US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained
Volkswagen Rabbit recall history and complaint patterns
Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Volkswagen Rabbit,
sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.
Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
Ask About This Model
Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Volkswagen Rabbit. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
AI Assistant
Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Volkswagen Rabbit,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1975–2009 with 48 recall campaigns and 267 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1978 (9), 1979 (6), and 1977 (6).
Years with the most complaint volume: 2009 (123), 2007 (78), and 2008 (35).
Top recall themes: Fuel and emissions, Brakes, and Other.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Service brakes, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc).
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Fuel and emissions
5 campaigns · Years: 1977–1984, 2007–2009
These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.
Official notices (evidence):
10V621000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
85V015000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system
81V058000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Filler pipe and cap
+ 2 more notices in this theme
Brakes
3 campaigns · Years: 1975–1979
These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Official notices (evidence):
83V116000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
77V182000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Volkswagen Rabbit in NHTSA complaint data are
Service brakes, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc).
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2009
2
123
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, Electronic stability control (esc), Electrical system.
2008
2
35
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Electrical system, Power train.
2007
2
78
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Air bags, Seats.
2006
1
18
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1985
1
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1984
1
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages, Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal.
1983
1
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting:headlights.
1982
1
5
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system.
1981
3
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts.
1980
3
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Vehicle speed control.
1979
6
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1978
9
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1977
6
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1976
5
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1975
5
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Fuel system
, Structure
and Vehicle speed control
Show recall evidence by year
2009
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 jetta, new beetle, new beetle convertible, model year 2009 jetta sportwagen and model year 2007-2009 rabbit vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The jetta, jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windsh
Electronic stability control (esc):
Safety recall involving the electronic stability control (esc) area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or El
2008
Exterior lighting: Headlights:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 th
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 jetta, new beetle, new beetle convertible, model year 2009 jetta sportwagen and model year 2007-2009 rabbit vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The jetta, jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windsh
2007
Exterior lighting: Headlights:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 th
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 jetta, new beetle, new beetle convertible, model year 2009 jetta sportwagen and model year 2007-2009 rabbit vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The jetta, jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windsh
2006
Exterior lighting: Headlights:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 th
1985
Seat belts:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Front seat belt retractors may not properly lock during sudden heavy brake application or impact due to the interference of two positioning tabs. Consequence of defect: the seat belt would not retain the driver or passenger subjecting them to possible injury in case of an accident.
1984
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The throttle shaft of the carburetor may crack and eventually break at the threaded hole for the throttle plate connection due to excessive vibration of the throttle shaft. Consequence of defect: if the throttle shaft breaks, the throttle would not return to its idle position. This could result i
1983
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The throttle shaft of the carburetor may crack and eventually break at the threaded hole for the throttle plate connection due to excessive vibration of the throttle shaft. Consequence of defect: if the throttle shaft breaks, the throttle would not return to its idle position. This could result i
1982
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The throttle shaft of the carburetor may crack and eventually break at the threaded hole for the throttle plate connection due to excessive vibration of the throttle shaft. Consequence of defect: if the throttle shaft breaks, the throttle would not return to its idle position. This could result i
1981
Fuel system, gasoline: Filler pipe and cap:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On some vehicles, the pressure could increase inside the fuel tank from high surrounding temperatures when the fuel tank is more than half full.
Steering: Tie rod assembly:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The left and right outer tie rod ends of the steering system may have circumferential cracks due to an improper machine set-up in the manufacturing process.
Steering: Tie rod assembly:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: A lock nut which secures the tie rod to the inner ball joint of the steering system may not have been securely fastened on some of the involved vehicles during assembly. If this condition exists and the vehicle is driven along poor roads for an extended period of time, the tie rod could separate
1980
Vehicle speed control: Cables:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 deceler
Fuel system, gasoline: Filler pipe and cap:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On some vehicles, the pressure could increase inside the fuel tank from high surrounding temperatures when the fuel tank is more than half full.
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel injection system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1979
Electrical system: Relay:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 go
Vehicle speed control: Cables:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 deceler
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 cam
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel injection system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1978
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On the involved vehicles, the two rubber elbows, located at each end of the plastic pipe leading from the throttle valve body housing to the brake booster vacuum pump, may be damaged as a result of improper clamp installation.
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On the involved vehicles, the vacuum line connecting the carburetor and the thermo valve may have been improperly installed. This condition may prevent the throttle linkage plate from returning to its idle position.
Parking brake: Linkage and cable:
Safety recall involving the parking brake area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The rear axle brake cable bracket is attached to the outside of a flange bolt of the rear axle. This bracket was not correctly installed during assembly.
Electrical system: Relay:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 go
Vehicle speed control: Cables:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 deceler
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 cam
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel injection system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1977
Electrical system: Relay:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 go
Vehicle speed control: Cables:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 deceler
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 cam
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel injection system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1976
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "Hydraulic brake systems". The involved vehicles were inadvertently equipped with a brake fluid container cap on which the warning text was printed in german.
Vehicle speed control: Cables:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The accelerator cable assembly in the involved vehicles could fail prematurely under certain operating conditions. This would either prevent the accelerator pedal from returning to the idle position or cause a loss of adequate engine power.
Electrical system: Relay:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 go
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1975
Vehicle speed control: Cables:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The accelerator cable assembly in the involved vehicles could fail prematurely under certain operating conditions. This would either prevent the accelerator pedal from returning to the idle position or cause a loss of adequate engine power.
Steering: Gear box (other than rack and pinion):
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On the involved vehicles, the roller bearing inside the steering gear box could become dislocated. This could cause looseness and excessive play in the steering system.
Electrical system: Relay:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 go
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Other Volkswagen Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Volkswagen models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
