2006 Volkswagen Rabbit Owner Complaints

MY CAR IS A 2006 AND AFTER ONE OF MY FUEL UPS WITH THE WIFE WE SMELLED GAS, THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING MAYBE SOME GAS ON MY HAD OR SOMETHING. DURING THE WEEK WE STILL GOT SMELLS OF GAS OFF AND ON, WELL THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG THAT MY WIFE WAS GETTING HEADACHES FROM IT. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO SEE FOR FUEL LEAK, AROUND THE GAS TANK BUT NOTHING. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V621000 WHICH STATED ,"RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE." SO I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS AS STATED ABOVE, ONLY MY CAR IS A 2006 AND NOT "MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES" SO IT IS A 175 DOLLAR COST TO ME. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE WITH MY WIFE IN THE CAR AS SHE IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF THAT CAR, GOOD THING I DO NOT HAVE KIDS YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502505

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A DULL PAIN BEGINNING IN MY BACK, LOOKED AT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND NOTICED THAT SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT AND LEFT DIME SIZED HOLE IN UPHOLSTERY AS WELL AS DISCOLORING PIECE OF CLOTHING I WAS WEARING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502422

Incident

Mar 11, 2013

Mileage

56,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2006 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT ON US 98 PREPARING TO ENTER I-4 WHEN THE VEHICLE ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE (EPC LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON) RPMS WENT TO OVER 3000 AND VEHICLE REFUSED TO GO ABOVE 25MPH, SHE WAS ALMOST KILLED BY THE SEMI THAT WAS BEHIND HER ON US 98 LUCKILY THE SEMI SWERVED TO AVOID HER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PER THEIR DIAGNOSTICS THE CAM POSITION SENSOR, AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND BATTERY WERE SHOWING CODES BUT THEY ASSURED US THAT THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED LIMP HOME MODE WAS THE CAM POSITION SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF OVER 700.00 WITHOUT CHANGING BATTERY OR AIR BAG SENSOR, FOUR DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM RETURNED THE DEALERSHIP STATED TO BRING VEHICLE BACK FOR RE-DIAGNOSTICS AND IF THE CAM POSITION SENSOR IS BAD THEY WILL CHANGE IT FREE, I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND VEHICLE WORKED FINE FOR ANOTHER DAY THEN SAME PROBLEM RESURFACED. AFTER THIS HAS HAPPENED I CAN ONLY SAY I WILL NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND A VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN. I GOGGLED THE PROBLEM AND IT IS LISTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET FORMS BUT VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS NOT ONLY THEIR RABBIT IT IS HAPPENING IN MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES SOME WITH LESS THEN 3000 MILES AND THEY HAVE BOUGHT THOSE VEHICLE BACK FORM THE CUSTOMERS TO COVER UP THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FAILURE IN THEIR DRIVE BY WIRES SYSTEM EPC SYSTEMS. HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE SOME REALLY DEEP POCKETS BECAUSE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10485899

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

ON TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS I HAD MY AIR BAGS LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT THE FIRST TIME AT NO CHARGE THE SECOND TIME I WAS CHARGED $100.00. THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME BUT ON BOTH SEATS FIRST, WAS THE PASSENGERS SEAT THE SECOND TIME, WAS THE DRIVERS SEATDRIVER SEAT. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AT VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAID DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE (2006 WITH 69000 MILES ) THE COST WONT BE COVERED I FEEL THAT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE (INTERNET) THEY SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470377

Incident

Aug 9, 2012

Mileage

66,000 mi

WHILE IDLING CAR AFTER STARTING, SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON. DRIVERS SIDE INSIDE BACK WARMER SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A GRAPE SIZE BURN HOLE IN CLOTH SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10438514

Incident

Dec 3, 2011

Mileage

115,850 mi

I HAD SUSPECTED THAT MY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL ON MY MANUAL 2006 RABBIT W/ 24K WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL BECAUSE I HEARD/FELT SOMETHING SHAKING AROUND IN THE BELL HOUSING OF THE VEHICLE 1 OUT 10 TIMES THAT I WOULD DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN 1ST GEAR. THE SHAKE HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAD GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. SO I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN MY CAR BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY. THE GEAR WOULD ENGAGE RIGHT WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE AT IDLE AND MAKE A TICK OVER NOISE WITH ENGINE REVS UP. AS MY SHIFTS GOT WORSE AND WORSE I DECIDED TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT AND FIND A SAFE SPOT TO STOP THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN THE REST OF THE WAY. THE DEALER DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND MY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL WAS STINKING AND IT HAD ALSO SHREDDED THE CENTER BUSHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLYWHEEL. BOTH THE CLUTCH DISC AND PRESSURE SHOWED NO DAMAGE AND THE VWOA REPLACED MY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD SHOWN NO SIGNS OF ABUSE LIKE HEAT SPOTS OR CLUTCH DUST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277955

Incident

Jul 17, 2009

Mileage

24,129 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE CONSUMER STEPS ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD ABOUT TEN FEET AND THEN DIES NO RESPONSE FROM THE ACCELERATOR. IN THE SAME POSITION AS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE CAR STAYS IN HESITATION MODE FOR A PERIOD OF 2-5 SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATOR RAPIDLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 02-18-09 UPDATED 02/18/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10253110

Incident

Jan 7, 2007

Mileage

6,000 mi

2006 VW RABBIT, 2.5L, 5 CYL. HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IDLING, OVER AND OVER AGAIN SINCE BUYING THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2006. I PREFER NOT TO GIVE MY VIN # FOR CONFIDENTIALITY REASONS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS POSTS ON FORUMS ONLINE, INCLUDING VW EMPLOYEES WHO OWN THE CAR AND CLAIM VW OF AMERICA IS PRETENDING LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW OF SUCH AN ISSUE WHEN IT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES. MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND THEY SAY ITS FINE, WELL I DON'T THINK IT IS AND I HAVE 2 LITTLE KIDS THAT RIDE IN THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248915

Incident

Nov 5, 2007

Mileage

35,000 mi

2006 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. HIGH MOUNT CENTER THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS INACCESSIBLE. BULB IS BLOWN OUT AND I CANNOT ACCESS TO REPAIR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246759

Incident

Oct 20, 2008

Mileage

14,000 mi

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT. MY 06 VW RABBIT HAS BEEN STALLING SINCE APPROX. THE SECOND MONTH THAT I HAD IT (BOUGHT 06/06). IN AUGUST 08 AFTER CONTINUALLY COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE MY CAR FIRST STARTED TO SPUTTER "LIKE THE TIMING WAS OFF" WHILE DRIVING (NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR SPUTTERING BUT IT USUALLY DOES IT WHEN IDLE, NOT DRIVING). I TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH THE CAR SPUTTERED 3 TIMES ON MY WAY BACK HOME. THE VERY NEXT MORNING THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE VERY BAD, SMELL LIKE GASOLINE, AND A LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. I BURNED A 1/4 TANK OF GAS DRIVING APPROX 10 MILES TO DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR TWO+ WEEKS AND HAS SINCE REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR, FUEL INJECTORS, ETC. HOWEVER APPROX 2+ WEEKS AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK IT STALLED AGAIN. THE CAR IS ALSO OCCASIONALLY MAKING A STRANGE KNOCKING NOISE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL (WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM) AND OCCASIONALLY THE TAILPIPE IS "BACKFIRING" NOT LIKE A LOUD BOOM BUT LIKE A RELEASE OF AIR (WHICH HAD ONLY HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE AND NOW HAPPENS MORE OFTEN). I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW BAD MY NERVES HAVE BECOME WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC WHICH IS WHAT I DO AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. THE CAR MOSTLY STALLS WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE (I.E. SITTING AT LIGHTS, SITTING IN TRAFFIC, PARKING SPACES). BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS SPORADIC I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO TAKE THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY BECAUSE I HAVE NO WAY TO PROVE IT SINCE THE CODES CLEAR AFTER THE CAR IS RESTARTED AND VW DOES NOT HAVE A BLACK BOX TO RECORD THE INCIDENTS. I HAVE FOUND SITES WITH PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND GETTING THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. I THINK THIS UNSOLVED MYSTERY WITH THE STALLING IS MAKING THE WEAR AND TEAR ON MY ENGINE WORSE BECAUSE MY CAR NO LONGER RUNS THE SAME AND PROBLEMS JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE WARRANTY TO RUN OUT BEFORE MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS SHOW THEMSELVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246592

Incident

Oct 12, 2008

MY 06 VW RABBIT (BOUGHT IN JUNE, PROBLEMS STARTED IN APPROX AUGUST) WILL STALL OR SPUTTER SPORADICALLY. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY WHEN WAITING AT A LIGHT, SITTING IN TRAFFIC, OR WHEN ABOUT TO TAKE OFF AND THE CAR IS IDLE. IT HAS HAPPENED MONTHS APART AND SOMETIMES DAYS APART. IF THE CAR DOES NOT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY IT SOMETIMES DOES A HARD JERK BACK AND FORTH LIKE WHEN YOU DON'T EASE OF THE CLUTCH RIGHT WHEN DRIVING A STICK (THIS IS AN A/T TRANSMISSION) AND THE RPM'S DROP TO JUST ABOVE 0. THE CAR STARTS BACK UP AFTER IT SHUTS OFF HOWEVER THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THE VERY LAST TIME THE CAR SHUT OFF I WAS NOT DRIVING. THE CAR WAS PARKED I GOT IN, STARTED IT, AND IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT BACK OFF. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THESE THINGS DO NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE SCAN CODES CLEAR UPON RESTARTING THE CAR. I DID SUGGEST THE NEXT TIME THE CAR SHUTS OFF TO HAVE THEM TOW IT SO THAT WAY THE CODES DO NOT CLEAR OUT BUT THEY DID NOT AGREE WITH THE SUGGESTION. THE ONLY SUGGESTION THEY CAN OFFER ME IS TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233526

Incident

Aug 30, 2006

Mileage

2,000 mi

CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS AND 4700 MILES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE THAT WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10187670

Incident

Apr 11, 2007

Mileage

4,650 mi

***NOTE: THIS WAS A VW RABBIT, NOT A VW GOLF, BUT RABBIT WAS NOT AN OPTION UNDER THE REQUIRED MODEL*** AT 12:30AM ON DECEMBER 23, 2006, I PARKED MY 2006 VW RABBIT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I THEN PLUGGED IN THE BLOCK HEATER, AS USUAL. AT 11AM THAT SAME DAY, I WAS AWOKEN BY THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION AND MY CAR ALARM GOING OFF. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT NOT BEFORE IT TOTALED MY CAR. THE CAR WAS SIX MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES ON IT. THE BLOCK HEATER WAS INSTALLED BY THE VW DEALERSHIP ON PURCHASE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO START INSIDE THE ENGINE AS IT DID NOT BREAK THROUGH THE FIRE WALL INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. SO FAR, THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, AND IS UNLIKELY TO BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT IT WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE CAR'S ENGINE. I AM STILL FIGHTING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177258

Incident

Dec 23, 2006

Mileage

4,500 mi