Model year record

1988 Volkswagen GTI

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. No owner complaints in our copy of the federal file.

Volkswagen GTI, 1985–1992 generation — Pictured: the 1985–1992 generation. IFCAR, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 92V050000

Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core

Component: Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected: 650,000
Reported to NHTSA: 1992-04-14
Owners notified: 1992-05-29

Defect description

THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

Safety risk

THE COOLANT ESCAPING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COULDCONTACT THE DRIVER'S FEET AND INJURE THE DRIVER. ALSO, STEAM FROM THE HEATEDLIQUID WILL CLOUD ON THE WINDOW SURFACES AND IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S VISION ANDCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE THE HEATER CORE WITH AN IMPROVED HEATER CORE.

Owner complaints

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

No complaints in our copy of the federal file for this model year. The daily feed covers recent filings; older history appears only after a full-history rebuild.

Other Volkswagen GTI model years

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 198919881987 1986 1985

All Volkswagen GTI recalls by year

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.