Avg. Price Paid:$18,251 - $18,251
Original MSRP: $32,990 - $32,990
MPG: 18 City / 23 Hwy
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2008 Volkswagen R32 Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2008 Volkswagen R32 U.S. News Best Cars 7.9
Critics' Rating: 8.6
Performance: 8.7
Interior: 8.1
Safety: N/A
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Standard all-wheel drive enhances performance and safety
  • No available true manual transmission
  • Cramped backseat
  • Questionable value when compared to the GTI
Review Last Updated: 5/13/09

Recalls

There have been 2 safety recalls issued from NHTSA.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYRecall Date: 03/18/2009
  • Consequence: A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 09V093000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 5000
  • Summary: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
  • Notes: VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. S2. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSRecall Date: 09/17/2007
  • Consequence: INAPPROPRIATE, NON-STANDARD LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 07V442000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 340000
  • Summary: 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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
  • Notes: VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. Q8. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Predicted Reliability Score
  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

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Warranty

A full Reliability Review is coming soon.

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