Volkswagen Rabbit Problems by Year
Volkswagen Rabbit years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Rabbit year: 2007, 2009. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2009 Rabbit: 62 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2007 Rabbit: 54 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2008 Rabbit: 23 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volkswagen Rabbit problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 46 | 2 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 4 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 18 | 4 | 6 |
| Power Train | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 17 | 3 | 1 |
| Seats | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Volkswagen Rabbit model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Rabbit | 62 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Rabbit | 23 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Rabbit | 54 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Rabbit | 13 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
More from Volkswagen: all Volkswagen models · Volkswagen VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Rabbit years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (54), 2009 (62) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Rabbit year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volkswagen Rabbit?
Service Brakes, with 46 complaints across 2 model years.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Rabbit have?
3 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.