2004 VOLKSWAGEN R32 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

THE OUTER SEAT BOLSTER SEAM OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH RETAINS THE SIDE AIR BAG HAS SPLIT ALONG A LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE SIDE AIR BAG SHOULD IT DISCHARGE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A NOT UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS CAR AND MODEL AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. THE STRENGTH OF THE THREAD MUST BE SUCH THAT IT WILL PART WHEN REQUIRED TO ALLOW THE SIDE AIR BAG TO PROVIDE PROTECTION BUT NOT BE SO FRAIL THAT IT WILL SPLIT IN NORMAL USE INVOLVING ENTERING AND LEAVING THE SEAT OF THE CAR. EXPERT AUTO UPHOLSTERY TECHNICIANS ARE RELUCTANT TO REPAIR THE SEAT AS THE PROPER THREAD AND STITCH REQUIRED IS NOT CLEAR AND THEY FEAR LIABILITY SHOULD THE SIDE AIR BAG NOT DISCHARGE AS DESIGNED. REPLACING THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY IS PROHIBITIVELY COSTLY.

VW WONT REPLACE A BROKEN SEAT BELT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY BY FIDELITY AND THEY WONT FIX IT EITHER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE PASSENGER REAR SEATBELT IS STUCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION. VW QUOTED $500 TO FIX.. *TR

CAR JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. CHECKED ALL SENSORS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. AND NO CAR WONT START. ECU FAULTY, REPROGRAM OR REPLACEMENT NEED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELTS FAILED AND WERE UNABLE TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,600.

I BOUGHT A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN R32 AROUND NOVEMBER OF 08 AND ALL WAS OKAY, I NOTICED ONE DAY ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN PUTTING MY SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK TO DRIVING POSITION THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY. I DO KNOW OTHERS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON DUE TO IMPROPER WIRING LENGTH AS WELL (AROUND 12-15 OTHERS ON THE VW R32 FORUMS. WHEN YOU MOVE THE SEAT FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS ENOUGH THE WIRE WILL BECOME TIGHT AND EVENTUALLY PULL OUT OF THE AIRBAG IGNITER. THIS TOPIC IS ON EVERY VOLKSWAGEN FORUM FROM HERE TO GERMANY. OTHER VW'S WITH SEAT AIRBAGS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE DISCOVERED. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU SOON AS I WOULD NOT LIKE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY. I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF VW JUST LET THIS CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE, THE 2008 R32'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I'VE LEARNED. PLEASE HELP ME!! *TR

SERVICE BULLETIN # 004, NHTSA NUMBER 10011567, FAILURE OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR AT 43,500 MILES. ENGINE NEVER WARMED TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF 87 DEGREES, OPENED THERMOSTAT AT 75 DEGREES.*TR

ON JULY 13, 2008 WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 VOLKWAGEN R32 I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVING REALLY ROUGH AFTER I MADE AN EXIT FROM THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I MADE IT TO A COMPLETE STOP I NOTICED THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL/PLASTIC FIRE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE AREA I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BEFORE IT SPREAD. THE DEVICE THAT WAS CAUSING THE FIRE IS CALLED A COIL PACK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I DID KEEP THE OLD PARTS AND TOOK PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BURNT COIL PACK CONNECTOR HOWEVER THEY DID NOT HAVE THE ACTUAL COIL PACK TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED ONE. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT OEM THROUGH A DIFFERENT PARTS RETAILER. THE DEALER CHARGED ME TO REPAIR THE BURNED CONNECTOR AS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Fire

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV 2006 AND SINCE THEN HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, RIGHT FORM THE START. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON FOR 10 MONTHS, UNABLE TO FIX, REMOTE GARAGE OPENER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, REMOTE CONTROL DOESN'T OPEN THE CAR, BACK DOOR DOESN'T OPEN AT ALL, ONE OF THE STUDS UNDERNEATH BROKE ON FREEWAY GOING TO LAS VEGAS, ENGINE LIGHT ON, CAR OVERHEATING. *TR

PLEASE SEE THIS LINK FOR VEHICLE PROBLEM DESCRIPTIONS. HTTP://WWW.RIPOFFREPORT.COM/VIEW.ASP?ID=266231. *TR

CAR: 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R32 WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. ALOT OF VOLKSWAGEN R32 OWNERS ARE STARTING TO HEAR A WHINE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, USUALLY ON DECELERATION OR LIFTING OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH A VW ENTHUSIAST FORUM. THE MAJORITY OF US WHO ENCOUNTER THIS NOISE HAVE CHECKED AND CHANGED OUR REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUIDS AND HAVE FOUND THAT OUR FLUID IS LOW FROM THE FACTORY!! THE CAPACITY OF OUR REAR DIFFERENTIALS IS 1 LITER, PER SPECIFICATIONS. MOST OF US HAVE FOUND WHEN DRAINING THE DIFFERENTIAL, THAT ONLY 1 CUP DRAINS OUT, SOME EVEN HAVE FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS NOT FILLED AT ALL!! AFTER FILLING WITH NEW AND PROPER FLUID THE WHINE STILL IS HEARD. PLEASE SEND SOMETHING OUT! I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOME ONE GET INJURED DUE TO A FAILED REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLE LOCK UP DUE TO HEATING AND WELDING OF THE GEARS CAN HAPPEN DUE TO LACK OF FLUID! *TR

MALFUNCTIONING TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM FOR 18 MONTHS, FREQUENTLY MALFUNCTIONS ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. EIGHT TO NINE SERVICE ATTEMPTS WITH NO RESOLUTION. HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AT A TIME WITH THE FLAT TIRE MONITOR SCREAMING LOUDLY. A PROBLEM SINCE 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR SHOOK TO THE POINT THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THROUGH IT. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE REARVIEW MIRROR WOULD SHAKE. WHEN GOING OVER A BUMPS THE PROBLEM WOULD GET WORSE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *AK (11/22/05) ALSO, THE DOORS WOULD SQUEAK. *SC

ROUNDING A STREET CORNER THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CURB. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THIS VEHICLE, PURCHASED NEW, HAS LESS THAN 7000 MILES. DAMAGES APPROACH $3000.00 AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP.*AK

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