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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2004–2008

Volkswagen R32 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 129 owner complaints for the Volkswagen R32, covering model years 2004 to 2008. The 2008 model year drew the most complaints (115), and Power Train is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Volkswagen R32 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 3 recall campaigns on file
  • 129 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 4 model years with data (2004–2008)
  • most complaints: 2008 (115 for that model year)
  • top component: Power Train (86 complaints)
  • latest recall 09V093000 (reported Mar 20, 2009)
  • 1 complaint reporting a crash (0.8%)
  • 1 complaint reporting a fire (0.8%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Volkswagen R32 complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2008 model year has the most complaints: 115 of 129, or 89.1%. Next come 2004 (13) and 2007 (1).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Volkswagen R32 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2004–2008Column chart of 129 complaints across 5 model years. The highest is 2008 with 115. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2004: 13 complaints1320042005: 0 complaints20052006: 0 complaints20062007: 1 complaint120072008: 115 complaints1152008
Volkswagen R32 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Volkswagen R32 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
2004131100
200710000
20081150000
All model years1291100

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Volkswagen R32 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Power Train is the component named most often, in 86 complaints (66.7% of all 129), followed by Fuel System, Gasoline (21) and Electrical System (8).

Components named most often in Volkswagen R32 complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Volkswagen R32 complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Power Train8666.7%
Fuel System, Gasoline2116.3%
Electrical System86.2%
Exterior Lighting75.4%
Engine and Engine Cooling64.7%
Fuel/Propulsion System43.1%
Tires43.1%
Air Bags32.3%
Seat Belts21.6%
Structure21.6%
Engine10.8%
Fuel System, Other10.8%
Seats10.8%
Suspension10.8%
Unknown or Other10.8%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Volkswagen R32 recalls

3 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name R32, newest first. The 3 campaigns cover model years 2004 to 2008. The 2008 model year appears in the most campaigns (2).

  • 3 recall campaigns
Volkswagen R32 recall campaigns covering each model year
2004: 1 campaign2005: no campaigns2006: 1 campaign2007: 1 campaign2008: 2 campaigns
Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 09V093000

    Reported

    Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly

    Model year 2008

    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.

    Consequence:
    A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a vehicle fire.
    Remedy:
    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.

    Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

  2. NHTSA campaign 07V442000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Headlights

    Model years 2006–2008

    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.

    Consequence:
    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.

    Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

  3. NHTSA campaign 07V063000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch

    Model year 2004

    On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.

    Consequence:
    The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through September 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06V-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact VW at 1-800-822-8987.

    Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Volkswagen R32 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Volkswagen R32 have?

NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recall campaigns for the Volkswagen R32, covering model years 2004 to 2008. The most recent, 09V093000, was reported on March 20, 2009 and is filed under “Fuel system, gasoline”. The 2008 model year is covered by the most campaigns (2).

Which Volkswagen R32 model year has the most complaints?

The 2008 model year, with 115 of the 129 complaints in NHTSA’s file (89.1%). The next are 2004 (13) and 2007 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Volkswagen R32 complaint?

Power Train is the component named most often: 86 complaints, or 66.7% of all 129. Fuel System, Gasoline (21) and Electrical System (8) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Volkswagen R32?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Volkswagen dealer.

How many Volkswagen R32 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 129 complaints, 1 report a crash, 1 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Volkswagen models

8 models · most complaints first

The Volkswagen models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Volkswagen VIN decoder with every Volkswagen model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Volkswagen models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.