2008 Volkswagen R32: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 115 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (70% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 115 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I exited from a driveway at a riteaid to get to the light across the street, I have about 3/4 tank of gas and the odometer reads 175 miles, when I get to the my next destination, a drive thru, the fuel marker starts dropping fast and so does my odometer, it goes down to above 1/4 of a tank and my miles read 110 left, in a span of about 10-15 minutes. The vehicle was stationary in the drive thru except when moving”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2020
“When certain driving conditions are accompanied by high ambient temperatures, the fuel tank ventilation valve may not remain fully closed. If this happens, liquid fuel may enter the fuel tank venting system and migrate into the evaporative system, saturating the carbon canister. Should this occur while driving, the vehicle may experience performance issues (I.e., vehicle jerking) and the malfunction indicator lamp (mil) in the instrument cluster could illuminate. Fuel could leak from the evaporative system leak detection pump filter. Consequence a fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a vehicle fire. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2020
“Vehicle false nuetraled on a busy interstate. I was almost rear ended by a 18-wheeler solenoid failure in the transmission. No power on vehicle until fix. This could cause and probably has caused death or injury”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen r32. While driving at approximately 20 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle did not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the mechatronic unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2014
“Vw r32 hid headlight system burns out bulbs and smells like burnt wires. The bulb igniter wires inside the light housing have the insulation falling off leaving the wires exposed and touching each other. I attempted to insulate bare wires, but they still keep deteriorating farther down the wire. There are 3 wires that run to the bulb igniter socket that connects to the bulb. I feel this insulation has a manufacture defect. Other electrical wires in the housing are still fine. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2014
“Both headlights failed. Headlight wiring is deteriorated. Wire insulation is brittle, cracked and separated, leaving the wiring exposed causing electrical shortages, bulb and ballast failure. Local volkswagen dealer performed diagnoses during the 60000 mile maintenance upon my request. "found internal headlight wire harnesses in both headlights coming apart (deteriorated), estimate to replace both headlights assemblies and reprogram lighting system $1,517.00. May also need bulbs ($168.00 each plus tax) and also may need igniters ($272.08 each plus tax) tech can not make the determination until headlight assemblies are replaced." *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2014
“Dsg transmission lags in applying the clutch and will sometimes apply the clutch extremely harsh after a second of lagging. If the car is on a hill it will fall back a few feet before the transmission engages in an extremely harsh manner. If I'm at a stop and accelerate is will not do so for approximately 1 second and then jerk forward abruptly. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2013
“Suspect clock spring failed. Airbag indicator light is illuminated. Lost all functions to steering wheel mounted controls. Vw would not pay for the repair.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jun 2013
“Shifts very hard at slow speeds. Going into reverse sometimes hestates for a couple seconds. Sarting from a stop will not go for a second or 2. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2013
“Suddenly started hearing loud noise from the engine then it stopped. There were no warning lights. I pulled over and saw that the serpentine belt had shattered. Had the car towed to the dealer and they tell me the tensioner bearing failed and that caused the serpentine belt to fail. They are quoting $760 to repair (parts and labor). 1000 miles prior I did the 40k service which included tensioner and belt adjustment. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2013
Recalls - 2 campaigns
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.
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 IS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MY 2008 R32 (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES. WHEN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE MAY NOT REMAIN FULLY CLOSED. IF THIS HAPPENS, LIQUID FUEL MAY ENTER THE FUEL TANK VENTING SYSTEM AND MIGRATE INTO THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM, SATURATING THE CARBON CANISTER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE ISSUES (I.E., VEHICLE JERKING) AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD ILLUMINATE. FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP FILTER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Check your exact R32 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Volkswagen R32 reliable?
NHTSA has 115 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Volkswagen R32. The most complained-about area is power train (70% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2008 Volkswagen R32 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 15,000 miles or less.
Does the 2008 Volkswagen R32 have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.