IllustrationSERVICE BULLETIN # 004, NHTSA NUMBER 10011567, FAILURE OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR AT 43,500 MILES. ENGINE NEVER WARMED TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF 87 DEGREES, OPENED THERMOSTAT AT 75 DEGREES.*TR
2004 Volkswagen R32
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all R32 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 10 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
3 reportsON JULY 13, 2008 WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 VOLKWAGEN R32 I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVING REALLY ROUGH AFTER I MADE AN EXIT FROM THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I MADE IT TO A COMPLETE STOP I NOTICED THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL/PLASTIC FIRE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE …
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ON JULY 13, 2008 WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 VOLKWAGEN R32 I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVING REALLY ROUGH AFTER I MADE AN EXIT FROM THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I MADE IT TO A COMPLETE STOP I NOTICED THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL/PLASTIC FIRE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE AREA I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BEFORE IT SPREAD. THE DEVICE THAT WAS CAUSING THE FIRE IS CALLED A COIL PACK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I DID KEEP THE OLD PARTS AND TOOK PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BURNT COIL PACK CONNECTOR HOWEVER THEY DID NOT HAVE THE ACTUAL COIL PACK TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED ONE. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT OEM THROUGH A DIFFERENT PARTS RETAILER. THE DEALER CHARGED ME TO REPAIR THE BURNED CONNECTOR AS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV 2006 AND SINCE THEN HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, RIGHT FORM THE START. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON FOR 10 MONTHS, UNABLE TO FIX, REMOTE GARAGE OPENER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, REMOTE CONTROL DOESN'T OPEN THE CAR, BACK DOOR DOESN'T OPEN AT ALL, ONE OF THE STUDS UNDERNEATH BROKE ON FREEWAY GOING TO …
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I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV 2006 AND SINCE THEN HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, RIGHT FORM THE START. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON FOR 10 MONTHS, UNABLE TO FIX, REMOTE GARAGE OPENER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, REMOTE CONTROL DOESN'T OPEN THE CAR, BACK DOOR DOESN'T OPEN AT ALL, ONE OF THE STUDS UNDERNEATH BROKE ON FREEWAY GOING TO LAS VEGAS, ENGINE LIGHT ON, CAR OVERHEATING. *TR
Official recalls
107V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.