19.2% of complaints about the 2008 Volkswagen R32 came in its first year of service — a higher share than 98% of the 262 2008 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is power train (83 complaints), typically at 1.8 yr or about 15,000 miles.
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 L
A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
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.
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 ENGINE POWER OF MY 2008 VW R32 CONTINUED TO CUT OUT PERIODICALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS, THE CEL NEVER ONCE CAME ON. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER OR VEHICLE SPEED. ONE DAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THE CAR DIED, SHE RESTARTED IT AND NOTICED A FUEL ODOR. SINCE SHE WAS NEAR MY WORK (APPROX THREE MILES) SHE RESTARTED THE CAR ONCE SHE GOT THERE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, FUEL STARTED LEAKING BEHIND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. *TR
USUALLY DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FAILURE IS PRESENT. THE FAILURE - CAR HESITATES UNDER ACCELERATION ALMOST AS IF THE FUEL IS BEING CUTOFF. OTHER TIMES IT STALLS DURING IDLE AT STOP LIGHT. OTHER TIMES THE CAR WILL TAKE TWO OR THREE TRIES TO RESTART. WHEN PARKED AFTER A DRIVE THE VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. OCCURS RANDOMLY AND THE DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. PARTS REPLACED - PURGE VALVE TO FIX THE FUEL LEAK AND HESITATION. THE CAR DOES NOT LEAK FUEL ANYMORE, HOWEVER THE HESITATION ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT. *TR
THE CAR HICCUPPED AND BEGAN TO RUN VERY RUFF NO POWER AND I WAS ON FREEWAY IN THE VALLEY AREA (HOT OVER 100 F) CAR SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER REACHING COOLER AREA. VISITED THE DEALER THEY FOUND NO FAULTS WITH CAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS 2008 VW R32 CARS. *TR
MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE ON ME WHEN IT HAD 6647 MILES. IT OCCURRED TWICE IN A SPAN OF TWO HOURS. I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED TO "HICCUP". IT JUMPS BETWEEN SHIFTS, THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN IT IS HUMID OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE ALSO EMITS A LOUD TICKING SOUND FROM THE GAS TANK, AND IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER THE GAS NEEDLE BOUNCES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY DID TAKE A JOYRIDE TWO OF THOSE TIMES IN THE CAR. (FOUND THE RADIO STATION SET AND EQUALIZER TOYED WITH) IN ADDITION, THE CAR SOMETIMES SMELLS LIKE FUEL. *TR