Volkswagen Rabbit Recalls

The Volkswagen Rabbit has 12 recalls spanning the 1975–2009 production run, with the most serious recent issue being a 2009 anti-lock brake system control unit that can fail during ABS or electronic stability control activation, causing loss of vehicle control.

The 2006 model year has a fuel supply line that can be chafed by a plastic tab on the windshield washer fluid reservoir, leading to a fuel leak that can ignite and cause a fire under the hood. The 2008 model year has a headlight aiming cap that may be missing or incorrectly installed, preventing proper horizontal or vertical aim adjustment and reducing road illumination at night.

Going back to the early production years, the 1981 model has two separate steering concerns: tie rod lock nuts that may not have been properly tightened can allow a tie rod to separate from the steering assembly on rough roads, and outer tie rod ends with circumferential cracks can loosen and separate under similar conditions, both resulting in loss of steering control. There is also a 1981 emissions compliance issue involving an inoperative exhaust gas recirculation valve. The 1980 model has a fuel filler cap that can release pressurized fuel when opened quickly on a hot day with a more than half-full tank.

On 1978 models, rubber connections in the vacuum line between the throttle body and the brake booster pump can be damaged, causing the engine to stall and reducing brake booster assist so the pedal requires more force and stopping distances increase. The 1975 model year has a steering bearing that can shift and create excessive play at full steering lock, an automatic transmission concern, and a fire risk if the starting and warm-up procedure is not followed on vehicles without catalytic converters. The 1976 model received a heat shield installation to prevent damage from extended cold-weather idling at high engine speeds.