Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 7 | 13% |
| Air bags | 5 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 7% |
| Power train | 3 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Drivers side heated seat has a problem. The seat over heats and has burnt a hole in the fabric and melted part of the seat.
NHTSA complaint: Seats
ABSmodule is defective, Known problem for this car and volkswagon will not repair under warranty. after 2007 model year they will cove repair
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET IN NORTH CHATHAM, MA. SMELL OF BURNING. PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER HAD BURNT A HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK. A HOLE WAS ALSO BURNT IN THE OUTER LAYER
NHTSA complaint: Seats
DISPLAYING ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT, EMERGENCY BRAKE BEEPS THEN LIGHT REMAINS ON BLINKING, STEERING ALIGNMENT LIGHT DISPLAYS, CHANGED OUT THE REAR ABS SENSORS AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB, ALL LIGHTS REMAIN
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WHILE STARTING THE CAR, SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS CAME ON, INCLUDING THE ECP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ENTERING THE REVERSE GEAR MADE THE CAR ACCELERATE FAST BACKWARDS WHEN RELEASING THE BREAKS BUT NOT USING THE GAS PEDAL
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON THE ACC POSITION. I CAN ONLY START THE CAR. IT WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. THE ONLY WAY I AM ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR IS TO PULL 2 FUSES UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
UPON APPROACHING A RED LIGHT BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. RATHER THAN STOPPING THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH RESISTANCE BUT NEVER SLOWED THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
LIGHTAIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REVS AND SLOWS ABRUPTLY; FUEL SYSTEM LIGHT PAINT FLAKING OFF VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIE
Risk: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERV
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 THA
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.
Fix: 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 AIM
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seats is the most reported area with 7 of them (13%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2007 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.