Volkswagen Rabbit owners have reported 11 equipment related problems since 1996. Table 1 shows the 1 most common equipment problems. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's equipment (11 problems). For details of each of the problem category, use the links in the table.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Equipment problems |
Key won't come off the ignition! can't turn the car off!.
As per NHTSA 16v-913 my Volkswagen Rabbit has been presenting the symptoms stated in the safety recall. The abs light, electronic stability control, and brake light have come on numerous times and hard braking, and in not so hard braking in the snow. He problem has progressively worsened to the point that these lights no longer go out after and ignition cycle. I am essentially driving without abs or stability control, one of the main reasons I purchased this car. The code for u0121 lost communication with anti-lock brake system (abs) control module no longer clear with a hand held code reader or a laptop running ross-tech's vcds software. I took my broken Volkswagen to danbury vw in danbury CT to perform the safety recall (16v-913). Because of not being able to communicate with the abs control module to upload the new software, they have denied the recall and say I must foot the bill to replace the module so they can then upload the new software to see if they get the code for faulty solder joint. Volkswagen is trying to side step this issue. I believe my car would have been able to upload the software when this issue first started happening, but now the abs control module has completely failed, probably due to the bad solder compound. Now they are denying claims, I am not the only one. The nthsa needs to look deeper into this problem.
Intermittantly loose speed on its own for a split second and also speedometer will drop to 0 mph and almost instantly come back to correct speed. This intermittant issue can cause some to rear end my car, this is a safety issue on hi-way or free way driving.
2009 vw 2l Rabbit: driving home in the rain, my car has under 80k. The speed limit is 45, but in the rain, I was doing closer to 40. The street is a fairly trafficked road, double yellow each direction single lane expanding to double lane, concrete islands, and stoplights. Total drive before first shimmy was probably about the 4mile mark. The abs light comes on, the esp/asr comes on, and the "brake" to the right of that starts flashing in red. The car shimmied when this started, and then the brakes worked but were squishy/sloppy getting to a place to stop. I was informed to get the car towed to the dealership. The dash lights start to flicker. At the dealership they say it is the whole abs module, and replacing it will cost about as much as the car. They say it is safe to drive: I drive home, because they say the abs is not connected to vital functions, and electronics. The dash light clears. . . . Drive home. Light comes back on on, car wiggles and fishtails, and brakes are squishy and not as responsive. Dash is flickering. I went online and found this is a 2009 known problem. I call the dealership back: because they are in process of a recall (I found out on this website). I am told I am sol because it is not completed yet, so I can pay for their arm and leg, and perhaps, if the gods are kind, I will get some re-imbursment at a later date. (but don't count on it) all of the fishtailing, and electrical flashing, are done at speeds of under 45mph. The fact that this is intermittent (but probably about to become permanent) is scary! if I had been driving during high traffic times today, it could have been a very ugly accident.
I believe the faulty abs was the reason I got in a car accident on Dec 20, 2016 and again on March 14, 2017. On Dec 20, I was driving on the highway in chicago, after recent snow, so roads were a little wet. 2 other cars hit each other in front of me, so I pressed the brake pedal with more than enough distance between me and them to stop in time in most correctly functioning cars. When I put brakes on, I realized I wasn't slowing down quick enough, and ended up hitting the car in front of me. I originally attributed it to conditions, but now I believe bad abs allowed this accident to happen. On March 14, I was also driving on the highway after recent snow, and a little snow fell on the lane in front of me (I think from 18-wheel truck in right lane), I applied brakes, started fishtailing, and ended up loosing control and ended up doing 180 before another car hit me. Both times driving speed was slow, nobody got hurt in accidents. Again, I've driven in rain, sleet, snow, and ice alot of the years and never had problems, so I believe the bad abs allowed this accident to happen.
The transmission failed the gears were hard to engage when driving it. Finally it left my daughter and granddaughter stranded in the street on her way to work.
In December of 2014 while travelling at a high rate of speed. The clutch master cylinder completely failed. Leaving no way to engage or use it at all. Took it to the shop where it was 600 bucks for a new one the plastic pin inside had completely broke in half. In may of 2015 the transmission would not shift into gear while at a high rate of speed , it goes in and out and the mechanic said there is something broke inside a sealed transmission, making it very unsafe to drive. It is scary when it goes from working to not working in a split second. I have owned this vehicle since it was new.
My 2007 vw Rabbit has a known safety issue with the valve body system. I took my vehicle to findlay vw in November 2014 to have this issue fixed, as I had just become aware that there was a known issue which met the criteria of my problem exactly. I was told that "their hands were tied" due to the fact that this issue had to have been repaired before 2013. I then asked why I was never informed that there was an issue with this and was told they had mailed out a letter-which many people in las vegas including myself did not receive-and was told that if I had moved it may not have been forwarded. I then asked why they had not informed me of this issue any of the times I had brought my vw in for service. Their service director then informed me that it is "not their policy" to check for any recalls or known issues. He interrupted my repeatedly, spoke over me, and when I asked to speak with his boss was told that I would have to call back and he hung up on me! this car is intended for my daughter who is learning to drive and is unsafe! I am under the mileage they require to fix this, and it is the correct year and model. This is absolutely unacceptable to be treated in such a fashion. I have also contacted vw corporate who have also refused to stand behind this issue and repair this problem.
Last month the passenger side back rear door stopped locking, even after pressing the lock button. We took it to the shop and paid $400+ to have it fixed. A month later, the driver side rear door decides to stop locking. One door is understandable, but the fact that both doors stopped locking within two months of each other is pretty suspicious. Sounds like a solid case of negligence on Volkswagens part.
I want to add a complaint to the Volkswagen mark five model's crankshaft position sensor. For some reason, this senor at times does something to the engine and it kills the engine. It has happened twice in the span of 4 months. Everything is on, including headlights, all electrical systems, steering but at high speeds, the engine dies and I've had to coast to a stop to restart it and restarts without any problems. I've looked at forums to see what could be causing it and my pointed to the crankshaft positioning sensor. It's occurred to vehicles with high and low mileage.
Sagging headliner around sunglass holder in front. Water leak through windshield (original, no accidents), water everywhere inside car. Stationary in a parking lot during rainstorm.