Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Rabbit Pickup.
The 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup, a compact truck that entered the U.S. market as part of Volkswagen’s early utility lineup, is documented here. It recorded a single owner complaint, the primary issue being seat belts, and was subject to four recall actions. Within the model’s early reliability history, this year stands out for its low complaint volume, suggesting a relatively stable introduction.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 155.5 in |
| Overall width | 63.4 in |
| Overall height | 55.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 94.5 in |
| Curb weight | 1916 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Rabbit Pickup of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Rabbit LS 3-door Hatchback 1.7L I-4 | 11.60 sec | 18.30 sec | 74 hp | FWD |
| 1981 | Rabbit 5-door Hatchback 1.7L I-4 | 12.60 sec | 18.70 sec | 74 hp | FWD |
| 1980 | Rabbit 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4 | 12.10 sec | 18.90 sec | 76 hp | FWD |
| 1980 | Rabbit L Convertible 1.6L I-4 | 12.80 sec | 18.80 sec | 76 hp | FWD |
| 1980 | Rabbit Diesel Deluxe 5-door Hatchback 1.5L Diesel I-4 | 22.90 sec | 22.40 sec | 48 hp | FWD |
| 1982 | Rabbit S 3-door Hatchback 1.7L I-4 | 11.65 sec | 18.16 sec | 74 hp | FWD |
| 1983 | Rabbit GTI 3-door Hatchback 1.8L I-4 | 9.70 sec | 17.10 sec | 90 hp | FWD |
| 1983 | Rabbit GTI 3-door Hatchback 1.8L I-4 | 9.70 sec | 17.20 sec | 90 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup dominate in one area — the seat belts, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 4 recall campaigns target the seat belts, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the seat belts pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES, P/N 171.611.107B, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1975-1985 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) RABBIT; 1985-1992 VW GOLF; AND 1980-1992 VW JETTA PASSENGER VEHICLES. POSSIBLE BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD OCCUR… Remedy: FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE BRAKE HOSES WITH COMPLIANT BRAKE HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREIGN PARTS…
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… Remedy: DEALER WILL CHECK THE LOCK NUT FOR ADEQUATE TIGHTNESS, CORRECTING WHERE NECESSARY.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.