Model year record

2008 Volkswagen R32 recalls & problems

The 2008 Volkswagen R32 has 2 safety recalls and 115 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (83 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints115filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineMar 20, 2009

Storage › Tank assembly

Recall 09V0930005,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: 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.

Exterior lightingSep 24, 2007

Headlights

Recall 07V442000340,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2008 Volkswagen R 32 Special Edition w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

R32

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	83	15,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Auxillary tank	20	6,116 mi
Electrical system	6	36,000 mi
Exterior lighting	6	63,370 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	4	117,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine	3	9,200 mi
Unknown or other	1	—
Fuel system, other	1	—
Tires	1	—
Engine	1	—
Air bags	1	—
Vehicle speed control	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
My vehicle started to develop a crank no start and intermittent stumble when idling at a light shortly after starting. I chalked it up to a possible fueling issue since I had lean codes. I replaced the fuel pump and filter with OE supplier parts. Within two months the crank no start situation returned. I began to research the concern and buried in a forum someone mentioned checking fuse 43 in the underhood fuse box. I went out to my car, removed the fuse and found that there was arcing on one of the legs and extending upwards into the fuse itself. I researched what the fuse is for on the VW service information page and it supplies power to the ignition coils. When I got home I removed the…
Mar 31, 2024
Fuel/propulsion system
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
Jul 17, 2020 · 112,856 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
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
Jun 27, 2020 · 133,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
RAW FUEL SPEWING FROM LEAK DETECTION PUMP (LDP) FILTER LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WELL. CHARCOAL CANISTER, LDP, EVAP LINES, & N80 VALVE ALL CONTAMINATED BY RAW FUEL. FUEL ENTERING EVAP SYSTEM WHEN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPS ARE PRESENT. P026 RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED (IN 2012) BUT ISSUE HAS COME BACK. CONTACTED VWOA THEY SAID IT'S BEYOND THE RECALL'S 1 YEAR 12,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. BECAUSE VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC WHEN I SMELLED RAW FUEL. PULLED OVER TO SEE FUEL SPILLING…
Jun 1, 2019 · 117,000 miles
Air bags
SUSPECT CLOCK SPRING FAILED. AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. LOST ALL FUNCTIONS TO STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS. VW WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR.
Jun 19, 2013 · 36,000 miles
Power train
ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS, BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE BRAKING (DOWNSHIFTING). THE LEVER SELECTOR POSITION FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE "DEPRESS BRAKE" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE REQUIRED SHIFTING TO PARK AND TURNING ENGINE ON/OFF (SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES) BEFORE BECOMING DRIVE-ABLE AGAIN. REPAIR FACILITY REPORTS TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE FAULT, AS DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING RECALL FOR OTHER VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI VEHICLES WITH THE SAME DSG TRANSMISSION: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 09V333000 VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND…
Jan 28, 2019 · 134,650 miles
Power train
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
Aug 31, 2017 · 43,000 miles
Power train
I AM EXPERIENCING THE WELL KNOWN SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING MECHATRONIC UNIT IN THE VOLKSWAGEN DSG GEARBOX. THERE WAS A RECALL FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SYMPTOMS ARE LURCHING/HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. JERKY/ ALMOST BOUNCY REVERSING. HARSH/CLUNKY SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. LOSS OF DRIVE OPERATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IN MANY SITUATIONS. MY RECALL WAS COMPLETED THROUGH VOLKSWAGEN AT ROUGHLY 55,000 MILES. I STARTED TO NOTICE THE SYMPTOMS ARISE AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 103,000 MILES. THIS IS LITERALLY JUST AFTER THE VW "EXTENDED" WARRANTY ON THE DSG GEARBOX AND REPLACED MECHATRONICS UNIT EXPIRED. (10 YEAR/100,000 MILES) I FIND IT VERY ODD THAT THE…
Mar 15, 2016 · 103,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWERClosedLed to recall 09V333000
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH FEATURE A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX WITH TWO WET RUNNING CLUTCHES (DUAL CLUTCH) IN WHICH THE CLUTCH MECHANISM AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ELECTROHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY A MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT.THE DSG MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER INCLUDES EXTENSIVE SELF DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AND PREVENT SYSTEM/COMPONENT DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF COMPONENT FAILURES OR HARSH OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE BASIC HIERARCHY OF FAULT MODES INCLUDES SOME THAT ONLY RESULT IN THE STORAGE OF A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) AND CAUSE NO LOSS OF FUNCTION, SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND REDUCE VEHICLE OPERATION TO A LIMP HOME MODE, AND SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER (I.E., OPEN CLUTCH).THE DRIVER IS ALERTED TO THE LATTER TWO MODES BY THE DASH GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (PRNDS)…
PE09035 · opened Jul 17, 2009 · closed Nov 19, 2009