| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI repairs by problem area
Engine (35%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (11%)
Brakes and Traction Control (3%)
Suspension and Steering (10%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (11%)
Other (6%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 462 repairs.
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI transmission repair cost distribution
$2500+ (2%)
$1000 - $2499 (7%)
$500 - $999 (9%)
$100 - $499 (21%)
< $100 (60%)
Chart based on 43 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD
| 80000 mi US $1200 |
split outer CV Joint boot required replacement of drive-shaft |
| 69500 mi | CV Joint failure again |
| 60000 mi US $200 |
CV boot was torn and was replaced. |
| 88000 mi US $350 |
Creaking from drivers side. CV joint replaced |
| 21700 mi | Sometimes and only in the M (manual) mode the second gear could kick in a little harsher. Been checked with no evident cause, had also a dsg software update. I was told there is no problem with it although it was not fixed. |
| 120900 mi C $4500 |
DCG transmission stopped working. Used DCG transmission sourced and installed. |
| 35000 mi | Mechatronics transmission valve body unit replaced for jerky shifting |
| 35300 mi | DSG surging continued to get worse. Went to a different dealer. VWoA released a new Customer Service Program to replace the Mechatronic Unit (due to a faulty bushing in unit, causing exact condition as I have claimed). Part ordered. |
| 40500 mi | Replaced DSG mechatronic unit. Still have a clunk when downshift from 2 to 1, but VW says this is normal. |
| 40000 mi US $30 |
Mechatronics unit replaced on DSG transmission through recall. Transmission would sometimes shift erratically before replacement. Mechatronics unit replaced on DSG transmission. Done free under warranty and part of recall. Transmission shifting rough before repair. A widespread problem with VW DSG transmissions. Had trans filter replaced as routine maintenance. |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 105hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual FWD
| 75640 mi €400 |
Bearings replaced |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 4dr Hatch
170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 86700 mi US $750 |
- Left CV boot leaking - 4 new tires - alignment |
| 138000 mi US $500 |
Replaced drive shaft with a failing CV joint, . Shaft was seized on, so it required additional time to complete the service. |
| 53800 mi US $1800 |
Transmission valve body harness replaced. |
| 56000 mi | Valve body harness broken, $800 (VW America picked up the tab) |
| 53800 mi | Transmission valve body and valve body harness broken and replaced. $2000 (VW America covered with extended warranty on valve body. |
| 140000 mi US $2055 |
replaced tranmission with a used one; rebuilding transmission would have been between $3500.00 and $5200.00 |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 4dr Hatch
170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD
| 44640 mi | Differential broke apart into the transmission and clutch. Dealer replaced entire transmission, differential and clutch under the powertrain warranty. No warning, unclear why this failed so catastrophically. Dealer was surprised. |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 2dr Hatch
turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 7000 mi | Torn passenger side CV-boot. Unknown cause for tear. |
| 43000 mi US $381 |
Dealer replaced left front CV joint |
| 78000 mi US $250 |
Replaced front axle assembly in order to replace torn CV boot. |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 2dr Hatch
turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD
| 42000 mi | Megatronic Unit replacement. Transmission reprogramming. The Megatronic unit had to be pulled off the factory line in Wolfsburg, Germany. |
| 9000 mi | DSG transmission shifting poorly and surging at low speed. New Mechatronic unit ordered. New Mechatronics unit installed in the transmission. Surging gone. Trans seems to shift more smoothly. |
| 9000 mi | Transmission when downshifting into 1st while coming to a stop causes a slight vibration through the car and often "thuds" into 1st gear. Was told transmission was acting normally. |
| 34600 mi | Mechatronic unit replaced under warranty. Transmission shifts were very rough. |
| 32000 mi | TSB for mechatronic unit (DSG). Ended up trading car for a new 4 door model. Repair was not reason for trade... have a kid on the way. |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 2dr Hatch
250-horsepower 3.2L V6 6-speed automated manual AWD
| 69000 mi US $98 |
DSG malfunction. After cold start, car fails to engage 2nd gear. Dealer could not reproduce problem due to warm weather and no code was thrown. Problem has happened around 10 times. |
| 29000 mi | Mechatronic unit of the DSG tranny diagnosed for slow downshift into first gear on a rolling stop. Setting within the unit found at 82/spec of 87, and reset to 88. |
| 74000 mi | Replace Haldex clutch which developed noise on slow speed turns left or right. Part replaced under the Fidelity extended warranty--Gold Plus--as purchased from the dealer after the expiration of the OE warranty at five years-60.000 miles. |
| 80000 mi US $474 |
R&R both rear axle shaft seals |
| 108025 mi | Install new poly rear differential bushing kit |
| 112000 mi US $369 |
cleaned mechantronic harness and sealed due to no replacement part available |
| 108000 mi US $800 |
Replace CV boot |
| 136000 mi US $600 |
DSG fluid leak from Mechatronic unit |
| 48000 mi | Performed VW service bulletin to replace the Mechatronic unit, replaced fluid per proceedure, also replaced internal fluid filter. |
| 35300 mi | Driver side rear differential output shaft seal leaking. Replaced seal. Covered under powertrain warranty. |
| 30000 mi | rear axle seals weeping. Replaced seals. |
| 47000 mi US $380 |
Owner requested Haldex service Rough shifting, dealer reset computer |
| 16000 mi | Recall on the Mechatronic unit of the DSG transmisstion. Car would jerk upon going into 1st gear and some times would "Thunk" when shifting into reverse. Recall replaced the mechatronic unit. |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 2dr Hatch
170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 66000 mi | Replace defective part |
| 68000 mi US $105 |
Defective Transmission Valve Body which was covered under extended warranty. |
| 68000 mi | Replaced the gasket around the vacuum pump that should have been done when the vacuum pump was replaced. |
| 70900 mi US $400 |
CV Boot Joint wore down and had to be replaced. |
| 58000 mi | Not the first time I've had this problem, the valve body was bad and I had it replaced once but they installed the wrong part and had to reinstall it again. Turns out the re-installed the wrong part again and now it was replaced again. |
2008 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI 2-door
6-cylinder automated manual AWD
| 1000 mi | I brought in the car for what I considered to be a DSG glitch in June, '08; VW acknowledged the troublesome behavior in question but said it was "normal". No fix. |
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