IllustrationDrivers side heated seat has a problem. The seat over heats and has burnt a hole in the fabric and melted part of the seat.
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
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 Rabbit 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
170–25K
325–50K
350–75K
975–100K
5100–150K
5150K+
42 reports with mileage · 12 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Seats complaints
8 reportsVEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET IN NORTH CHATHAM, MA. SMELL OF BURNING. PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER HAD BURNT A HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK. A HOLE WAS ALSO BURNT IN THE OUTER LAYER OF MY GOOSE DOWN COAT WHERE IT MADE CONTACT WITH BURNING SEAT BACK. BURNT HOLE IN SEAT IS APPROXIMATELY 0.375…
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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET IN NORTH CHATHAM, MA. SMELL OF BURNING. PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER HAD BURNT A HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK. A HOLE WAS ALSO BURNT IN THE OUTER LAYER OF MY GOOSE DOWN COAT WHERE IT MADE CONTACT WITH BURNING SEAT BACK. BURNT HOLE IN SEAT IS APPROXIMATELY 0.375 INCH DIAMETER.
THE SEAT HEATERS ARE NOT REGULATING TEMPERATURE CONSISTENTLY AND I NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAS A HOLE BURNED IN IT FROM THE HEATER. I AM AFRAID TO USE IT IN CASE IT CAUSES A FIRE, SINCE IT APPEARS IT ALREADY BURNED A HOLE.
ELECTRICAL BURNING HEATED SEATS SETTING: 5 SMELT BURNING WIRE SMELL WHILE DRIVING, THEN FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN MY BACK. TURNED OFF HEATED SEATS PULLED OVER. PULL OVER. MK5 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT 2007 2.5
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT GETS SO HOT WHILE THE HEATED SEATS ARE ON. I CAN NOT TURN THEM UP ABOVE SETTING 1 OTHERWISE YOU SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. UPDATED 4/24/2015 *JS
THE HEATED DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME UNCOMFORTABLY HOT AND BURNED SEVERAL HOLES THROUGH THE FOAM AND FABRIC. *TR
THE SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND WOULD NO SHUT OFF. *TR
THE DRIVER SEAT IS STUCK AND WONT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. SOMETHING IS BROKEN IN THE MECHANISM OF THE SEAT TRACKS AND LEVERS. I CAN NOT REACH THE PEDALS. PASSENGERS IN THE REAR CANNOT SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. THE RELEASE MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER SEAT NEAR THE HEAD REST ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THE SEAT FOLDS DOWN BUT T…
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THE DRIVER SEAT IS STUCK AND WONT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. SOMETHING IS BROKEN IN THE MECHANISM OF THE SEAT TRACKS AND LEVERS. I CAN NOT REACH THE PEDALS. PASSENGERS IN THE REAR CANNOT SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. THE RELEASE MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER SEAT NEAR THE HEAD REST ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THE SEAT FOLDS DOWN BUT THE SEAT DOES NOT SLIDE FORWARD. *TR
Official recalls
210V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Dec 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 & remedy
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.
07V442000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Sep 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 & remedy
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.
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.