Known Recalls

Model year record

1988 Volkswagen Jetta

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 23 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 93V129000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
76,000
Reported to NHTSA
1993-08-02
Owners notified
1993-09-24

Defect description

AN ENGINE PREHEATING TUBE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED DUE TO A MISSING SUPPORT BRACKET, CAUSING THE PREHEATING TUBE TO CHAFE AGAINST THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE. THIS CAN DAMAGE THE HYDRAULIC LINE, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT.

Safety risk

DIMINISHED BRAKING CAN RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PREHEATING TUBE SUPPORT BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER POSITIONING RELATIVE TO THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE.

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.

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 89V221000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
8,000
Reported to NHTSA
1989-12-08
Owners notified
1990-04-30

Safety risk

PROLONGED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A LEAKING BRAKELINE RESULTING IN DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT WHICH WOULD INCREASETHE STOPPING DISTANCES AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

CURVE OR REPLACE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V144000

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
1,700
Reported to NHTSA
1988-08-29
Owners notified
1988-08-24

Defect description

BRAKE BOOSTERS HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED WITH THE TWO HALVES OF THE BOOSTER UNIT INSUFFICIENTLY CONNECTED.

Safety risk

BRAKE BOOSTER HALVES COULD SEPARATE UNDER HEAVY BRAKEAPPLICATION AND BRAKING POWER WOULD SUDDENLY DIMINISH WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE BRAKE BOOSTERS AS NECESSARY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V182000

Seat belts

Component
Seat belts
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
784
Reported to NHTSA
1987-12-01
Owners notified
1988-04-14

Defect description

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR PAWL MAY NOT MEET HARDENING SPECIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN VOLKSWAGENS DESIGN STANDARD.

Safety risk

VEHICLES DO NOT MEET VOLKSWAGENS DESIGN STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE FRONT PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY AS NECESSARY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V175000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
1,900
Reported to NHTSA
1987-11-16
Owners notified
1988-05-16

Defect description

CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY NOT BE MARKED WITH LETTERS RES TO IDENTIFY THE RESUME FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 101.

Safety risk

VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 101.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE PART OF CRUISE SWITCH PORTION.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Structure: body: door3—
Vehicle speed control3—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core3—
Seat belts: front2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components2—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1—
Exterior lighting: headlights1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail1—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1—
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock1—
Seat belts: front: webbing1—
Seat belts: rear/other1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1—
Tires: sidewall1—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1—

The 1987 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. 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.