1990 Volkswagen Jetta problems
The 1990 Volkswagen Jetta has 29 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (17%) concerns engine. After that come air conditioning & heating (14%) and cooling system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 29 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 17% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1990 ranks 34th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta with enough data (4 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Stopped for ice cream after about 60 mile drive. Did not leave vehicle. Started car and when I went from park to reverse, the rpm's soared (I had not taken my foot off the brake) causing the car to accelerate in reverse at a high rate of speed. I put both feet on the brake to attempt to stop it & the brakes did nothing. So I put car into park & still continued to accelerate in reverse at a high rate of speed.
Distributor located below engine; if this area gets wet vehicle stalls shutting down all other engine related functions. On road several times w/no warning. Tt
While my son was operating his 1990 volkswagen jetta there was an explosion in the dashboard area which resulted in hot coolant pouring and spraying into the passenger compartment. After contacting a local service station I learned this defect was actually recall 92v050000. The dealer where vehicle was purchased claimed there was never a recall based on the search of my VIN. My search stated the manufacturing date for the recall was january 1990. Apparently, my vehicle was manufactured in april of 1990.
Auto recall date: 19920414 vehicle component: visibility:defroster/defogger system:windshield:heater core estimated vehicles affected: 650000 1990 volkswagen jetta defect summary: 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. Defect consequence: the coolant escaping into the passenger compartment couldcontact the driver's feet and injure the driver.