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Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI and Mazda RX-8 Lemon Odds and Nada Odds for the Year Ending June 30, 2018

An asterisk (*) marks results based on small sample sizes.

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Year Make/Model Nada Odds per 100 Cars Lemon Odds per 100 Cars    
51 vehicles, 11.3 months per vehicle, 17500 miles driven2017 Volkswagen Golf 1.8T
[?] see reported repairs
  51 vehicles, 11.3 months per vehicle, 17500 miles driven
70 vehicles, 11.3 months per vehicle, 12900 miles driven2017 Volkswagen GTI and Golf R
[?] see reported repairs
  70 vehicles, 11.3 months per vehicle, 12900 miles driven
39 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 28600 miles driven

A year ago the 2015 Golf 1.8T had a similarly high repair frequency, while the GTI has generally been better.2016		 Volkswagen Golf 1.8T
[?] see reported repairs
  39 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 28600 miles driven

A year ago the 2015 Golf 1.8T had a similarly high repair frequency, while the GTI has generally been better.
87 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 21700 miles driven

A year ago the 2015 Golf 1.8T had a similarly high repair frequency, while the GTI has generally been better.2016		 Volkswagen GTI and Golf R
[?] see reported repairs
  87 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 21700 miles driven

A year ago the 2015 Golf 1.8T had a similarly high repair frequency, while the GTI has generally been better.
56 vehicles, 11.4 months per vehicle, 38900 miles driven

Redesigned. Golf 1.8T initially had a higher repair frequency than the GTI, and the TDI still does. Unclear why. All might have a somewhat common problem with failing AC compressors. 2015		 Volkswagen GTI and Golf R
[?] see reported repairs
  56 vehicles, 11.4 months per vehicle, 38900 miles driven

Redesigned. Golf 1.8T initially had a higher repair frequency than the GTI, and the TDI still does. Unclear why. All might have a somewhat common problem with failing AC compressors.
36 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 57900 miles driven2013 Volkswagen GTI
[?] see reported repairs
  36 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 57900 miles driven
38 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 70800 miles driven2012 Volkswagen GTI
[?] see reported repairs
  38 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 70800 miles driven

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Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI vs. Mazda RX-8 Lemon Odds and Nada Odds

Other sources of Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI and Mazda RX-8 reliability data provide only averages, which can conceal as much as they reveal. So we also report the percentage of Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTIs and Mazda RX-8s with no repairs at all in the past year and the percentage of Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTIs and Mazda RX-8s that are lemons (required three or more repair trips in the past year). These figures might surprise you.

These stats are promptly updated four times a year, to closely track Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI and Mazda RX-8 lemon odds as the cars age. Others can be over a year behind. Only TrueDelta tells you how reliable the Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI and Mazda RX-8 have been recently.

To see how frequently Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI and Mazda RX-8 problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI

Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI Brand Reputation: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2009 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4
6-speed manual FWD		 I always see Volkswagens as great, reliable cars. The GTI is special because of its utility and performance. see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
2008 2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD		 german built, soild car see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
2008 2dr Hatch 250-horsepower 3.2L V6
6-speed automated manual AWD		 Like the 2004 R32, the 2008 R32 had a limited production run of 5000, most of which are now sold. The R32 is really a well balanced "mini grand touring" car; without the stigma of being a "rice racer" like the Evo or STi. A great car for road and track! see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
2005 2dr Hatch 200-horsepower 2.8L V6
6-speed manual FWD		 VW builds a quality car, besides their electrical issues, which I have not had in either of my last two GTIs. see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
2004 4dr Hatch turbocharged 100hp 1.9L I4 Diesel
5-speed manual FWD		 VW, to me, means smart and sophisticated; while, at the same time, being practical and understated. Owning one shows you know automobiles without having to shout about it. VWs are not appliances. see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI Brand Reputation: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2016 2dr Hatch turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4
6-speed manual FWD		 Low reliability see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
2013 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel
6-speed manual FWD		 VW does not have that great a reputation in the U.S. This is a shame because the Golf really seems to be a well-made vehicle. Time will tell whether it holds up, but there are many horror stories of poor service, poor dealers, and the factory not standing behind their warranties. I'm hoping that VW has improved their ways, but this remains a major sticking point. see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
2009 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4
6-speed manual FWD		 VW dealerships have one of the worst reps. for fair service prices. The dealer I saw was great on the test drive front, but I feared the service desk a few years down the line. see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
2007 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4
6-speed manual FWD		 Too many people, VW are still seen as nice cars that break often see full Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Mazda RX-8

Mazda RX-8 Brand Reputation: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2010 4dr Coupe 232-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed manual RWD		 Drove a 1979 Maxda RX-7 for more than 100,000 miles -- only brand with a rotary engine! see full Mazda RX-8 review
2006 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed manual RWD		 Reliable--my last Mazda was a daily driver for 15 years. Sporty image. see full Mazda RX-8 review
2005 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed manual RWD		 the brand has a quality reputation with my car having a 100k miles warrenty. Also like mazda in general for their sporty feel/image they try to put in every car. see full Mazda RX-8 review
2004 4dr Coupe 197-horsepower 1.3L R2
4-speed shiftable automatic RWD		 Mazda is fairly reliable. Not much else to say on this really. see full Mazda RX-8 review
2004 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed manual RWD		 Mazda and the RX-8 is about the driver, everything inside the car points toward the driver and the spirit of driving being fun. see full Mazda RX-8 review
Mazda RX-8 Brand Reputation: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2004 4dr Coupe 238-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed manual RWD		 My personal biases show here being someone that drives almost exclusively European cars. There is nothing I hate more than under lighting and flame kits on exhausts and the RX-8 fall smack dab into that category. see full Mazda RX-8 review