SAGGING HEADLINER AROUND SUNGLASS HOLDER IN FRONT. WATER LEAK THROUGH WINDSHIELD (ORIGINAL, NO ACCIDENTS), WATER EVERYWHERE INSIDE CAR. STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT DURING RAINSTORM.
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
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.
What owners actually said
54 reportsELECTRICAL 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
IN DECEMBER OF 2014 WHILE TRAVELLING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER COMPLETELY FAILED. LEAVING NO WAY TO ENGAGE OR USE IT AT ALL. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE IT WAS 600 BUCKS FOR A NEW ONE THE PLASTIC PIN INSIDE HAD COMPLETELY BROKE IN HALF. IN MAY OF 2015 THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHILE AT A …
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IN DECEMBER OF 2014 WHILE TRAVELLING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER COMPLETELY FAILED. LEAVING NO WAY TO ENGAGE OR USE IT AT ALL. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE IT WAS 600 BUCKS FOR A NEW ONE THE PLASTIC PIN INSIDE HAD COMPLETELY BROKE IN HALF. IN MAY OF 2015 THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHILE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED , IT GOES IN AND OUT AND THE MECHANIC SAID THERE IS SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE A SEALED TRANSMISSION, MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS SCARY WHEN IT GOES FROM WORKING TO NOT WORKING IN A SPLIT SECOND.I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW.
MY 2007 VW RABBIT HAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VALVE BODY SYSTEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO FINDLAY VW IN NOVEMBER 2014 TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED, AS I HAD JUST BECOME AWARE THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WHICH MET THE CRITERIA OF MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. I WAS TOLD THAT "THEIR HANDS WERE TIED" DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE HAD TO HAV…
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MY 2007 VW RABBIT HAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VALVE BODY SYSTEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO FINDLAY VW IN NOVEMBER 2014 TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED, AS I HAD JUST BECOME AWARE THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WHICH MET THE CRITERIA OF MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. I WAS TOLD THAT "THEIR HANDS WERE TIED" DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE HAD TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE 2013. I THEN ASKED WHY I WAS NEVER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD MAILED OUT A LETTER-WHICH MANY PEOPLE IN LAS VEGAS INCLUDING MYSELF DID NOT RECEIVE-AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD MOVED IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FORWARDED. I THEN ASKED WHY THEY HAD NOT INFORMED ME OF THIS ISSUE ANY OF THE TIMES I HAD BROUGHT MY VW IN FOR SERVICE. THEIR SERVICE DIRECTOR THEN INFORMED ME THAT IT IS "NOT THEIR POLICY" TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS OR KNOWN ISSUES. HE INTERRUPTED MY REPEATEDLY, SPOKE OVER ME, AND WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH HIS BOSS WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL BACK AND HE HUNG UP ON ME! THIS CAR IS INTENDED FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS LEARNING TO DRIVE AND IS UNSAFE! I AM UNDER THE MILEAGE THEY REQUIRE TO FIX THIS, AND IT IS THE CORRECT YEAR AND MODEL. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE TO BE TREATED IN SUCH A FASHION. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED VW CORPORATE WHO HAVE ALSO REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *JS
DEFECTIVE COOLANT FAN #2 MANUFACTURED BY SIEMENS. P1951 FAULT CODE FOR NON OPERATIONAL COOLANT FAN #2 OCCURRED ON 09/29/2011 AT 122,163 MILES FOR A 2007 VW RABBIT. VW DEALERSHIP DETECTED THE FAULT AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE COOLANT FAN #2 WITH A NEW SIEMENS COOLANT FAN #2 AT OWNERS REQUEST ON 09/29/2011. ON 08/20/2014 AT …
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DEFECTIVE COOLANT FAN #2 MANUFACTURED BY SIEMENS. P1951 FAULT CODE FOR NON OPERATIONAL COOLANT FAN #2 OCCURRED ON 09/29/2011 AT 122,163 MILES FOR A 2007 VW RABBIT. VW DEALERSHIP DETECTED THE FAULT AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE COOLANT FAN #2 WITH A NEW SIEMENS COOLANT FAN #2 AT OWNERS REQUEST ON 09/29/2011. ON 08/20/2014 AT 182,000 MILES THE REPLACEMENT 09/29/2011 SIEMENS COOLANT FAN #2 FAILED AND STOPPED WORKING. A SECOND FAULT CODE P1951 WAS DETECTED BY A CERTIFIED AND LICENSED PRIVATE MECHANIC. SECOND SIEMENS COOLANT FAN #2 FOUND DEFECTIVE IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND 60,000 MILES. ORIGINAL COOLANT FAN # 2 LASTED 4 YEARS AND 122,000 MILES. *TR
I WANT TO ADD A COMPLAINT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN MARK FIVE MODEL'S CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. FOR SOME REASON, THIS SENOR AT TIMES DOES SOMETHING TO THE ENGINE AND IT KILLS THE ENGINE. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SPAN OF 4 MONTHS. EVERYTHING IS ON, INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, STEERING BUT AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE ENGIN…
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I WANT TO ADD A COMPLAINT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN MARK FIVE MODEL'S CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. FOR SOME REASON, THIS SENOR AT TIMES DOES SOMETHING TO THE ENGINE AND IT KILLS THE ENGINE. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SPAN OF 4 MONTHS. EVERYTHING IS ON, INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, STEERING BUT AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE ENGINE DIES AND I'VE HAD TO COAST TO A STOP TO RESTART IT AND RESTARTS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I'VE LOOKED AT FORUMS TO SEE WHAT COULD BE CAUSING IT AND MY POINTED TO THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. IT'S OCCURRED TO VEHICLES WITH HIGH AND LOW MILEAGE. *TR
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 VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP...RPM'S INCREASED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVE BODY WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT AND WOULD COST $1700. I DELAYED THE REPAIR DUE TO THE COST AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SHIFT FINE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES HOWEVER A LOUD CLUNK BEGAN TO…
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THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP...RPM'S INCREASED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVE BODY WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT AND WOULD COST $1700. I DELAYED THE REPAIR DUE TO THE COST AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SHIFT FINE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES HOWEVER A LOUD CLUNK BEGAN TO DEVELOP ( ON AND OFF...SPORADICALLY) IN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2 GEARS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE CLUNKING. A REPAIR ORDER WAS NOT WRITTEN BECAUSE I DELAYED DUE TO THE COST. FINALLY I TOOK IT IN LATE MARCH TO HAVE THE VALVE BODY REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CONDITION WOULD NOT GENERATE A CODE ON THE COMPUTER. I ALSO ASKED IF THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF RABBITS/GOLFS IN FOR THIS AND THE ANSWER WAS : "YES UNFORTUNATELY WE DO". AFTER I DROPPED THE CAR OFF I DECIDED TO GOOGLE THIS CONDITION AND FOUND THAT VW HAD KNOW ABOUT THIS SAFETY DEFECT AND HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS 100,000 MILES. IRATE THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT IT DECIDED TO CALL VW AND COMPLAINED THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE EXTENSION AND I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT IN SOONER FOR THE REPAIR. THEY NOW REFUSE TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAS 101,700 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT THEY DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM A LETTER WAS SENT TO OWNERS. THIS KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT (THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY) SHOULD BE ON A MANDATORY RECALL...OR THE VERY LEAST THE FACTORY SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE OWNERS ACTUALLY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THROUGH CERTIFIED MAIL AND DEALER COMMUNICATION VIA THE SERVICE DRIVE. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY DID NOT KNOW MY VEHICLE WAS COVERED OR THEY WOULD HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS TO ME? THEY ARE SWEEPING A KNOWN SAFETY ITEM UNDER THE RUG UNTIL THE CAR REACHES 100K , AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDS TO FIX IT. THERE ARE MANY BLOGS ON THE INTERNET THAT SHOW THIS IS COMMON. *TR
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
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.
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