Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD:INNER
- 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 FROM THE STEERING ASSEMBLY.
- Remedy
- DEALER WILL CHECK THE LOCK NUT FOR ADEQUATE TIGHTNESS, CORRECTING WHERE NECESSARY.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD:END
- 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.
- Remedy
- THE TIE ROD ENDS WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:PIPE:FILLER:NECK
- 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.
- Remedy
- DEALER WILL INSTALL A RESTRICTOR VALVE INTO THE FUEL FILLER PIPE, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (1)
1 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seat belts is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 1 | 100% |
How 1981 compares with other Rabbit years
Best and worst Rabbit years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1 | 3 |
| 1982 | 5 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 13 | 1 |
| 2007 | 54 | 2 |
| 2008 | 23 | 2 |
| 2009 | 62 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1981 Rabbit for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit FAQ
How many recalls does the 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 82V016000 (steering), 81V106000 (steering), 81V058000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit problems?
Owners filed 1 complaints with NHTSA. Seat belts (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1981 Rabbit compare with other years?
Among the 1981–2009 Volkswagen Rabbit model years at least five years old, the 1981 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2009 the most (62). The 1981 drew 1. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.