Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1982 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 ↗FUEL:CARBURETOR:UNKNOWN TYPE:OTHER PART
- 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 IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
- 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.
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 (5)
5 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The fuel system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 3 | 60% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 20% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 20% |
How 1982 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 1982 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
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit FAQ
How many recalls does the 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 85V015000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit problems?
Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Fuel system (3), Electrical system (1), Unknown or other (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1982 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 1982 drew 5. 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.