Most common 2004 Volkswagen R32 problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen R32 complaints by model year
2004 Volkswagen R32 recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch May malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through September 21, 2007.
What 2004 Volkswagen R32 owners say
Wheels & tires
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.
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.
Transmission & drivetrain
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. …
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.
Engine & cooling
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. …
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.
2004 Volkswagen R32 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Volkswagen R32 a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the R32 to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Volkswagen R32?
The wheels & tires — 3 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about pressure monitoring and regulating systems. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2004 Volkswagen R32 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Volkswagen R32, the most recent from February 20, 2007 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2004 Volkswagen R32 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.