2008 Volkswagen Rabbit

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

THE STEERING STARTED MAKING A POPPING AND CRACKING SOUND WHILE TURNING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING UNIT WAS GOING BAD AND THEY HAD TO FIX IT. THEY SAID THAT IF IT FAILED TOTALLY I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE PROPERLY. YOU COULD TURN RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD GO STRAIGHT OR LEFT. THEN ON JUNE 4RTH 2012 WITH 79715 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE STEERING STARTED POPPING AND CRACKING AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING UNIT WAS GOING BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS WILLING TO PAY HALF OF COST, BUT I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A THING BECAUSE IF IT WAS FIXED THE FIRST TIME IT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE WRONG AGAIN. NOT ONLY THAT BUT LOOK AT THE MILEAGE ALMOST THE EXACT MILEAGE DIFFERENCE. HOW CAN THEY MAKE A DEFECTIVE PART AND STILL MAKE ME PAY FOR IT. THAT SEEMS LIKE FRAUD TO ME. IF THIS PART CAUSES SIGNIFICANT FAILURE TO THE VEHICLE THIS MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE COSTUMER SHOULD NOT BEAR THE COST OF REPAIR. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE FROM 5 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED TWICE PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED. THE DEALER LATER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 VW RABBIT WITH SUNROOF SEPT '08. SUNROOF REPAIRED 10/'09. JAN '10 ROOF DAMAGED BY TREE BRANCH. ENTIRE ROOF REPLACED 'BUT' BODY SHOP ADVISED NOT TO INSTALL SUNROOF. THE SHOP EMAILED PHOTO'S OF EXISTING ROOF SHOWING STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS I.E. THE OEM ROOF BEAMS ATTACHING BODY TO ROOF WERE CUT AND REMOVED. A BRACKET REPLACED THE BEAM AND 3 SHEET METAL SCREWS FASTENED THE BRACKET TO THE BODY. THE VW ENGINEERED STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ROOF IS COMPROMISED AND DANGEROUS IN A ROLLOVER LIKELY TO COLLAPSE INTO THE SEATING AREA. IN ADDITION THE SIDE IMPACT STRENGTH OF THE CAR HAS BEEN WEAKENED AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT MAYBE AFFECTED, PER BODY SHOP OWNER MIKE CHILTON. I DID NOT HAVE A NEW SUNROOF INSTALLED. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, MY VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED AS A HARDTOP WITH NO SUNROOF. BECAUSE THIS WAS AN UNAPPROVED AFTER-MARKET SUNROOF VW EXCEPTS NO LIABILITY, NO WARRANTY, NO NOTHING! I CONTACT WINN VW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS UNDISCLOSED AFTER-MARKET SUNROOF AND THE SAFETY RELATED ISSUES. THE DEALER EMAIL RESPONSE: "HELLO [XXX] , I SPOKE TO MY SALES MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS A ADDENDUM STICKER ON DISPLAY ON THE CAR THE CAR AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE." THE ARROGANCE OF THE RESPONSE SAYS IT ALL. THEY ARE NOT DISPUTING MY FINDINGS. EVIDENTLY POSTING A PHANTOM ADDENDUM STICKER MAKES ALL OF THE ABOVE OK! I HAVE THE WINDOW STICKER. I HAVE ALL THE SIGNED DOCUMENTS. THERE IS NO MENTION OF SUNROOF. THERE IS NO MENTION THAT THE STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS DO NOT COMPLY WITH VW SAFETY STANDARDS. THE SAFETY COMPLIANCE STICKER IS INTACT BUT BASICALLY MEANINGLESS. IT'S MEANINGLESS BECAUSE THE BRAND NEW CAR I DROVE OFF THE LOT DID NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS. HOW MANY OTHER UNSUSPECTING CAR OWNERS ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION? THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES CITED WINN VW OF NEWARK WITH A MISDEMEANORS UNDER SECTION 11713.1 FOR NON DISCLOSURE. NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE OPERATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SUDDENLY DISENGAGE. WHEN HE WOULD DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD RESUME OPERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

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.

I OWN A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT, 2 DOOR MODEL. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN AUXILIARY POWER PLUG (12V CIGARETTE LIGHTER TYPE) INSIDE THE TRUNK. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE POWER PLUG, THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE IN THE "ON" POSITION (WITH THE CAR ENGINE OFF). I REVERSED INTO A PARKING LOT OPENING THE HATCH AND PROCEEDED TO USE THE AUXILIARY POWER PLUG IN THE TRUNK WITH THE HATCH OPEN (REVERSE LIGHTS ARE IN THE HATCH). ONCE I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT BOTH REVERSE LIGHTS HAD MELTED AND WERE DESTROYED, IT WOULD APPEAR HAS IF A FIRE TOOK PLACE INSIDE THE LIGHT HOUSING, ALTHOUGH I CANNOT ATTEST TO THAT SINCE I DID NOT NOTICED WHEN THE LIGHTS MELTED. OBVIOUSLY VOLKSWAGEN HAS CHOSEN A POOR MATERIAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REVERSE TAIL LAMPS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE, I ALSO CONTACTED VW REGIONAL SUPERVISOR AND ALSO THE VW NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT I SHOULD NOT LET THE LIGHTS RUN SO LONG ("?!") I HAD TO PURCHASE BOTH SETS OF LIGHTS AND REPLACE THEM. *TR

MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT, WITH ONLY 4130 MILES, HAD BEEN PARKED FOR FOUR HOURS (IN A SHADED AREA) WHEN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE IMPACT WAS SUCH THAT THE BUMPER SEPARATED FROM THE CAR. AFTER INSPECTION BY OUR MECHANIC IT WAS SUGGESTED THE REMAINING FOUR CONTINENTAL TIRES BE REPLACED, SINCE THEY SHOWED VISIBLE DEFECTS. THE TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE CREASES. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2008 VW RABBIT, W/MANUAL TRANSMISSION, NEW DURING APRIL OF 2008. SINCE THE FIRST MILES DRIVEN TO TODAY, THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT FUEL SHUTOFF PROBLEM THAT RESULTS IN A STALL OR A LURCH THAT RESULTS IN A NEAR-STOP. THIS OCCURS IN LOW-SPEED, HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATIONS WITH TRAILING THROTTLE (TYPICALLY NO BRAKE APPLICATION). EVENTUALLY THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE ME TO BE REAR ENDED. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP (PAUL CLARK VW - ONE OF THEIR TECHNICIANS EXPERIENCED IT DURING A TEST DRIVE) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BUT THAT VW OF AMERICA SAID THAT THERE WAS NO FIX. I COMPLAINED TO VW OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A PART OF THE BRAKE-ASSIST PROGRAM AND DESPITE MY TELLING THEM THAT THIS WAS NONSENSE (BECAUSE THE BRAKES HAVE NO ROLE IN THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TOUCHED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS). I THEN COMPLAINED TO VW WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN GERMANY AND THEY SIMPLY REFERRED ME BACK TO VW OF AMERICA WITH OUT COMMENT. I THEN WROTE TO VW OF AMERICA AND VW GERMANY AND TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY DON'T REMEDY THIS PROBLEM THAT I WOULD FILE THIS COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND NEITHER EVER RESPONDED. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE THAT MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE EMPLOYS WAS WRITTEN FOR VW'S WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND THE FUEL SHUTOFF IS PROGRAMMED DELIBERATELY TO RAISE THE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY OF THESE VEHICLES. VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND REFUSES TO FIX IT HENCE THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL VW-INTEREST FORUMS ON THE WEB INCLUDING CARSPACE AUTOMATIC FORUMS AND VWVORTEX FORUMS, VW RABBIT OWNERS CLUB AND EDMUNDS.COM. THIS IS A DISGRACE AND AN EXAMPLE OF A CORPORATE IRRESPONSIBILITY. I NEED YOUR HELP! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, WHICH SEVERELY DAMAGED THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT AND OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST MORE THAN $12,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.