Engine
2.5L 5-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 62 of 62 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 50 of 62 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Brakes
44 complaint records4 crash reports
"IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE ABS FAILS AND COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN UNTIL I RESTART THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY DRIVING IN SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. *JS..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Stability control
25 complaint records
"IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE ABS FAILS AND COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN UNTIL I RESTART THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY DRIVING IN SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. *JS..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse stability control parts in the directory →
Electrical system
11 complaint records1 fire report
"I GOT PROBLEMS ON ABS SYSTEM MODULE THAT'S WHY MY RABBIT2009 START ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND LOSE THE CONTROL INCLUDING THE SPEED METER.CANT YOU HELP ME WITH THAT'S OCCURED WHEN I'M DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY TO MY JOB...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V913000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6... | Normally free |
| 10V621000 | Fuel System, Gasoline | VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016629 2016-12-14 | Brakes | 12,205 | On certain vehicles, a fault within the antilock brake system (ABS) may cause the module to fail during ABS and/or electronic stability control (ESC) activation. |
| 2016064 2016-02-09 | Airbag | 64,660 | On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. |
| 2010444 2010-12-10 | Fuel System | 30,255 | On certain Golf, Golf wagon, Jetta and Rabbit equipped with a 2.5L Engine, a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir may chafe against an underhood fuel supply line. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| V0116152014815_20 Sep 2026 | Engine | Suggested fuel additive | |
| V4622022067177_5 Aug 2026 | Service Brakes | Repair or Replace Information | |
| TT 00-13-04_7 Aug 2026 | Unknown Or Other | Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order | |
| V0026012081638_2 Aug 2026 | Unknown Or Other | Differences between a leak and seepage | |
| TT 10-18-02_2 Jun 2026 | Engine | Lubricating engine components before reassembly. |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TT 13-20-01_3 Jun 2026 | Engine | Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start. | |
| V6919012010479_17 Jun 2026 | Air Bags | Inquiries | |
| V1719012012855_81 Jun 2026 | Engine | Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards | |
| VOS-26-21 Mar 2026 | Engine | This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, SVM... | |
| V0018092053065_6 Mar 2026 | Unknown Or Other | Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting | |
| V9422022066761_4 Mar 2026 | Unknown Or Other | Damage Inspection of Park assist sensors | |
| VOS-26-15 Mar 2026 | Electrical System | This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct multiple test plans: All basic settings test for the following components - Fill and bleed cooling system... | |
| V5515032021354_9 Mar 2026 | Unknown Or Other | Paint color and/or finish of the engine compartment may not match the exterior paint color | |
| VOS-26-01 Jan 2026 | Electrical System | This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct a test that is not reading any information from the battery data module (BDM) and will output: | |
| V1917012022548_14 Feb 2025 | Engine | Identifying and Mixing Engine Coolant | |
| V1719022012855_77 Oct 2024 | Engine | Engine Oil Standards | |
| V5515032021354_8 Oct 2024 | Structure | Lack of paint under roof | |
| V0018092053065_5 Oct 2024 | Unknown Or Other | Additional reporting | |
| CampTip_RNA_VW Oct 2024 | Unknown Or Other | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available | |
| V1718062017813_19 Sep 2024 | Engine | How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement | |
| V0116132033805_10 Sep 2024 | Power Train | Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid | |
| V0118122014603_20 Sep 2024 | Unknown Or Other | How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool | |
| V1718032037201_19 Sep 2024 | Engine | Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick | |
| V1719012012855_76 Sep 2024 | Engine | A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards | |
| V3718022033975_13 Sep 2024 | Power Train | Fluid requirements | |
| TT 00-24-01 Sep 2024 | Structure | Wind & Water Leak Checking | |
| V0017132033846_23 Sep 2024 | Engine | Fuel additive to help with misfire faults | |
| V0116152014815_18 Sep 2024 | Engine | Recommended Gasoline Quality | |
| V271901201189426 Aug 2024 | Electrical System | Battery testing | |
| V1719012012855_75 Aug 2024 | Engine | Engine Oil Standards | |
| TT 10-12-01_3 Jul 2024 | Engine | Engine Replacement Tip | |
| TT 10-18-02_2 Jul 2024 | Engine | Engine Assembly Tip | |
| V1719012012855_74 Jul 2024 | Engine | Engine oil quality standards | |
| V1719012012855_73 Jun 2024 | Engine | Engine oil quality standards | |
| V171901201285572 May 2024 | Engine | Engine oil quality standards | |
| V171905201285571 Apr 2024 | Unknown Or Other | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V171901201285570 Feb 2024 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V171901201285569 Jan 2024 | Unknown Or Other | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V691901201047916 Jan 2024 | Unknown Or Other | Airbag / Pyrotechnic Safety Belt Deployment Inquiries, update to contact information due to retirement. | |
| V171901201285568 Nov 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V871810204370421 Nov 2023 | Visibility | Reporting procedure for A/C compressor replacement regardless of the reason for failure. Update to model year applicability and new warranty GFF labor operation number | |
| V171901201285567 Oct 2023 | Engine | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V171905201285566 Sep 2023 | Equipment | VW Engine oil quality standards | |
| V271901201189425 Sep 2023 | Equipment | Battery Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000VAS Charger. Update Tool terminology | |
| V0018092053065_4 Sep 2023 | Equipment | Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting | |
| V171901201285565 Aug 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards | |
| V271503201607612 Jul 2023 | Electrical System | Diagnostic assistance for excessive static current draw | |
| V171901201285564 Jul 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments. | |
| V2719012011894_2 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Battery Testing and Charging using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000 Vas Charger | |
| V271901201189424 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Battery Testing and Charging using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000 Vas Charger | |
| V011812201460319 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Software Version Management (SVM) instruction. | |
| V171806201781318 Jun 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine Oil Consumption Measurement Instruction and Work sheet. | |
| V171901201285563 Jun 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards, updated to include model year 2024. | |
| V0116132033805_8 Jun 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Diagnostic Aid for engine misfire. | |
| V001713203384619 Jun 2023 | Fuel System | Gasoline fuel additive | |
| V011615201481517 Jun 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Gasoline quality information in regards to gasoline engine performance. | |
| V171901201285562 May 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments. | |
| V191701202254810 May 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Introduce new engine coolant compatible with all models and all model years. | |
| V171901201285560 Apr 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments. | |
| V171901201285559 Mar 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Volkswagen Engine Oil Quality Standards |
Showing 60 of 378 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Check the stability and traction control lights on startup.A lit warning after the self-check, or a system that triggers on dry pavement, matches this vehicle's stability-control cluster.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 2 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Volkswagen Rabbit →