10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
97,650 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Volkswagen Rabbit seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 Volkswagen Rabbit Owner Comments

problem #6

Nov 292019

Rabbit

  • 116,300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag faulty light and message on dashboard started while vehicle was in motion

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #5

Apr 142018

Rabbit

  • 180,000 miles
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.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #4

Dec 182016

Rabbit

  • 121,600 miles
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.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #3

Mar 012013

Rabbit 5-cyl

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #2

Apr 222013

Rabbit 5-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
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).

- Concord, CA, USA

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problem #1

Aug 112009

Rabbit

  • 14,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit. The contact struck another vehicle head-on, which severely damaged the front end of her vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the contact and occupants were injured. A police report was filed. The repair would cost more than $12,000. The speed was unknown. The failure mileage was 14,000.

- Franklin Park, IL, USA

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