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2008 Volkswagen Rabbit

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

22 reports with mileage · 1 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

5 reports
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138,000 miles · Dec 5, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainStructure

IN MOTION: THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING UP. THERE IS DELAY, THEREFORE THE CAR IS 'JUMPING' BEFORE THE HIGHER LEVEL OF GEAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT. THIS PROBLEM LAST FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS IN MOTION: THE USE OF FUEL IS MUCH HIGHER THAN USED TO BE, EVEN ALL INJECTORS ARE PROPERLY WORKING. THIS PROBLEM IS NOW ABOUT 5 MONTHS …

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IN MOTION: THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING UP. THERE IS DELAY, THEREFORE THE CAR IS 'JUMPING' BEFORE THE HIGHER LEVEL OF GEAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT. THIS PROBLEM LAST FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS IN MOTION: THE USE OF FUEL IS MUCH HIGHER THAN USED TO BE, EVEN ALL INJECTORS ARE PROPERLY WORKING. THIS PROBLEM IS NOW ABOUT 5 MONTHS OLD. THE REAR DOOR - ITS LATCH BROKE IN NOVEMBER 2014. THE DOOR FELT ON MY HEAD. CONTACTING VW USA - I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR HAS TO BE DONE BY VW DEALER.. VW DEALER MADE ME A QUOTE OF $ 3.5 K WHICH I REJECTED. SINCE THAT TIME I AM CARRYING IN CAR BOARD OF WOOD AND USING IT FOR SUPPORT OF OPEN DOOR.

NHTSA ODI #11287388

79,000 miles · Nov 26, 2013
Power Train

I TRIED TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HAD VERY SLOW ACCELERATION. I SWITCHED TO MANUAL SHIFT MODE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT. ONCE I STARTED I COULDN'T STOP AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE LANES. I HAVE HAD SIMILAR OCCURRENCES BEFORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL…

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I TRIED TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HAD VERY SLOW ACCELERATION. I SWITCHED TO MANUAL SHIFT MODE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT. ONCE I STARTED I COULDN'T STOP AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE LANES. I HAVE HAD SIMILAR OCCURRENCES BEFORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL SHOP AND THEY CHANGED THE FLUID WHICH THEY SAID WAS VERY DIRTY AND BURNED LOOKING. NOTE, THE TRANSMISSION IS (WAS) SUPPOSED TO BE SERVICE FREE FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. APPARENTLY IT IS A KNOW DEFECT IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THE VALVE BODY FAILS PREMATURELY AND EVENTUALLY CAUSES CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. VW HAS ADMITTED THE VALVE BODY ISSUE AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES AFTER ENTRY TO SERVICE FOR THE VALVE BODY ONLY. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN, AND DOES, COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. THERE IS MUCH DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE AT VARIOUS PLACES ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553948

74,300 miles · Jul 23, 2013
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING IN SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED LEAVING DUAL SKID MARKS ON PAVEMENT. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. WHEN TOWED, A POOL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND UNDER CAR, MECHANIC REPORTS NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED BUT EXACT CAUSE CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. VEHICLE IS 5 MONTH…

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WHILE DRIVING IN SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED LEAVING DUAL SKID MARKS ON PAVEMENT. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. WHEN TOWED, A POOL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND UNDER CAR, MECHANIC REPORTS NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED BUT EXACT CAUSE CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS AND 14,300 MILES OVER WARRANTY AND VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WILL NOT COVER ANY COSTS SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS 5 SPEED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF THIS OCCURED AT HIGHER SPEED, INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531504

14,484 miles · Apr 1, 2010
Power Train

VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR ON OCASSIONS, NO RESPONSE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FRON STOP. HAVE COMPLAINED TO VW DEALER @ 5,000,10,000, & 15,000 MILES. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGERIOUS SITUATION AS IT STALLS, THEN ACCELERATES VERY FAST . I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AS THERE IS NO SET …

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VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR ON OCASSIONS, NO RESPONSE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FRON STOP. HAVE COMPLAINED TO VW DEALER @ 5,000,10,000, & 15,000 MILES. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGERIOUS SITUATION AS IT STALLS, THEN ACCELERATES VERY FAST . I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AS THERE IS NO SET PATTERN. I FEEL LIKE THE DEALER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE AS THEY SAY IT MIGHT GET WORSE THEN THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE SCANNER,AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON.

NHTSA ODI #10323362

1,000 miles · Apr 14, 2009
Power Train

THE ENGINE LOSS POWER NOT ONLY WHEN YOU STOP BUT WHEN RUNNING TOO. IT HAPPENS IN A INTERMITENT TIME. IF YOU NEED MORE POWER IN A SPECIFIC TIME AND PUSH FOR MORE GASOLINE THE ENGINE GOES DOWN FOR A PERIOD OF 4 TO 6 SECONDS. IT HAS A NOISE IN THE REAR LIKE WHEN THE EXHAUST PIPE ARE LOOSE. ALL THIS ISSUES HAD BEEN REPORTED AT T…

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THE ENGINE LOSS POWER NOT ONLY WHEN YOU STOP BUT WHEN RUNNING TOO. IT HAPPENS IN A INTERMITENT TIME. IF YOU NEED MORE POWER IN A SPECIFIC TIME AND PUSH FOR MORE GASOLINE THE ENGINE GOES DOWN FOR A PERIOD OF 4 TO 6 SECONDS. IT HAS A NOISE IN THE REAR LIKE WHEN THE EXHAUST PIPE ARE LOOSE. ALL THIS ISSUES HAD BEEN REPORTED AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT EUROCLASS VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN PUERTO RICO AND THEY DONT FINF ANITHING. REGARDING THE NOISE IN THE REAR THEY CHANGED A FEW PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION AND SOCK ADSORVERS BUT THE NOISE IS THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265350

Official recalls

2

10V621000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.