RecallMyCar

1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA

3 safety recalls for the 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fuel injection system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 83V117000 Reported 930,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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.

  2. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 81V058000 Reported 133,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    On some vehicles, the pressure could increase inside the fuel tank from high surrounding temperatures when the fuel tank is more than half full.

    Remedy: Dealer will install a restrictor valve into the fuel filler pipe, without charge to owner.

  3. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 81V012000 Reported 110,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 2 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The vehicle suddenly accelerated when no force was applied to the gas pedal. *ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 12, 1996 · Vehicle speed control

“The vehicle suddenly accelearted when onedid not apply force to the gas pedal. *ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 12, 1996 · Vehicle speed control

Compare Volkswagen Rabbit model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Rabbit model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1975 Volkswagen Rabbit50
1976 Volkswagen Rabbit50
1977 Volkswagen Rabbit60
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit90
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit60
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit32
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit31
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit15
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit11
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit11
1985 Volkswagen Rabbit11
2006 Volkswagen Rabbit113
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit254
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit223
2009 Volkswagen Rabbit262

Checking a specific 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit

How do I know if my 1980 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1980 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 81V012000).

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

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.