Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Volkswagen FOX
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
531.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
212.5%
Electrical System
212.5%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Transmission & Drivetrain
212.5%
Engine & Cooling
212.5%
Other & Unspecified
16.3%
Seat Belts
16.3%
Body & Structure
16.3%
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.
Mar 1995peak 2Mar 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 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 1990 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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Dale, VAFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
OWNER STATES WHILE IN THE GAS STATION HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, OWNER NOTES THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HE BELIVES IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #809611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedar Park, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DRIVING THE VEHICLE SAW UNDER THE DASH SMOKE, APPARENT ELECTRICAL SHORT, WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE, VEHICLE COMPLETE BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #986967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Hamilton, NJ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WIRES THAT CONTROL CAR BURNED OUT ON HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE SHOOK AND KEPT CUTTING OFF. FUEL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING FUEL THROUGH OUT CAR.
NHTSA complaint #884564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRES THAT CONTROL CAR BURNED OUT ON HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE SHOOK AND KEPT CUTTING OFF. FUEL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING FUEL THROUGH OUT CAR.
NHTSA complaint #884564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eureka, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
LEFT TURN ONLY AND HARD ACCELERATION ENGINE WILL FALTER LIKE STARVED FOR FUEL. WILL OCCUR WITH FULL OR EMPTY FUEL TANK. REPLACED FUEL PUMP TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #724907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Helena, MT
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RECALL LOCATION.
NHTSA complaint #536628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairhaven, MA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
FUEL FILLER FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #535490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manteca, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
OWNER TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN THIRD GEAR AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF.
NHTSA complaint #812885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dale, VAFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
OWNER STATES WHILE IN THE GAS STATION HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, OWNER NOTES THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HE BELIVES IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #809611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mililani, HI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RECALL NO- 95V105000, THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #804537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING A LEAK. PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #802190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedar Park, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DRIVING THE VEHICLE SAW UNDER THE DASH SMOKE, APPARENT ELECTRICAL SHORT, WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE, VEHICLE COMPLETE BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #986967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marlboro, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING HIT WINDSHIELD TWICE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #982144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.