2008 Volkswagen R32 Fuel system Problems

My vehicle started to develop a crank no start and intermittent stumble when idling at a light shortly after starting. I chalked it up to a possible fueling issue since I had lean codes. I replaced the fuel pump and filter with OE supplier parts. Within two months the crank no start situation returned. I began to research the concern and buried in a forum someone mentioned checking fuse 43 in the underhood fuse box. I went out to my car, removed the fuse and found that there was arcing on one of the legs and extending upwards into the fuse itself. I researched what the fuse is for on the VW service information page and it supplies power to the ignition coils. When I got home I removed the fuse box, opened it and found that the terminals for that fuse were slightly opened when compared to the rest of the box. I have not taken my car to any shop since as I was a certified VW tech and have the appropriate tools, education and training to work on my car. I have attached pictures of the fuse and the interior of the fusebox that shows the slight spread on the terminals. This thread covers what was happening to my car almost exactly, post 27 is where I learned about that fuse.

NHTSA ID

11580862

Incident

Mar 31, 2024

I EXITED FROM A DRIVEWAY AT A RITEAID TO GET TO THE LIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, I HAVE ABOUT 3/4 TANK OF GAS AND THE ODOMETER READS 175 MILES, WHEN I GET TO THE MY NEXT DESTINATION, A DRIVE THRU, THE FUEL MARKER STARTS DROPPING FAST AND SO DOES MY ODOMETER, IT GOES DOWN TO ABOVE 1/4 OF A TANK AND MY MILES READ 110 LEFT, IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVE THRU EXCEPT WHEN MOVING

NHTSA ID

11340239

Incident

Jul 17, 2020

Mileage

112,856 mi

WHEN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE MAY NOT REMAIN FULLY CLOSED. IF THIS HAPPENS, LIQUID FUEL MAY ENTER THE FUEL TANK VENTING SYSTEM AND MIGRATE INTO THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM, SATURATING THE CARBON CANISTER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE ISSUES (I.E., VEHICLE JERKING) AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD ILLUMINATE. FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP FILTER. CONSEQUENCE A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331195

Incident

Jun 27, 2020

Mileage

133,000 mi

RAW FUEL SPEWING FROM LEAK DETECTION PUMP (LDP) FILTER LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WELL. CHARCOAL CANISTER, LDP, EVAP LINES, & N80 VALVE ALL CONTAMINATED BY RAW FUEL. FUEL ENTERING EVAP SYSTEM WHEN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPS ARE PRESENT. P026 RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED (IN 2012) BUT ISSUE HAS COME BACK. CONTACTED VWOA THEY SAID IT'S BEYOND THE RECALL'S 1 YEAR 12,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. BECAUSE VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC WHEN I SMELLED RAW FUEL. PULLED OVER TO SEE FUEL SPILLING OUT OF REAR PASSENGER FENDER WELL.

NHTSA ID

11221713

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

117,000 mi

1) PURCHASED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE JUMPS TWICE ON MY WAY HOME. IT HAS SINCE CONTINUED TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THE WHOLE TWO WEEKS OF MY OWNERSHIP. 2) ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP THE CAR HESITATES, HANGS, AND THEN JUMPS FORWARD AFTER A MOMENT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT HALF THE TIME. I NOTICE WHEN I ROLL SLOWLY ~5 MPH IT DOES NOT HANG OR JUMP NEARLY AS MUCH OR AS OFTEN. 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF YET. I PLAN TO TAKE MY 2008 VW R32 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297576

Incident

Dec 21, 2009

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND HE SMELLED GASOLINE. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V093000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ID

10269274

Incident

Feb 16, 2009

Mileage

9,000 mi

THE CAR LOSES POWER (I.E. HICCUPS OR HESITATES) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MOST NOTICEABLE ON EVEN THE SLIGHTEST ACCELERATION - EVEN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. AT TIMES IT WILL IDLE IN A SIMILAR STAGGERED WAY. WHEN CITY DRIVING THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON ACCELERATION. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY BUT ONCE IT STARTS, IT PERSISTS UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUT OFF AND COOLS DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265426

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

Mileage

8,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND THE GAS TANK VENTILATION VALVE ALLOWED GASOLINE TO ESCAPE FROM THE GAS TANK. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE AND FUEL WOULD LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V093000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10265120

Incident

Jul 3, 2008

Mileage

10,000 mi

NO EVENT LEAD UP TO FAILURE. THE CAR SPUTTERS, HICCUPS, WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. IT HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC, AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION, IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP AND SMELLED OF FUEL. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IT WILL NOT START. IT CUTS OUT AROUND CORNERS, AND HAS DONE IT WITH THE VW SERVICE MANAGER IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262466

Incident

Jan 13, 2009

Mileage

2,000 mi

THIS "HICCUP" JUST STARTED HAPPENING TO ME. I TOOK THE R32 ON A ROAD TRIP FROM MIAMI UP TO NORTHERN FLORIDA (500 MILES NORTH OF MIAMI), AND 30 MILES INTO THE TRIP THIS HAPPENED. WE HAD JUST TOPPED OFF THE TANK WITH 93 (GIRLFRIEND ASSURED ME SHE DIDN'T FILL IT UP WITH 87) SO THIS COULDNT HAVE BEEN THE ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING AT ROUGHLY 3,000 RPM'S WHEN THE CAR WOULD HICCUP ALL ON ITS OWN... ? I DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO GIVE IT GAS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE 14,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND IT GOT WORSE THROUGHOUT THE TRIP. THE CAR EVEN SHUT OFF ON ME 2 TIMES WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I'M SCARED THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS A BIG THREAT TO MY LIFE! HAS ANYONE NOTICED THIS GET WORSE WHEN YOUR TANK IS AT FULL? I HAVEN'T HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN THE 1 DAY I'VE BEEN BACK IN MIAMI. I READ SOME REPLY'S ON THIS TOPIC AND LOOKS LIKE VW HAS NO OFFICIAL FIX YET? WHAT'S THE DIAGNOSIS? BAD FUEL BUMP??? THE ORIGINAL POST CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3759501&PAGE=27. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262422

Incident

Mar 15, 2009

Mileage

14,000 mi

2008 VW R32, THE CAR WOULD THROW CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ALL THE TIME, THE CHECK GAS CAP LIGHT CAME ON RANDOMLY DAYS AFTER LAST FILL UP, THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY HAVE LOST OF POWER OR STALL, TAKES 20 SECONDS AFTER FILL UP TO START AND RUN PROPERLY, SOME TIMES NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR FIRST WENT IN TO A VW DEALER SEPTEMBER 3 2008 WITH 10599MILES , THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A FAULT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEY GAVE ME THE CAR BACK AND THEY CONTACTED VW TECHNICAL SUPPORT . CONTACTED ME A FEW DAYS LATER AND SAID PARTS WERE ORDERED AND WILL BE IN SOON. SEPTEMBER 12 2008 CAR TAKEN BACK IN FOR PARTS TO BE PUT ON. THE CAR RUNS OK BUT IT THROWS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND RANDOM CHECK GAS CAP LIGHTS AGAIN. THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME STARTING. JANUARY 6 2009 16,032 MILES CAR TAKEN BACK IN FOR STALLING, NOT STARTING, LOSS OF POWER. VW DEALER MASTER MECHANIC CANNOT FIND PROBLEM CAR IS GIVEN BACK TO ME WITH THE PROBLEMS, VW DEALER CONTACTS VW TECHNICAL SUPPORT. JANUARY 12 2009 16247MILES I HAVE HAD THE LAST STRAW, I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF A FUEL PUMP CAUSE THE CAR WONT START!!! I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO VW DEALER AND IT HAS BEEN IN THERE SINCE JANUARY 12 2009 AND TODAY IS FEBRUARY 9 2009. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258127

Incident

Sep 3, 2008

Mileage

10,599 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE ON ME WHEN IT HAD 6647 MILES. IT OCCURRED TWICE IN A SPAN OF TWO HOURS. I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED TO "HICCUP". IT JUMPS BETWEEN SHIFTS, THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN IT IS HUMID OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE ALSO EMITS A LOUD TICKING SOUND FROM THE GAS TANK, AND IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER THE GAS NEEDLE BOUNCES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY DID TAKE A JOYRIDE TWO OF THOSE TIMES IN THE CAR. (FOUND THE RADIO STATION SET AND EQUALIZER TOYED WITH) IN ADDITION, THE CAR SOMETIMES SMELLS LIKE FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256095

Incident

Dec 20, 2008

Mileage

6,647 mi

1. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE TILL ABOUT LITTLE LESS THAN A MONTH. ON 10/13/08 PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND CAR WAS EXPERIENCING RAPID FLUCTUATIONS IN RPMS AND ENGINE WOULD DIE WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE. HAD DIFFICULTY IN RE-STARTING CAR. PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND FELT JERKY NON-RESPONSIVE ACCELERATION WITH TRANSMISSION BANGING AND ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. 2. CAR DIED 4 TIMES ENGINE WOULD STOP WHILE DRIVING TOTALLY LOSS OF POWER. CONSEQUENCES ARE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR FROM THIS MALFUNCTION 3. BROUGHT INTO DEALER, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM & SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. GAVE CAR BACK & SAID THEY HOPED IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. NO PARTS REPLACED. CAR RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AGAIN 1/11/2009 & 1/12/2009. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254800

Incident

Oct 17, 2008

Mileage

877 mi

ON OCTOBER 27, 2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON ONE OF THE LOCAL HIGHWAYS, WHEN I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS IN POWER, RAPID MISFIRE AND HESITATION IN MY 2008 VW R32. PRIOR TO SAID DATE, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAULTS SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH I MENTIONED TO MY LOCAL SERVICE ADVISOR. MY LOCAL SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (VWOA) WAS AWARE OF THE WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM AND WAS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A SOLUTION. CURRENTLY, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MY REGIONAL CASE MANAGER FROM VWOA. HOWEVER, THE LAST TIME THAT I SPOKE WITH MY REGIONAL CASE MANAGER WAS ON DECEMBER 11, 2008. WHEN I BRIEFLY SPOKE WITH MY REGIONAL CASE MANAGER FROM VWOA, HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIR OF MY R32 WOULD SOON BE RELEASED. HOWEVER, I RECEIVED THAT SAME STATEMENT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE SERVICE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE. ON THE 17TH OF DEC 2008, VWOA RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ME STATING THAT 'I NO LONGER HAVE FAITH IN THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE R32 THAT I PURCHASED, AND THAT I WISH TO SEEK STATE-SPECIFIC (LEMON-LAW) WARRANTY FOR MY R32.' IN ADDITION, I EXPRESS THAT PRIOR TO PURSUING THE LEMON-LAW OPTION; I AM WILLING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AMICABLY. HOWEVER, AS OF 4 JANUARY 2009, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM VWOA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253780

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

21,100 mi

MY BRAND NEW R32 HAS BEEN STALLING/HICCUPING SINCE 3100 MILES. IT HAS A LOSE OF POWER UNDER ACCELERATION, THEN IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES DIES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAS CAP LIGHT COMES ON BUT AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT GOES AWAY. IT HAS DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T START BACK, I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MY PURGE VALVE AND EVAP CANNISTER TWICE, IT RUNS FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS THEN STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 7550 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT'S BACK AT THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253415

Incident

Sep 10, 2008

Mileage

3,100 mi

MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 EXHIBITS INTERMITTENT FUEL DELIVERY ISSUES. AT TIMES, USUALLY FOLLOWING A REFUELING, THE CAR SEEMS TO "HICCUP" AND BRIEFLY LOSE POWER, AS IF THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS CUT OFF MOMENTARILY. THIS CAUSES A SEVERE JERKING IN THE CAR, AND CAN HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER ROUNDING A CORNER OR AT CONSTANT FREEWAY SPEEDS. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE STUMBLING AND STALLING WHILE AT IDLE IN TRAFFIC; WITH DIFFICULTY IN RESTARTING AS IF THE VEHICLE IS STARVED FOR FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO FAILED TO START UPON FIRST USE OF THE DAY, CRANKING OVER BUT NOT SEEMING TO RECEIVE FUEL, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK MAY BE FULL. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE DIFFICULTY WITH REFUELING WHEN TANK IS NEAR EMPTY. OFTEN, THE GAS STATION FUEL DISPENSERS WILL SHUT OFF 10 OR MORE TIMES WHEN BEGINNING TO FILL UP THE TANK, AS IF AIR WERE BLOCKING THE FILLER NECK AND CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC PUMP SHUTOFF TO KICK IN. IT CAN TAKE MANY TRIES BEFORE ONE IS FINALLY ABLE TO COMPLETELY FUEL THE VEHICLE, WHICH ONLY HOLDS 14.5 GALLONS. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE AUTOMATIC FUEL CUTOFF IN THE GAS STATION DISPENSER DID NOT DETECT A FULL TANK AND THE FUEL ACTUALLY OVERFLOWED OUT OF FILLER NECK AND ONTO THE GROUND UNTIL I MANUALLY SHUT OF THE FUEL DISPENSERS. IT SEEMS THE EVAPORATIVE PURGE CANISTER OR LINES ARE EASILY BLOCKED IN THIS DESIGN, AND I QUESTION WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER VAPOR LOCK OR VACUUM ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM DESIGN THAT ARE INVOLVED. I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 11/26 FOR AN ATTEMPT AT DIAGNOSIS. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE IN THE ONLINE FORUM "VWVORTEX.COM" HAVE ALSO REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND ARE HAVING LITTLE SUCCESS IN REPAIR THROUGH VWOA. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249516

Incident

Nov 17, 2008

Mileage

4,600 mi

THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING "HICCUPS" WHILE ACCELERATING AND WOULD EVENTUALLY SMELL AND SEE GAS ESCAPING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE FOR THIS AND NOW I AM TOLD IT IS A FAULTY GAS TANK THAT WAS PRODUCED. I HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY WAITING ABOUT A MONTH TO HAVE THE TANK REPAIRED. ALL I HAVE BEEN TOLD ON THIS SUBJECT IS "WE WILL CONTACT YOU AT THE END OF THE BUSINESS DAY TOMORROW". ITS ALWAYS TOMORROW. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED ME A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP MY MINE AS EASY WHILE I WAIT BUT I HONESTLY THINK THAT WAITING A MONTH FOR A BRAND NEW CAR TO GET FIXED IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249283

Incident

Oct 29, 2008

Mileage

10,000 mi

FUEL LEAK CAUSES THE CAR TO LOSE FUEL. THE FUEL LEAKS OUT EXTERNALLY. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES JERK AND STALL OR LOSE POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248663

Incident

Oct 22, 2008

Mileage

200 mi

CAR STARTED TO BOG-OUT OF POWER ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 7TH IN THE AFTERNOON. FUEL STARTED TO LEAK FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8TH IN THE AFTERNOON. THIS HAPPENS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/TRIM OF THE PRODCUCT LINE. A PROMINENT AUTOMOBILE FORUM WEBSITE (VWVORTEX.COM) HAS ALLOCATED A ROOM FOR THIS SPECIFIC MODEL/TRIM. THE FOLLOWING IS A LINK TO THE TOPIC DEDICATED TO THIS COMMON ISSUE: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3759501&PAGE=15 I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244917

Incident

Oct 8, 2008

Mileage

3,600 mi

FUEL SYSTEM ON CAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING 75MPH ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND DROP IN SPEED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. FUEL SMELL OUT OF A/C VENTS. VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND HAS SAID THEY'VE HAD THIS ON MANY CARS OF THE SAME MODEL. VW IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM RESULTING THE CAR TO BE IN THE SERVICE SHOP FOR 30 PLUS DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242881

Incident

Sep 8, 2008

Mileage

5,585 mi

THE CAR HICCUPPED AND BEGAN TO RUN VERY RUFF NO POWER AND I WAS ON FREEWAY IN THE VALLEY AREA (HOT OVER 100 F) CAR SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER REACHING COOLER AREA. VISITED THE DEALER THEY FOUND NO FAULTS WITH CAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS 2008 VW R32 CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242712

Incident

Feb 23, 2008

Mileage

11,500 mi

FIRST MINOR INCIDENTS: MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT HICCUPS IN POWER FOR A FEW WEEKS. NO CELS OR INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG OTHERWISE. FIRST SERIOUS INCIDENT: AT HIGHWAY SPEED (70MPH) 30 MINUTES INTO A COMMUTE, THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THROWS THE DRIVER FORWARD IN THE SEAT. WAS ABLE TO FINISH THE REMAINDER OF COMMUTE BARELY LIMPING ALONG WITH ERRATIC THROTTLE RESPONSE, STALLING, AND STUTTERING. UPON ARRIVAL, NOTICE SMELL OF FUEL AND SEE FUEL PUDDLE BEHIND RIGHT REAR WHEEL. VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT RESPOND DUE TO REPORT OF FUEL LEAK. TOLD TO CALL FIRE DEPT -- FIRE DEPT RESPONDED. AAA TOWED TO DEALER. AFTER 19 DAYS AT THE DEALER, THE CAR'S ENTIRE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. A DEFECT IN THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM WAS REPORTED AS THE CAUSE. WE WERE ASSURED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE AND THE NEW SYSTEM WAS REDESIGNED. SECOND MAJOR INCIDENT: REPEAT OF FIRST MAJOR INCIDENT ABOVE ONLY DAYS LATER. CAR CURRENTLY IN SHOP. EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD ISSUE BEING DISCUSSED AT VWVORTEX.COM AMONG NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SAME ISSUE BUT NO RESOLUTION OR OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS ISSUE FROM VWOFA AS OF YET. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION FOR A CAR THAT IS BRAND NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241168

Incident

Aug 8, 2008

Mileage

3,510 mi

USUALLY DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FAILURE IS PRESENT. THE FAILURE - CAR HESITATES UNDER ACCELERATION ALMOST AS IF THE FUEL IS BEING CUTOFF. OTHER TIMES IT STALLS DURING IDLE AT STOP LIGHT. OTHER TIMES THE CAR WILL TAKE TWO OR THREE TRIES TO RESTART. WHEN PARKED AFTER A DRIVE THE VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. OCCURS RANDOMLY AND THE DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. PARTS REPLACED - PURGE VALVE TO FIX THE FUEL LEAK AND HESITATION. THE CAR DOES NOT LEAK FUEL ANYMORE, HOWEVER THE HESITATION ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237962

Incident

Jul 2, 2008

Mileage

300 mi

THE ENGINE POWER OF MY 2008 VW R32 CONTINUED TO CUT OUT PERIODICALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS, THE CEL NEVER ONCE CAME ON. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER OR VEHICLE SPEED. ONE DAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THE CAR DIED, SHE RESTARTED IT AND NOTICED A FUEL ODOR. SINCE SHE WAS NEAR MY WORK (APPROX THREE MILES) SHE RESTARTED THE CAR ONCE SHE GOT THERE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, FUEL STARTED LEAKING BEHIND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233709

Incident

Jun 27, 2008

Mileage

2,800 mi

MY BRAND-NEW 08 VW MAKES SEVERE HICCUPS ON MODERATE ACCELERATION WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE ABOUT 95 F. (SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND COME BACK UP IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.)HAVE STARTING PROBLEM AFTER THE SYMPTOM, SOMETIMES SMELL OF GAS FROM OUTSIDE REAR. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT LEAVE ANY ERROR CODES ON COMPUTER, THEREFORE DEALERS CANNOT FIX OR REPLICATE PROBLEM. (USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 30 MIN CONSTANT DRIVE IN THE HOT WEATHER TO HAVE THE SYMPTOM.) HAD NUMEROUS VISIT TO A VW DEALER BUT NO FIX. ALWAYS END UP WITH MY CLAIM COMMENTS; "CUSTOMER STATES..." AND DEALER STATES, "CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM". I KEEP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE LAST YEAR, ONLY WHEN OUTSIDE IS REALLY HOT (FOR CALIFORNIA), ABOVE 95F. TOTAL OF 6-7 DAYS I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231293

Incident

Aug 30, 2007

Mileage

500 mi