The problem
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 that disables the vertical aiming screw.
The 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.
The 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 aiming screw and if present, the cap will be removed. The recall will begin on October 31, 2007. Owners May contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 07V-442 (07V442000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | Q8 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Component | Exterior lighting › Headlights |
| Report date | September 24, 2007 |
| Owners notified | October 31, 2007 |
| Vehicles affected | 340,000 |
| Initiated by | OVSC |
Vehicles covered
- 2006 Volkswagen GTI
- 2007 Volkswagen GTI
- 2008 Volkswagen GTI
- 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2008 Volkswagen R32
- 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
- 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
- 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
Plus 2 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.
Owner complaints about the lights
- 2006 Volkswagen GTI headlight problems 2
- 2007 Volkswagen GTI headlight problems 7
- 2008 Volkswagen GTI headlight problems 7
- 2005 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems 14
- 2006 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems 35
- 2007 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems 8
- 2008 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems 5
- 2008 Volkswagen R32 headlight problems 6
- 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit headlight problems 1
- 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit headlight problems 1
- 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit headlight problems 1
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 07V-442 repair free?
Yes. Volkswagen dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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 aiming screw and if present, the cap will be removed.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 340,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.