The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen GTI | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Volkswagen R32 | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen GTI | 2006 | 43 | 2 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 2007 | 77 | 1 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 2008 | 67 | 1 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2005 | 248 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2006 | 580 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2007 | 201 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2008 | 188 | 4 |
| Volkswagen R32 | 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| Volkswagen R32 | 2007 | 1 | 1 |
| Volkswagen R32 | 2008 | 115 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | 2006 | 13 | 1 |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | 2007 | 54 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | 2008 | 23 | 2 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2007
22 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the exterior lighting; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 07V515000 5 Nov 2007 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 07V493000 22 Oct 2007 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 07V491000 18 Oct 2007 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 07V492000 18 Oct 2007 | R-VISION |
| 07V482000 16 Oct 2007 | GM DAEWOO AUTO & TECHNOLOGY COMPANY |
| 07V478000 11 Oct 2007 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 07V462000 2 Oct 2007 | GOSHEN COACH |
| 07V463000 1 Oct 2007 | UTILIMASTER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007