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 noticed smoke and burning wire smell coming from hood of car. Opened hood disabled battery.
The worst 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags6
- Electrical5
- Transmission5
- Fuel system4
- Steering3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags6
- Electrical5
- Transmission5
- Fuel system4
- Steering3
- Body2
- Engine2
- Visibility2
- Acceleration1
- Brakes1
- Lights1
- Seats1
- Tires1
Recalls 2
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 10V621000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 07V442000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit 368
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- VW Engine oil quality standards
- Battery Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000VAS Charger
- Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting
- Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- Diagnostic assistance for excessive static current draw
- Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- Battery Testing and Charging using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000 Vas Charger
- Software Version Management (SVM) instruction.
- Engine Oil Consumption Measurement Instruction and Work sheet.
- Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards, updated to include model year 2024.
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5‑cyl | FWD | 21-22 | 29 | 24 |
What 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 problem is now about 5 months old. The rear door - its latch broke in november 2014. The door felt on my head. Contacting vw USA - I was told that the repair has to be done by vw dealer.. Vw dealer made me a quote of $ 3.5 k which I rejected. Since that time I am carrying in car board of wood and using it for support of open door.
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 on fire.
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.
I had the heated seats on at the lowest setting of 1. I was driving on the main road by my house and the side of the driver's seat started getting really hot and I smelled smoke. I had to pull over as I was worried the seat was on fire. I turned off the seat heater, got out and checked the seat. There was a hole burned into the seat and into the jacket I was wearing.
The air bag light is on and the horn is not working. Dealer diagnosed problem as a broken clock spring. Other vws have been recalled for the same problem, but mine is not included in the recall. I was told the airbag will not work in the event of a crash and I think the horn is needed in order to alert drivers around me in the case of an emergency. Both safety problems are caused by the same broken clock spring and should be included in the recall.
The airbag light came on, because the clock spring is bad. This has also caused the horn button to not work. Sometimes the horn honks when I make sharp turns. It is unclear whether or not the driver airbag would deploy in the event of an impact, but from what I can tell it is quite unlikely. This also effects the functionality of the buttons on the sticks on either side of the steering wheel for the cruise control, the multi function display, and the windshield wipers. Sometimes those buttons work, sometimes they don't and sometimes they do things they aren't designed to do. From the research I have done this is a problem which occurs very frequently with this car.
I tried to enter the highway across oncoming traffic and had very slow acceleration. I switched to manual shift mode and the transmission was stuck in 5th gear and would not downshift. Once I started I couldn't stop and was barely able to make it across the lanes. I have had similar occurrences before. I took the car to my local shop and they changed the fluid which they said was very dirty and burned looking. Note, the transmission is (was) supposed to be service free for the life of the car. Apparently it is a know defect in these transmissions that the valve body fails prematurely and eventually causes catastrophic failure of the whole transmission. Vw has admitted the valve body issue and extended warranty coverage to 7 years or 100,000 miles after entry to service for the valve body only. Unfortunately, this does not include the damage done to the entire transmission which can, and does, costs thousands of dollars to repair or replace. There is much discussion of this issue at various places on the internet.
Airbag fault light came on around end of may 2013 and I took the car to be seen by a vw technician at dirito brothers in walnut creek, ca ([xxx]- technician and [xxx]- service manager). After I was charged a $75 service fee for assessing the issue and nothing was fixed, I was told to contact vw of america at 1‑800‑822‑8987 directly to see how they can assist with the repair costs associated with this airbag fault, as I was quoted more than $500 in repairs for something I did not damage. I discussed my case# [xxx] with [xxx] on 06.06.2013. Their resolution was to help pay half of the cost, because I am a loyal customer (I am at my 3rd vw and my father has a jetta= total of 4 wv cars). I am surprised to see that they did not consider this as a major safety problem, I am basically driving without an airbag and the risk is death, in case of an accident. Per [xxx], he was the only person authorized to determine what a critical safety priority is for their loyal customers and how to assess appropriate customer assistance in this type of situation. I am extremely disappointed that I have to drive everyday to work feeling that I am at risk and was told that I am responsible to cover half of the cost of this factory failure and that they are making me a favor by being willing to cover half of the cost. I am wondering how not ensuring basic safety is going to affect vw's brand when they will get hit with lawsuits following injuries sustained in an accident with a defective vehicle (product liability case)? Is it going to be worth it not paying the entire repair costs? Is a human life worth $500? This is more about the principle and ethics, than the money. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Compare the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
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Questions about the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
Is the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit reliable?
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit, fewer than a typical Rabbit model year.
What is the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit year score?
The 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit scores 84 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Volkswagen Rabbit: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit?
Airbags, with 6 complaints, typically around 116,300 miles. Next is electrical (5).
How many recalls does the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit have?
2 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline and exterior lighting.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit get?
Official estimates for the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit range from 24 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 5-cyl, FWD) gets 21-22 city and 29 highway.
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