14 of the 78 complaints about the 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit are about the braking system — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 25,500 miles.
14
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
ABSmodule is defective, Known problem for this car and volkswagon will not repair under warranty. after 2007 model year they will cove repair
NHTSA complaint #11457029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
DISPLAYING ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT, EMERGENCY BRAKE BEEPS THEN LIGHT REMAINS ON BLINKING, STEERING ALIGNMENT LIGHT DISPLAYS, CHANGED OUT THE REAR ABS SENSORS AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB, ALL LIGHTS REMAIN ON. BECAUSE MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007 IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE (A KNOWN ISSUE) SO EITHER I PARK THE CAR PERMANENTLY OR COUGH UP A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX A KNOWN ISSUE. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AT LOWER SPEEDS AND SEVERAL TIMES WAS FORCED TO RELY ON THE E-BRAKE BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT OPERATE. IT IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN BEEN AWARE OF FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11210024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
UPON APPROACHING A RED LIGHT BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. RATHER THAN STOPPING THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH RESISTANCE BUT NEVER SLOWED THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #11102272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS CONTROL MODULE - APPROXIMATELY $2,000 TO REPLACE VW HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FOR '08 AND UP CARS...I HAPPEN TO HAVE AN '07 WITH THE SAME MODULE THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11056176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
AT RANDOM, THE TRACTION CONTROL ABS LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER HAS GONE OFF. THE MECHANIC STATES THAT THE ISSUE IS THE ABS MODULE, AND THAT IT NEEDS REPLACING. THERE IS NO KNOWN REASON FOR ITS FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOW WITHOUT ABS. A SIMILAR RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ABS MODULE FROM LATER YEARS, SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT IT SHOULD BE PERFECTLY REASONABLE TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11019966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE BRAKES BECOME VERY STIFF AND PUSH UP AGAINST YOUR FOOT SIMILAR TO WHAT TRACTION CONTROL DOES BUT THE MORE YOU PRESS ON TH BRAKE PEDDLE THE HARDER IT BECOMES TO STOP. THIS IS INTERMITTENT BUT ALARMING ENOUGH THAT THE CAR IS NOT BEING USED.
NHTSA complaint #10979114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
NHTSA complaint #10721171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
I LEASED A 07 RABBIT AND AFTER ABOUT 12K MILES MY REAR BRAKES STARTED MAKING WEIRD SCRATCHING SOUNDS. AND IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED BUT IT CAME BACK TWO MONTHS LATER AND I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERSHIP (DONALDSONS VW AND SUBARU) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I LET MY BRAKES WEAR OUT.. WHICH WHEN I TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND CHECKED THERE WAS STILL MORE THEN 50% PAD LEFT. I KNEW THIS BECAUSE I HAD BOUGHT NEW ONES AND I WAS GOING TO CHANGE IT MYSELF. SO DUE TO THIS THEY SAID I MESSED UP MY ROTORS WERE BROKEN TOO. SO I ENDED UP BEING CHARGED ABOUT A 500 DOLLARS TO BE FIXED. CURRENTLY, THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN TO THE SAME PART OF MY CAR I HEAR A LOUD SCRATCHING SOUND AND I CHECKED TO SEE MY BRAKES AND THERE IS WAY MORE THEN 50% OF MY PADDING LEFT.. I'VE BEEN LOOKING IT UP ONLINE AND THERE IS ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ADJUSTED RIGHT ON ANY OF THE 06-09 MODEL VW'S. I FEEL THIS IS IN NEED OF A RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT CAN DO SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I FEEL AS IF WHEN I BRAKE NOW I HAVE TO DO IT JUST SO SLIGHTLY OR I MIGHT BREAK SOMETHING AND END UP NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10344545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
OUR 2007 VW RABBIT NEEDS TO HAVE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED... THE CAR ONLY HAS 25K ON IT, AND THIS PROBLEM BEGAN TO APPEAR THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO TODAY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THREE MONTHS AGO THAT THE PADS LOOKED OKAY, EVEN THOUGH A NYS INSPECTION STATION SAID THE REAR PADS WERE VERY LOW. NOW, THEY ARE HITTING US UP FOR $450.00 REPAIR; THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, BUT IS 'STANDARD' WEAR! WHAT CAR NEEDS PADS AND ROTORS SO EARLY? THIS IS A DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10239149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2007 VW RABBIT MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHILE USING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE WAS METAL TO METAL AND THE RIGHT ONE WAS ALMOST METAL TO METAL. *KB THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE UNEVEN WEARING OF THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #10219445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
REAR BRAKE PADS WORN QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AT 12,000 MILES THEY STARTED WEARING DOWN AND THE METALLIC SOUND STARTED TO OCCUR.
NHTSA complaint #10213322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I HAVE A 2007 VW RABBIT, PURCHASED AUGUST 13, 2007. MANUFACTURED 05/2007 MY BRAKES APPEARED TO BE SQUEALING UNDER LIGHT DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING LOW SPEED BRAKING SITUATIONS. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NEAREST ME. WHEN ALLEGED REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE WAS COMPLETED THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT REMAINING PAD LIFE AVERAGED 80% FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. HOWEVER UPON COMPLETION OF WORK VEHICLE SQUEALED LOUDER THAN WHEN VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF FOR SERVICE. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE SQUEALS ORIGIN, THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT "SQUEALING WAS NORMAL" I (OWNER) AM A BMW DIAGNOSTIC LEVEL III TECHNICIAN WITH OVER 10 YEARS SERVICE EXPERIENCE. EDUCATED AT UTI, I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE THEORETICAL EXPERTISE TO UNDERSTAND THE THE PRINCIPALS AFFECTING THE BRAKES SYSTEMS EMPLOYED BY GERMAN AUTO MAKERS. UPON ARRIVING HOME THAT EVENING, AFTER PROPERLY SECURING MY VEHICLE ON A STABLE AND LEVEL SURFACE I RAISED THE REAR WHEELS OFF THE GROUND AND INSPECTED FOR CAUSATION, ONLY TO FIND LESS THAT 5% FRICTION MATERIAL REMAINING. (APPROX 1.5MM) AND ROTOR DAMAGE HAD BEGUN WITH ROTOR SURFACE DEFORMATION THE NEXT LIKELY EVENT. TO ABATE THIS EVENT FROM OCCURRING, I REPLACED THE REAR PADS, AND THE SQUEALING ENDED. WHEN I INQUIRED WHETHER THE CAUSATION OF ACCELERATED AND UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PROPORTIONING VALVE, OR CALIPER DEFECT, THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REFERRED ME TO "NITSA.COM" (WHICH HAD ITS DOMAIN EXPIRE 2 YEARS AGO IN 2005) SHE STATED THAT VW WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY ANY SITUATION OTHER THAN THROUGH DEALER REPRESENTATION. THOUGH I RECTIFIED THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT, HAD I LISTENED TO THE DEALER RECOMMENDATION OF 80% PAD LIFE REMAINING I COULD HAVE DIED FROM METAL TO METAL CONTACT OF PAD BASE TO ROTOR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE OR CRASH. HAVING LITTLE TO NO RECOURSE. THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL ASSISTANCE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RENDER IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, PETER VILLAFANA
NHTSA complaint #10212350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
I HAVE A 2007 VW RABBIT, PURCHASED AUGUST 13, 2007. MANUFACTURED 05/2007 MY BRAKES APPEARED TO BE SQUEALING UNDER LIGHT DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING LOW SPEED BRAKING SITUATIONS. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NEAREST ME. WHEN ALLEGED REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE WAS COMPLETED THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT REMAINING PAD LIFE AVERAGED 80% FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. HOWEVER UPON COMPLETION OF WORK VEHICLE SQUEALED LOUDER THAN WHEN VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF FOR SERVICE. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE SQUEALS ORIGIN, THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT "SQUEALING WAS NORMAL" I (OWNER) AM A BMW DIAGNOSTIC LEVEL III TECHNICIAN WITH OVER 10 YEARS SERVICE EXPERIENCE. EDUCATED AT UTI, I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE THEORETICAL EXPERTISE TO UNDERSTAND THE THE PRINCIPALS AFFECTING THE BRAKES SYSTEMS EMPLOYED BY GERMAN AUTO MAKERS. UPON ARRIVING HOME THAT EVENING, AFTER PROPERLY SECURING MY VEHICLE ON A STABLE AND LEVEL SURFACE I RAISED THE REAR WHEELS OFF THE GROUND AND INSPECTED FOR CAUSATION, ONLY TO FIND LESS THAT 5% FRICTION MATERIAL REMAINING. (APPROX 1.5MM) AND ROTOR DAMAGE HAD BEGUN WITH ROTOR SURFACE DEFORMATION THE NEXT LIKELY EVENT. TO ABATE THIS EVENT FROM OCCURRING, I REPLACED THE REAR PADS, AND THE SQUEALING ENDED. WHEN I INQUIRED WHETHER THE CAUSATION OF ACCELERATED AND UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PROPORTIONING VALVE, OR CALIPER DEFECT, THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REFERRED ME TO "NITSA.COM" (WHICH HAD ITS DOMAIN EXPIRE 2 YEARS AGO IN 2005) SHE STATED THAT VW WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY ANY SITUATION OTHER THAN THROUGH DEALER REPRESENTATION. THOUGH I RECTIFIED THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT, HAD I LISTENED TO THE DEALER RECOMMENDATION OF 80% PAD LIFE REMAINING I COULD HAVE DIED FROM METAL TO METAL CONTACT OF PAD BASE TO ROTOR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE OR CRASH. HAVING LITTLE TO NO RECOURSE. THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL ASSISTANCE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RENDER IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, PETER VILLAFANA
NHTSA complaint #10212350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR AT 6K MILES ON MY CAR DUE TO OVER TIGHTENING OF PARKING BRAKE AT FACTORY, THUS CAUSING PADS TO STICK AND WEAR OUT WAY TOO EARLY.
NHTSA complaint #10210961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.