2008 Volkswagen Rabbit Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Rabbit years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 3rd of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit. That ranks 3rd out of 4 Rabbit model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (6 complaints, 26%), typically at around 102,650 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 4 fires, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 23owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6 | 26% | 102,650 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 22% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 22% | 74,300 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 13% | 40,593 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 9% | 130,992 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 9% | 600 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 9% | 159,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 9% | 10,034 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 4% | 123,984 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 4% | 600 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 4% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 4% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 4% | 4,130 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 4% | 180,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Pulled car up to propane display outside of heb grocery store. Once tanks were exchanged, noticed smoke billowing from engine. Turned care off, got out and noticed fire underneath engine. Store employee got hood open, doused fire. Called wrecker to tow car home. On december 25, 2020 neighbor…
In motion: the transmission is not properly shifting up. There is delay, therefore the car is 'jumping' before the higher level of gear automatically shift. This problem last for about 4 months in motion: the use of fuel is much higher than used to be, even all injectors are properly working. This…
Airbag faulty light and message on dashboard started while vehicle was in motion
Steering stopped working and caught fire, there is a hole in the side of it like a laser shot out of the electromechanical steering gear box. I had parked in my driveway, and within 15 min after it was parked, smoke came billowing out from under the hood, it ended up being the electronic steering…
Was in a tight spot at a parking lot, when i was backing up i hit a barrier behind me, after stopping and shifting to go forward, the car sped up uncontrollably until it crashed into a wall in front. The space and time was very small/short, but the force was so rapid that the airbags were deployed.
Other Volkswagen Rabbit years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Rabbit | 62 | 2 |
| 2008 | 23 | 2 |
| 2007 Rabbit | 54 | 2 |
| 2006 Rabbit | 13 | 1 |
See all Volkswagen Rabbit problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Rabbit model years, the 2008 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.