Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2008. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 R32Most complaints | 115 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 R32 | 13 | 1 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Power train86
- Fuel system, gasoline21
- Electrical system8
- Exterior lighting7
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Tires4
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Air bags3
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
New registrations in Europe
1 new Volkswagen R32 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2011 and 2011, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2011 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
3 campaigns cover the R32.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
NHTSA recalls