Model year record

1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 11 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 92V058000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
358,000
Reported to NHTSA
1992-04-14
Owners notified
1992-05-22

Defect description

THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

Recall campaignNHTSA 91V215000

Air bags

Component
Air bags
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
8,500
Reported to NHTSA
1991-12-13
Owners notified
1992-05-22

Defect description

THE AIRBAG HARNESS WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE DASHBOARD CROSSMEMBER AND COULD BE PINCHED AND CHAFED BETWEEN TWO PANELS EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE WIRE.

Safety risk

IF THE AIRBAG HARNESS WIRE IS DAMAGED, THE PASSIVERESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT WILLILLUMINATE, BUT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL NOT FUNCTION UNTIL THE WIRE ISREPAIRED.

Manufacturer remedy

SECURE WIRE TO THE CROSSMEMBER WITH A CLIP.

Recall campaignNHTSA 91V201000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
51,000
Reported to NHTSA
1991-11-18
Owners notified
1991-12-13

Defect description

A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.

Safety risk

FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULDCATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Manufacturer remedy

CHECK VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A FUEL TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE FUEL TANK IF DEFECT IS FOUND.

Recall campaignNHTSA 91V162000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
11,300
Reported to NHTSA
1991-09-11
Owners notified
1992-01-09

Defect description

THE CENTER OF THE WATER SEPARATOR PANEL LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN ENGINE AND FIREWALL COULD BEND IN THE EVENT SOMEONE LEANS ON IT DURING ENGINE MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS OR CHECKING OF FLUID LEVELS. A BENT PANEL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE FREE MOVEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE.

Safety risk

INTERFERENCE WITH THE FREE MOVEMENT OF THE ACCELERATORLINKAGE COULD RESULT IN UNWANTED ACCELERATION WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL REINFORCEMENT BRACKET TO SECURE SEPARATOR PANEL.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags4
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly3
Air bags: frontal2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1

The 1989 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.