Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 Volkswagen FOX
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
541.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
216.7%
Electrical System
216.7%
Other & Unspecified
18.3%
Doors, Latches & Locks
18.3%
Seat Belts
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 4Nov 1999
NHTSA investigations into the 1989 Volkswagen FOX
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA91054Opened 9 Dec 1991Closed 12 Jun 1992VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER CORE FAILURE
Recalls on the 1989 Volkswagen FOX
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199509436,785 units in Canada
Heater And Defroster
DEFECT: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AFTER A COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENT HAS FAILED, THE COOLANT COULD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE COOLING SYSTEM'S PRESSURE TO RISE TO A LEVEL WHERE A LEAK IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER COULD OCCUR. THIS COULD ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF A PASSENGER OR STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CORRECTION: A BYPASS VALVE KIT AND A PLASTIC COVER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL BE INSTALLED.
Recall 199114835,720 units in Canada
Structure
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MECHANISM MAY CORRODE AND SEIZE DUE TO IMPROPER LUBRICATION. IF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WAS NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED AND THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH WAS ALSO NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION RESULTING IN IMPAIRED DRIVER VISION AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED BY MAIL OF CORRECT MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES FOR THE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM.
Recall 198816129,784 units in Canada
Steering
THE STEERING WHEEL ON THESE VEHICLES MAY LOOSEN ON THE STEERING SHAFT. WHEN A STEERING WHEEL IS REMOVED AFTER ASSEMBLY AND REINSTALLED, GREASE OR OIL MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY APPLIED TO THE CONE-SHAPED FRICTION SURFACE OF THE STEERING SHAFT. GREASE OF OIL ON THIS SURFACE MAY BREAK THE FRICTION LOCK IF AFTER REWORK THE TORQUE APPLIED TO THE NUT IS LOWER THAN SPECIFIED. A LOOSE STEERING WHEEL COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: FRICTION SURFACES WILL BE CLEANED, A SPRING RETAINER WILL BE INSTALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL NUT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SELF LOCKING NUT. VIN RANGE: 9BW*A030*HP000001 TO KP009988
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Parma HTS, OHCrash
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER SYSTEM FELL APART/HUNG UP ON REAR TIRE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #488977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Miami, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING WOULD LOSE POWER. COMPUTER SYSTEM WENT CRAZY, OIL LIGHT/BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WOULD BE OKAY. THEN IT WOULD START ACTING UP AGAIN. DEALER SAID CAR NEEDED HEATING VALVES.
NHTSA complaint #853129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING WOULD LOSE POWER. COMPUTER SYSTEM WENT CRAZY, OIL LIGHT/BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WOULD BE OKAY. THEN IT WOULD START ACTING UP AGAIN. DEALER SAID CAR NEEDED HEATING VALVES.
NHTSA complaint #853129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING WOULD LOSE POWER. COMPUTER SYSTEM WENT CRAZY, OIL LIGHT/BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WOULD BE OKAY. THEN IT WOULD START ACTING UP AGAIN. DEALER SAID CAR NEEDED HEATING VALVES.
NHTSA complaint #853129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING WOULD LOSE POWER. COMPUTER SYSTEM WENT CRAZY, OIL LIGHT/BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WOULD BE OKAY. THEN IT WOULD START ACTING UP AGAIN. DEALER SAID CAR NEEDED HEATING VALVES.
NHTSA complaint #853129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mclean, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
DEFECTIVE COOLING SYSTEM--RECALL. WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #510264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP EARLIER THIS YEAR BECUASE THE ECU HAD FIALED. DEALERSHIP ALSO TOLD ME THAT MY HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE A CLOUDY SUBSTANCE WAS ENTERING THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS ALONG WITH A PECULIAR ODOR. THE CAR RUNS EXTREMELY HOT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF COOLANT. THE INSIDE OF MY DASHBOARD IS EXTREMELY HOT. A FRIEND TOLD ME THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN VW'S. A VW REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL GIVEN MY VIN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A "SECRET WARRANTY" FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #710797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN WORK DONE UNSATISFACTORY, STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #810311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
H A BOYDE AND LANCASTER AUTO HOUSE VOLSKWAGEN 95V105. UNFORTUNATELY REPAIR FOR RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, DRIVER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #802666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.