IllustrationTHE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELEARTED WHEN ONEDID NOT APPLY FORCE TO THE GAS PEDAL. *AK
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rabbit years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsTHE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN NO FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL. *AK
Official recalls
383V117000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Nov 9, 1983
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
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.
81V058000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
May 15, 1981
ON SOME VEHICLES, THE PRESSURE COULD INCREASE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK FROM HIGH SURROUNDING TEMPERATURES WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS MORE THAN HALF FULL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A RESTRICTOR VALVE INTO THE FUEL FILLER PIPE, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
81V012000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
Jan 28, 1981
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 DURING ACCELERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5DP86009 · Uncontrolled Acceleration
Opened May 7, 1986 · Closed Jun 19, 1986
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION
DP82008 · Throttle Sticking Case - C81-02
Opened Apr 26, 1982 · Closed Oct 29, 1982
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THROTTLE STICKING CASE - C81-02
DP82003 · Fuel Pump Circuit
Opened Jan 19, 1982 · Closed Mar 10, 1982
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT
DP82002 · Rear View Mirror
Opened Nov 17, 1981 · Closed Feb 2, 1982
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
REAR VIEW MIRROR
DP81012 · Fuel Pump
Opened Mar 3, 1981 · Closed Nov 2, 1981
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
FUEL PUMP