RoadVitals

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
54
Latest Apr 20, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Dec 10, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 54 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and interior & seats categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 318 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10V621000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Dec 10, 2010
228,236 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number 20I4/U1View on NHTSA.gov
07V442000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Sep 24, 2007
340,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The 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.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number Q8View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 54
AirbagsSeat beltsSteering
Filed Apr 20, 2024

Seat belt and air bag also steering

NHTSA ID
11584176
Incident
Apr 17, 2024
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 8, 2023

Drivers side heated seat has a problem. The seat over heats and has burnt a hole in the fabric and melted part of the seat.

NHTSA ID
11510759
Incident
Mar 8, 2023
Brakes
Filed Mar 16, 2022

ABSmodule is defective, Known problem for this car and volkswagon will not repair under warranty. after 2007 model year they will cove repair

NHTSA ID
11457029
Incident
Mar 14, 2022
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 19, 2020

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET IN NORTH CHATHAM, MA. SMELL OF BURNING. PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER HAD BURNT A HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK. A HOLE WAS ALSO BURNT IN THE OUTER LAYER OF MY GOOSE DOWN COAT WHERE IT MADE CONTACT WITH BURNING SEAT BACK. BURNT HOLE IN SEAT IS APPROXIMATELY 0.375 INCH DIAMETER.

NHTSA ID
11300351
Incident
Dec 17, 2019
Mileage
197,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed May 26, 2019

DISPLAYING ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT, EMERGENCY BRAKE BEEPS THEN LIGHT REMAINS ON BLINKING, STEERING ALIGNMENT LIGHT DISPLAYS, CHANGED OUT THE REAR ABS SENSORS AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB, ALL LIGHTS REMAIN ON. BECAUSE MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007 IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE (A KNOWN ISSUE) SO EITHER I PARK THE CAR PERMANENTLY OR COUGH UP A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX A KNOWN ISSUE. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AT LOWER SPEEDS AND SEVERAL TIMES WAS FORCED TO RELY ON THE E-BRAKE BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT OPERATE. IT IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN BEEN AWARE OF FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

NHTSA ID
11210024
Incident
May 1, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 7, 2019

WHILE STARTING THE CAR, SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS CAME ON, INCLUDING THE ECP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ENTERING THE REVERSE GEAR MADE THE CAR ACCELERATE FAST BACKWARDS WHEN RELEASING THE BREAKS BUT NOT USING THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. THE SURPRISE IT CAME WITH COULD HAVE LED TO BACK INTO CARS OR PASSENGERS STANDING BEHIND. THE CAR FELL INTO A SAFETY MODE, FORWARD ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY TO MAX 30 MPH WHILE HEADING TO A SHOP.

NHTSA ID
11194395
Incident
Apr 4, 2019
Mileage
5 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 5, 2019

MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON THE ACC POSITION. I CAN ONLY START THE CAR. IT WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. THE ONLY WAY I AM ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR IS TO PULL 2 FUSES UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS PROBLEM BEGAN.

NHTSA ID
11194179
Incident
Mar 31, 2019
Mileage
117,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 18, 2018
Crash reported

UPON APPROACHING A RED LIGHT BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. RATHER THAN STOPPING THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH RESISTANCE BUT NEVER SLOWED THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
11102272
Incident
Jun 17, 2018
Mileage
88,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

V171901201285565

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

V171901201285562

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V171901201285560

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V941901201152119

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Update model year applicability to include 2023.

V171901201285556

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments (excludes Routan & ID.4).

V271901201189422

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Rabbit by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013000—
2012000—
2011000—
2010000—
2009622050.9
2008232052.4
2007Viewing542047.3
2006131041.4
2005000—
1985110—
1984120—
1983121—
1982521—
1981141—
1980245—
1979072—
19780103—
1977072—
1976062—
1975062—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.