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1989 problems

FaultScore report

1989 Volkswagen Golf problems

Owners have filed 41 complaints about the 1989 Volkswagen Golf with NHTSA between 1995 and 2004. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Volkswagen Golf

—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

How 1989 compares with every other Volkswagen Golf

Click any bar to open that year's report.

15 20 4 9 41 10 11 6 11 57 84 4 7 28 76 118 152 98 32 33 27 16 2 1 5 97 151 68 67 14 185 115 145 38 88 8 12 132 22

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

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 Golf

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 9 22.0%

Seat Belts 6 14.6%

Brakes 6 14.6%

Transmission & Drivetrain 6 14.6%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 5 12.2%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 65,000 mi

Electrical System 4 9.8%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 4.9%

Equipment & Accessories 1 2.4%

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 2.4%

Tires 1 2.4%

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Engine 5 23.8%

Heater Core 4 19.0%

Front 2 9.5%

Constant Velocity Joint 2 9.5%

Webbing 2 9.5%

Foundation Components 2 9.5%

Anchorage 2 9.5%

Automatic Transmission 2 9.5%

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.

Jun 1995 peak 14 May 2004

NHTSA investigations into the 1989 Volkswagen Golf

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.

EA91054 Opened 9 Dec 1991 Closed 12 Jun 1992 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Recalls on the 1989 Volkswagen Golf

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.

United States — NHTSA

06E018000 1 Mar 2006

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CERTAIN HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES, P/N 171.611.107B, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1975-1985 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) RABBIT; 1985-1992 VW GOLF; AND 1980-1992 VW JETTA PASSENGER VEHICLES. POSSIBLE BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD OCCUR WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES."

Risk: BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

93V129000 2 Aug 1993

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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.

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

92V058000 14 Apr 1992

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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.

Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

92V050000 14 Apr 1992

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

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.

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.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1997038 18 Feb 1997 66,404 units in Canada

Engine

NOTE: GASOLINE POWERED FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES. DURING WINTER PERIODS OF LOW TEMPERATURE WITH HIGH HUMIDITY, THE AIR PRE-HEATING SYSTEM MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THROTTLE ICING DURING LONG DISTANCE DRIVING DUE TO PRE-HEATER VACUUM SWITCH CONTAMINATION. THIS COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. CORRECTION: A DE-ICING KIT WILL BE INSTALLED IN AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Recall 1993132 22 Sep 1993 64,265 units in Canada

Fuel System

FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AT THE FUEL HOSE TO FUEL RAIL CONNECTION. ESCAPING FUEL COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: FUEL HOSE WHICH ATTACHES TO THE FUEL RAIL WILL BE REPLACED AND NEW SPRING TYPE HOSE CLAMPS WILL BE INSTALLED.

Recall 1993131 22 Sep 1993 14,486 units in Canada

Brakes

VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A PREHEATING TUBE SUPPORT BRACKET. AN UNSUPPORTED PREHEATING TUBE CAN COME INTO CONTACT AND CHAFE AGAINST THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND A PREHEATING TUBE SUPPORT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED IF NECESSARY.

Recall 1992149 23 Nov 1992 300,000 units in Canada

Structure

CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT MAY PREVENT THE HOOD LATCH AND THE SAFETY CATCH FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION RESULTING IN OBSCURED DRIVER VISION AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE ADVISED BY MAIL REGARDING THE NECESSITY FOR PERIODIC LUBRICATION OF THE ENGINE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM. DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE HOOD MECHANISM WHENEVER AN AFFECTED VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED.

Recall 1992057 11 May 1992 145,236 units in Canada

Heater And Defroster

IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE WALL OF THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, SOME OF THE COOLANT COULD CONTACT THE DRIVER'S FEET, CAUSING INJURY AND STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. CORRECTION: HEAT EXCHANGER WILL BE REPLACED.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 18 Sep 2000 Hollywood, CA Crash 1 injured

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

HEATER CORE EXPLODED THROUGH FLOOR OF CAR ON INTERSTATE 5, SENDING BOILING HOT WATER ONTO DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT, SEVERELY BURNING FOOT AND FILLING CAR WITH DIRTY STEAM AND REDUCING VISION TO ZERO, CAUSING COLLISION WITH FREEWAY BARRIER WALL

NHTSA complaint #730052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Sep 2000 Hollywood, CA Crash 1 injured

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

NHTSA complaint #730052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Jul 2000 Grants PAS, OR 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER RESTRAINT FAILED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S INJURY ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA complaint #552581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Sep 1995 Worcesters, 00 1 injured

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HEATER CORE BURST, CAUSING BOILING/HOT WATER TO SPILL ON DRIVER'S LEGS, RESULTING IN AN INJURY, PRIOR TO RECALL (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). (92V-005).

NHTSA complaint #485100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 19 May 2004 at 65,000 miles Hamilton, NJ

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

HEATER CORE IS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE FLOOR BOARDS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY RESULT IN VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10073901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 May 2002 Oberlin, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF HER BELT RESTRAINTS. THEY ONLY CONSIST OF SHOULDER BELTS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE ANY RESTRAINT, NO LAP BELTS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE LOCAL VW DEALER SHIP TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA complaint #785943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 26 Apr 2002 Oberlin, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

NHTSA complaint #785943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jun 2001 Schenectady, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THE 1989 VW GOLF. IT ONLY CAME WITH A SHOULDER-TYPE SEATBELT (NO LAPBELTS) FOR THE FRONT SEATS. I RECENTLY BROUGHT MY CAR IN THE THE GARAGE FOR THE YEARLY INSPECTION AND THE MAN SAID HE COULD NOT INSPECT THE CAR BECAUSE IT HAD NO LAP BELTS. MY QUESTION IS: DID VW FORGET TO INSTALL LAP BELTS IN MY CAR, OR IS MY CAR "OK" AS IS. IF CAR IS "OK" THEN CAN YOU SEND ME DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW MY MECHANIC THAT MY VW DID NOT REQUIRE LAPBELTS. THANK-YOU.

NHTSA complaint #747047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Jan 2001 South Berwick, ME

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 20 DEGREES OR COLDER THROTTLE IS STICKING, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING CLUTCH, ENGINE REEVES UP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA complaint #878340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 26 Sep 2000 Bellevue, WA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CONSUMER PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE WHICH HAD AN UNSAFE INCOMPLETE SEAT BELT (THE LAP BELT WAS MISSING), THE SALESMAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A LAP BELT BUT AFTER ASKING VW DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MADE WITHOUT A LAP BELT. NLM

NHTSA complaint #554342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Sep 2000 Hollywood, CA Crash 1 injured

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

NHTSA complaint #730052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Sep 2000 Hollywood, CA Crash 1 injured

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

NHTSA complaint #730052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jul 2000 Asheville, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

PEDALS FRAME WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED TO BODY FRAME CAUSING FRAME TO TWIST WHEN BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED LEADING TO THE BREAKING OF THE FRAME.

NHTSA complaint #725285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jul 2000 Asheville, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

PEDALS FRAME WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED TO BODY FRAME CAUSING FRAME TO TWIST WHEN BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED LEADING TO THE BREAKING OF THE FRAME.

NHTSA complaint #725285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Jul 2000 Grants PAS, OR 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER RESTRAINT FAILED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S INJURY ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA complaint #552581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Feb 1999 Sanborn, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DEFECT REPORTED TO OWNER AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. INSPECTION INDICATED THAT COOLANT LOSS WAS CAUSED BY A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK THAT HAD RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE BLOCK, INDICATING THAT THE BLOCK HAD BEEN CAST POORLY OR IMPROPERLY. VW CONTACTED AND FAILED TO SUGGEST A RESOLUTION SINCE CAR IS BEYOND PERIOD COVERED BY WARRANTY. CAR HAS HAD ONE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAS ONLY 56,OOO ORIGINAL MILES.

NHTSA complaint #703102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Sep 1997 North Port, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

RADIATOR FAILED.