VehicleVerdict

2008 Volkswagen R32 fuel system problems

The 2008 Volkswagen R32 has 25 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 20% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

25

Fuel System complaints

20%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

R32 fuel system complaints by model year25 complaints2004: 1 complaints2008: 25 complaints
R32 fuel system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

09V093000Fuel SystemMarch 20, 2009 · 5,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

What owners report

FUEL SYSTEM ON CAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING 75MPH ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND DROP IN SPEED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. FUEL SMELL OUT OF A/C VENTS. VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND HAS SAID THEY'VE HAD THIS ON MANY CARS OF THE SAME MODEL. VW IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM RESULTING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · September 8, 2008

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2008 Volkswagen R32 have?

NHTSA has 25 complaints about the 2008 Volkswagen R32 fuel system — 20% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Volkswagen R32 fuel system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 09V093000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.