IN THE EVENT OF A COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE COOLANT CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TO RISE TO A LEVEL WHERE A LEAK IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN OCCUR.
Safety risk
A LEAK OR FAILURE OF THE HEAT EXCHANGER LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD CAN ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF A PASSENGER. HOT COOLANT CAN ALSO STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BYPASS VALVE KIT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ROUTE EXCESSIVELY HOT COOLANT TO THE ENGINE WITHOUT FLOWING THROUGH THE HEAT EXCHANGER. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A PLASTIC COVER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ENSURE THAT THE PASSENGER IS NOT EXPOSED TO HOT COOLANT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAK.
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
2,000
Reported to NHTSA
1991-06-03
Owners notified
1991-07-05
Defect description
METAL FUEL LINES WITH AN INCORRECT CONTOUR WERE INSTALLED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE INCORRECT CONTOUR CAN CAUSE THE METAL FUEL LINE TO RUB AGAINST THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Safety risk
PROLONGED RUBBING OF THE FUEL LINE AGAINST THE INTAKEMANIFOLD COULD CAUSE A FUEL LINE LEAK, AND RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREIF THE LEAKING FUEL LINE IS EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Manufacturer remedy
REPLACE FUEL LINE WITH CORRECTLY CONTOURED FUEL LINE.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
1
—
The 1990 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. The 1992 model has about a fifth as many 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.