Volswagen – All Models

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

February 2001

Dear Volkswagen Owner:

Thank you for contacting the Center for Auto Safety (CAS)
about your VW. CAS has received numerous complaints from consumers on
stalling, premature brake wear, engine
and transmission failures, defective
heater cores, and unintended acceleration.

Through the 1993 model year, door-mounted shoulder belts
or motorized belts were installed in all VW models except the Cabriolet,
which had an airbag. For several years, the door-mounted restraint lacked
a lap belt, allowing occupants to “submarine” in a crash. Moreover, footwell
intrusion during the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 40
mph frontal offset crash test contributed to the marginal performance
of the 1994-98 Golf/Jetta. In contrast, front and side airbags, safety
belt tensioners, and belt force limiters enabled both the 1998 Passat
and the 1998 Beetle to perform well in the offset test making them an
IIHS “Best Pick” when compared to other vehicles of similar weight and
size.

Aside from occupant safety, VW bumpers have been among the
industry’s weakest, resulting in extensive damage in minor accidents.
In 1992, responding to CAS efforts, VW recalled 650,000 Golfs and Jettas
for leaking heater cores that sprayed occupants with
scalding engine coolant. Several years later, 164,000 1987-93 Foxes and
8,100 1988-90 Corrados and Passats were also recalled for leaking heater
cores. Hot coolant leaks also led to the recall of 6,217 1992-94 Corrados
in 1998.

VWs have been plagued with fire and stalling
problems. VW recalled nearly 531,000 vehicles since the mid-1980s
for fuel fed fires and more than 323,00 vehicles for
stalling, primarily due to faulty fuel pumps and systems. The 1998 Beetle
got off to a bad start when a faulty fuel pump, which causes
wiring fires in the engine compartment and/or
stalling
, forced VW to recall all 8,500 1998 Beetles. In 1999
Golfs and Jettas, the small gas generation device used to tighten seat
belts in a crash can ignite a mat in the door pillar.

You’ll find more information on these and other VW problems
and what you can do about about them plus a
complaint box. Your information will help
us build a strong case against Honda on the defects we know about and
help us spot new ones.

We need you to support the Center for Auto Safety in our
fight for consumer rights and against poorly designed and unsafe cars.
Your contribution is tax-deductible
and entitles your to our quarterly newsletter, Lemon Times.
Please submit the membership form along with
your contribution and complaint. If you contribute $35 or more, we will send you the current edition of The Ultimate Car Book, by Jack Gillis.

Sincerely,

Clarence M. Ditlow
Executive Director

VOLKSWAGEN FACT SHEET
Cabrio Corrado Cabriolet Eurovan Fox Golf Golf III Golf GTI Jetta
Jetta III Passat
Volkswagen technical service bulletin (TSB) numbers are in parentheses.

A/C &
Heater:
Poor cooling 1993-94 Corrado, 1993-95 Golf III,
Jetta III, Passat, 1995 Cabriolet (87-94-02); Noisy expansion valve 1993-94
Corrado (87-95-02), 1993 Passat (87-95-01), 1994 Corrado, Passat (87-93-06);
Poor air distribution 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III (85-94-01); Side windows
fog w/heater on 1992-95 Passat (80-93-02); A/C musty odor All to ’01 (87-99-01).

Electrical/Instruments:
Bad turn signal &/or headlight dimmer/flasher switch 1992-93 Corrado,
Passat (94-93-02); Fuel/coolant gauge malfunction 1992-93 Corrado, Passat
(90-93-09); Alarm system malfunction 1992-93 Corrado, Passat (90-93-07);
Incorrect fuel level indication 1992 Passat (90-93-01); Intermittent electrical
problems 1992-93 Corrado, Passat, 1993 Cabriolet, Golf III, Jetta III
(ATRATB132).

Engine/Driveablity:
Drifts/pulls 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Cabriolet, Fox, 1992-94
Corrado, 1993 Eurovan, 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III, 1992-96 Passat, 1995
Eurovan, 1995-96 Cabrio, 1996 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta (44-95-02, 44-94-01);
Front end knock 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III (40-95-01, 40-94-01); Sulfur
odor 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Cabriolet, Fox, 1992-94 Corrado,
1992-95 Passat, 1993 Eurovan, 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III, 1995 Cabrio,
E (26-94-01); Oxygen sensor fails 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93
Corrado, Cabriolet, Fox, Passat, 1993 Eurovan (26-93-02); Pulsating/clicking
from engine &/or right front 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III (24-94-04);
Poor driveability 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Cabriolet, Fox,
1992-94 Corrado, Passat, 1993-94 Golf III, Jetta III (24-94-01); Engine
runs rich 1992-93 Cabriolet (24-93-10); Intermittent lack of power 1992
Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Cabriolet, Fox (24-93-07); Idle speed hunts
when cold 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Cabriolet, Fox, 1992-94
Corrado, 1992-94 Passat, 1993-94 Golf III, Jetta III (24-93-06); Poor
fuel system performance 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Cabriolet,
Fox, 1992-94 Corrado, 1992-95 Passat, 1993 Eurovan, 1993-95 Golf III,
Jetta III, 1995 Cabrio, E (20-94-02); Coolant pump leaks 1992 Golf, Golf
GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Corrado, Cabriolet, Fox, Passat, 1993 E (19-93-01);
Coolant leaks &/or droning noise 1992-93 Passat (19-91-01); No start
1992-94 Corrado, 1992-95 Passat (01-97-07), 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III,
1995 Cabrio (01-97-06); Misfire 1998-99 Passat w/1.8L Turbo & 2.8L
(01-99-07 & 01-99-08); Turbo failure 1998-99 Passat w/1.8L (21-99-01).

Transmission:
ATF leaks 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III, 1995-96 Cabrio, 1996-97 Golf, Golf
GTI, Jetta, Passat (39-97-01); Won’t go forward in any gear 1995 Golf
III, Jetta III, 1995-96 Passat, 1996 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta (38-97-01);
Will not move in Drive 1992-93 Corrado, Passat, 1993 Eurovan w/AG4 (096
or 098) A/T (38-93-02); Will not shift into Reverse 1992 Golf, Golf GTI,
Jetta, 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III, 1995-96 Cabrio, 1996-97 Golf, Golf
GTI, Jetta (34-97-04); Pops out of gear 1996-97 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta,
1997 Passat (34-97-03); Shifter hard to move 1996-97 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta,
Passat (34-97-02); Shift lever vibration/knock 1992-99 Golf, Jetta, 1993-99
Golf III, Jetta III, 1992-97 Passat, Golf, Jetta, 1997 Golf GTI (34-97-01,
34-99-01), 1998-99 Beetle, 1999 Golf, Jetta (34-99-02), 2000 Beetle, Golf,
Jetta (34-99-04); Shifting difficulties 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, Passat,
1992-93 Cabriolet, 1993 Eurovan, 1992-94 Corrado, 1994 Passat (30-93-04),
1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III (30-93-03), 1998-99 Beetle (37-99-01), 1998-99
Passat (37-99-02); Clutch pedal noise 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III (30-93-02);
Clutch pedal vibration 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III (30-93-01); Front bushing
wear All models w/A/T (ATRATB8754); ATF in differential 1992 Golf, Golf
GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Fox, 1993 Cabriolet, Eurovan, Golf III, Jetta III
(ATRATB255); Bind in Low & Reverse 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93
Fox, 1993 Eurovan, Golf III, Jetta III (ATRATB131).

W/S Wipers:
Chatter/poor cleaning/streaking 1992-93Passat, 1993-94 Golf III, Jetta
III (P9376004); Blades skip 1992 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, 1992-93 Cabriolet,
Fox, 1993 Eurovan, 1992-94 Corrado, 1992-95 Passat, 1993-95 Golf III,
Jetta III, 1995 Cabrio, Eurovan, 1996 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta (92-95-02);
Intermittent operation 1992-93 Corrado, Cabriolet, Passat, 1993 Eurovan
(92-92-02).

Other:
Noisy DRL relay 1993-95 Jetta III (97-93-01); Exterior door lock freezes
1994-95 Golf III, Jetta III, 1995-96 Cabrio, 1996 Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta
(57-97-01); A-pillar wind noise &/or water leak 1995 Cabrio (57-95-03),
1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III (57-95-07); Trunk lid contacts tail light
lenses 1993-94 Jetta III (55-94-01); Hood release inoperative 1993-95
Golf III, Jetta III (55-93-03); P/S pressure line vibration/noise 1993-94
Golf III, 1993 Jetta III (48-93-03); ABS warning light stays on 1993 Eurovan,
1993-94 Corrado, Passat (45-93-01); Cracking noise from brakes 1993-94
Golf III, Jetta III (40-93-01); Sunroof noise/vibration 1993-95 Golf III,
Jetta III (60-94-05); Sunroof popping noise 1993-95 Golf III, Jetta III
(60-94-03), 1995 Passat (60-94-04); Sunroof water leaks 1993-95 Golf III,
Jetta III (60-94-01); Instrument panel wind noise 1998-99 Beetle (50-99-01);
Trunk lid hard to open/close 1998-00 Beetle (55-99-01) Poor AM reception
1999-00 Beetle, Golf, Jetta, Passat (91-99-11) .

MAJOR SAFETY RECALLS
Copies of recalls may be obtained from NHTSA’s Technical Information
Services, 202-366-2768.

Brakes:
575 1985 Golf – Reduced effectiveness (84V-137); 1,700 1988 Jetta – Booster
splits (88V-144); 8,000 1987-89 Jetta – Lines chafe (89V-221); 11,000
1990 Golf, Jetta – Front brakes lack cooling ducts (90V-142); 465 1991
Jetta – Front hoses crack (90V-173); 76,000 1988-91 Golf, Jetta – Lines
leak (93V-129); 24,000 1993 Eurovan – Emergency brake releases (93V-138);
153,000 1993-95 Jetta, Golf, Golf GTI – Rear line chafes & leaks (98V-160);
20,000+ 1998-99 Passat – Insufficient booster vacuum (99V-131.001).

Engine/Driveability:
12,000+ 1985-86 Quantum – Idle stabilizer (87V-069); Heater core ruptures
650,000 1985-90 Golf GT, Jetta (92V-050), 164,000 1987-93 Fox (95V-105)
& 8,100 1988-90 Passat, 1989-90 Corrado (96V-115); 6,217 1992-94 Corrado
– Coolant leak into passenger compartment (98V-195)

Fires:
100,000+ 1985-86 Golf, Golf GTI & 1986 Vanagon, Syncro – Post collision
fuel leaks (86V-029, 86V-149 & 87V-051); 12,000 1986-87 Vanagon, Vanagon
Camper – Fuel filter leak (88V-038); 2,000 1991 Fox – Metal fuel lines
leak (91V-087); 9,500 1985 Jetta – Brake line clip melts (84V-144); 51,000
1987-90 Cabriolet & 1987-88 Scirocco – Fuel tank leaks (91V-201);
Engine compartment fuel leak: 18,000 1990-92 Cabriolet – (92V-058) &
340,000 1989-92 Corrado, 1990-92 Fox, 1988-92 Golf, Jetta & 1985-91
Vanagon (92V-058-001); 7,500 1987-89 Cabriolet – Rear fuel tank cracks
(94V-065); 201 1997 Eurovan – Punctured fuel tank vapor canister (97V-016.001);
8,500 1998 Beetle – Engine compartment wiring fire &/or stalling (98V-100);
36,258 1999 Golf, Jetta – Mat on B-pillar ignites from seat belt pre-tensioner
gas (99V-022); 11,400 1993 Eurovan – Fuel hose connection leak (00V-039).

Stalling:
4,000 1985 Scirocco – Fuel hose disconnects (84V-152); 15,500 1986-87
Vanagon, Vanagon Camper, Syncro – Restricted fuel flow (87V-052); 278,520
1985-87 Golf, Jetta, Scirocco, Cabriolet – Fuel pump seizes (87V-053);
8,500 1990-91 Corrado – 4,300 1992-93 Corrado w/VR6 engine – Wiring harness
(93V-102); 34,000 1993-95 Corrado, Golf, Jetta, Passat w/VR6 engine –
Radiator fan seizes (95V-178); 8,500 1990-91 Corrado – Improperly seated
fuel pump (91V-068).

Steering/Suspension:
10,000 1987 Golf, Golf GTI – Alloy wheels come off (87V-063); 138 1987
Fox – Rear wheel contacts body (87V-162); 130 1987-88 Vanagon Camper –
Tire loses air (88V-076); 104,000 1987-89 Fox – Steering wheel comes off
(88V-187); 225 1990 Jetta – Power assist loss (90V-007); 890 1991 Cabriolet
– Front wheel misalignment (92V-064); 1,200 1993 Passat – Axle separates
from strut (93V-118); 8,350 1993 Eurovan – Inoperative steering system
(94V-058); 25,000+ 1998-99 Passat – Tie rod seals fail (99V-248).

Unintended
Acceleration:
300 1987 Vanagon, 1988 Vanagon Camper, 1989
Syncro – Throttle cable/cruise control sticks (89V-067); 550 1991 Jetta
– Cruise control sticks (91V-064); 11,300 1990-91 Cabriolet – Throttle
interference (91V-162); 12,650 1990-92 Passat w/16v engine – Throttle
sticks (92V-131); 5.000+ 1998 Passat – Throttle plate sticks (98V-134).

Other:
21,000 1985 Golf GTI – Front seat belt inoperative (85V-031); 18,328 1985
Vanagon Camper – Passenger door latch fails (85V-152); 2,397 1987 Vanagon
Wolfsburg – Rear seat mounts fail (87V-083); 1,600 1987 Vanagon – Shift
lock inoperative (87V-085); 784 1988 Golf, Jetta – Seat belt inoperative
(87V-182); 8,500 1990 Cabriolet – Airbags inoperative, (91V-215); 29,500
1990-91 Vanagon – A/C housing falls (93V-175); Jack collapses: 600 1988
Vanagon (88V-056) & 104,000 1993-95 Golf, Jetta (95V-054); 238,000
1993-96 Jetta, Golf, Golf GTI – Hood flies up (98V-160); 67,076 1999 Jetta
– Interior padding insufficient to prevent head injury (99V-251).