IllustrationCONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT 1982 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT BAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. *BF THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SUDDENLY WHILE IN MOTION ALONG WITH A STRONG FUEL SMELL. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 85V015000. *SC
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →5Owner complaints
Model-year median: 1
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 5 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 3 reports
- Electrical System: 1 reports
- Unknown Or Other: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rabbit years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 1 of 5 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reportsTHE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND HAD A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL. *NM *SC
CONSUMER HAD A 1982 VOLKSWAGEN . HE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR AN ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL WHICH WOULD OVERLOAD/OVERHEAT, AND MALFUNCTION. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY TO THE FUEL PUMP TO BE INTERRUPTED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER HAD A 1982 VOLKSWAGEN . HE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR AN ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL WHICH WOULD OVERLOAD/OVERHEAT, AND MALFUNCTION. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY TO THE FUEL PUMP TO BE INTERRUPTED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS RECALL. THEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ALSO SAID NO. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLS CONSTANTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP SHUTOFF PROBLEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE STALL WHEN DRIVEN. *TC
UNSPECIFIED.
THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE YARD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Recall campaigns
185V015000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:carburetor System
Feb 12, 1985
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 IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT PLATE IF THERE IS NO CRACK IN THE THROTTLE SHAFT. INSTALL A NEW CARBURETOR WITH REINFORCED THROTTLE SHAFT IF A HAIRLINE CRACK HAS DEVELOPED IN THE SHAFT.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
1DP82002 · Rear View Mirror
Opened Nov 17, 1981 · Closed Feb 2, 1982
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
REAR VIEW MIRROR
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.