1979 Volkswagen Rabbit Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
Brake lines installed underneath the carpeting in the passenger compartment may rust due to the entry of water and road salt. If rusting remains unchecked, it produces leaks in the lines and brake fluid may be lost.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the interior brake lines at no cost to owner. Owners are also advised that all brake lines should be inspected at two-year intervals.
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Fuel injection system (fuel system)
The fuel pump may stop functioning without warning. This can occur because an electrical connector in the fuse panel may overheat and interrupt the electrical circuit.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect the fuse box and its connectors for corrosion, and correct where necessary. A bypass adapter to the fuel pump electrical circuit will be installed.
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Body (structure)
Corrosive damage and increased electrical resistance may cause the fuel pump relay to stop functioning. The fuel pump relay is one of several relays on a relay board located near the firewall. Corrosion caused by rain entering an improperly sealed antenna hole has been the subject of previous campaigns, but additional measures are…
Remedy: Vehicles will be inspected to determine whether the modification has been performed. If not, a bypass will be installed to locate the fuel pump relay away from the relay board. Any corroded relay boards or connectors…
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Cables (vehicle speed control)
The accelerator cable which leads from the transmission lever to the throttle housing may malfunction. Accelerator cable may have been bent during installation or during servicing of engine components. This could cause the steel band cable to bind and can result in delayed response during deceleration, high engine idle and hesitation…
Remedy: The accelerator cable will be replaced with a newly designed one. In addition, other components of the acceleration system will be checked, lubricated, and if necessary, replaced. This will be done without charge.
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Body (structure)
On some vehicles, the fender opening through which the antenna cable is routed may not be properly sealed. As a result, splashed water from the tires could enter passenger compartment through the opening, enter the fuse relay board and cause corrosion of the terminals. Also, because water is a good conductor of electricity, the starter…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, seal the radio antenna holes and replace corroded components without charge to owner..
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Relay (electrical system)
Due to an improperly sealed antenna mounting hole, water could seap into the fuse relay board. The water entering the fuse relay board acts as a conductor of current, thereby charging the starter.
Remedy: The dealer will seal all radio antenna cable holes. In addition, electrical parts of the relay/fuse board will be checked and replaced in the case of corrosion.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Volkswagen Rabbit model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Rabbit model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit | 5 | 0 |
| 1976 Volkswagen Rabbit | 5 | 0 |
| 1977 Volkswagen Rabbit | 6 | 0 |
| 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit | 9 | 0 |
| 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit | 6 | 0 |
| 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit | 3 | 2 |
| 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit | 3 | 1 |
| 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit | 1 | 5 |
| 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 Volkswagen Rabbit | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit | 1 | 13 |
| 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit | 2 | 54 |
| 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit | 2 | 23 |
| 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit | 2 | 62 |
Checking a specific 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
How do I know if my 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 79V120000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Jetta10,000 complaints
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.