Owners have filed 18 complaints
about the 1985 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA between 1995 and 2002.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1985 Volkswagen Jetta
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
527.8%
Seat Belts
316.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Brakes
316.7%
Engine & Cooling
211.1%
Seats
15.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
15.6%
Suspension
15.6%
Body & Structure
15.6%
Electrical System
15.6%
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.
Jan 1995peak 4Jun 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1985 Volkswagen Jetta
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
PE91114Opened 26 Aug 1991Closed 9 Dec 1991VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER CORE FAILURE
PE91031Opened 14 Jan 1991Closed 29 Apr 1991ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE
Recalls on the 1985 Volkswagen Jetta
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 1992149300,000 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 1992057145,236 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.
Recall 198704442,570 units in Canada
Fuel System
The fuel pump located inside the fuel tank could seize during high ambient temperatures because of an extreme fine mesh fuel filter restricting the fuel flow. This could cause the vehicle to stall posing a threat to traffic safety. Correction: A modified fuel pump and filter will be installed.
Recall 198702025,706 units in Canada
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. - INOPERATIVE EGR VALVE -
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Pasadena, CA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT CAUSED SEPARATION OF STERNUM AND NERVE DAMAGE TO LEG DURING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #481519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SEAT BOLTS SHEARED OFF SEAT STRUCTION AND FLOOR DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND BACK, RESULTING IN INJURY. SKD
NHTSA complaint #481333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FORCED DRIVER BACKWARDS AGAINST SEAT DURING ABOVE ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #481333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Raleigh, NC
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
YOU CANNOT TELL IF THE CAR IS IN FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE. THIS IS EXTREEMLY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #763390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ascutney, VT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER PUT ONE AND HALF QUARTS OF OIL INSIDE OF ENGINE, AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISE. HE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOUSE AND CHANGED THE OIL .
NHTSA complaint #8001894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
POWER TRAIN
I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST MY CLUTCH CABLE NEEDING REPLACED BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PEDALS WELD POINT. THE ODOMETER HAS NEVER WORKED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHY IT DOESN'T WORK. NO GEARS ARE STICKING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE. QUESTION, I REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND HAD THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM ALSO; HOW CAN I GET REIMBERSED FOR THESE RECALLS ?
NHTSA complaint #723783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST MY CLUTCH CABLE NEEDING REPLACED BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PEDALS WELD POINT. THE ODOMETER HAS NEVER WORKED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHY IT DOESN'T WORK. NO GEARS ARE STICKING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE. QUESTION, I REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND HAD THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM ALSO; HOW CAN I GET REIMBERSED FOR THESE RECALLS ?
NHTSA complaint #723783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rego Park, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND SPRUNG A LEAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER ANS MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. AK
NHTSA complaint #826867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redlands, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
BELTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redlands, CA
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH COIL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redlands, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR/STARTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Okemos, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #522184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duxbury, MA
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SHAKE IN FRONT-END CONTINUAL NOISE DURING SHARP TURNS.
NHTSA complaint #985454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duxbury, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
FRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. APPEARS TO BE EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR.
NHTSA complaint #985450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH CABLE FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #485394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA
SEATS
SEAT BOLTS SHEARED OFF DURNG ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #481519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT CAUSED SEPARATION OF STERNUM AND NERVE DAMAGE TO LEG DURING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #481519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SEAT BOLTS SHEARED OFF SEAT STRUCTION AND FLOOR DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND BACK, RESULTING IN INJURY. SKD
NHTSA complaint #481333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FORCED DRIVER BACKWARDS AGAINST SEAT DURING ABOVE ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #481333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davenport, 00
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
ALL THE DOOR HANDLES OUTSIDE STICK . TT
NHTSA complaint #970538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.