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.
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: 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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
3 reportsTHE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND HAD A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL. *NM *SC
THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE YARD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP82002 · Rear View Mirror
Opened Nov 17, 1981 · Closed Feb 2, 1982
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
REAR VIEW MIRROR