSHIP ON PURCHASE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO START INSIDE THE ENGINE AS IT DID NOT BREAK THROUGH THE FIRE WALL INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. SO FAR, THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, AND IS UNLIKELY TO BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT IT WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE CAR'S ENGINE. I AM STILL FIGHTING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176621December 19, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113530February 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT 1982 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT BAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. *BF THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SUDDENLY WHILE IN MOTION ALONG WITH A STRONG FUEL SMELL. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 85V015000. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109613January 13, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND HAD A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL. *NM *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097526November 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER HAD A 1982 VOLKSWAGEN . HE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR AN ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL WHICH WOULD OVERLOAD/OVERHEAT, AND MALFUNCTION. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY TO THE FUEL PUMP TO BE INTERRUPTED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS RECALL. THEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ALSO SAID NO. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLS CONSTANTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP SHUTOFF PROBLEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE STALL WHEN DRIVEN. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#826692August 13, 1998
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#527609December 30, 1997
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNSPECIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#979924February 29, 1996
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#974831November 8, 1995
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
MATERIAL THAT CONNECTS LINKAGE TO GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL CAN DETERIORATE WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#971841September 11, 1995
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE YARD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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