I OWN A 1989 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, VIN WVW PA01G4KW724572. I HAD A LEAK OF MY HEATER CORE (PER A NON-VW MECHANIC). THE NHTSA WEBSITE REPORTS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF 1989 JET'S FOR THEIR HEATER CORE. I CONTACTED WES GREENWAY'S ALEXANDRIA VOLKSWAGEN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. I DID SO THROUGH AN ONLINE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COMPANY,…
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I OWN A 1989 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, VIN WVW PA01G4KW724572. I HAD A LEAK OF MY HEATER CORE (PER A NON-VW MECHANIC). THE NHTSA WEBSITE REPORTS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF 1989 JET'S FOR THEIR HEATER CORE. I CONTACTED WES GREENWAY'S ALEXANDRIA VOLKSWAGEN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. I DID SO THROUGH AN ONLINE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COMPANY, IN WHICH I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE SITE, MR. TONY HUYNH, IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL INVOLVING HEATER CORES FOR 1989 JET'S. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD SEEN THAT THERE WAS ONE, THROUGH A WEBSITE, HE CHECKED MY VIN ON HIS COMPUTER AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO "OPEN RECALL" ON MY SPECIFIC CAR. I WENT TO MY OFFICE AND FOUND THE NHTSA NOTICE AND CALLED MR. HUYNH, SO THAT I COULD LET HIM KNOW THAT I FOUND THE RECALL ON AN OFFICIAL SITE, NOT SOMETHING UNOFFICIAL AS HE HAD SUGGESTED WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP (AT WHICH POINT I COULD NOT RECALL THE WEB SOURCE FOR MY INFORMATION). HE CONTINUED TO DENY THERE WAS A RECALL. IN BOTH INSTANCES, HE SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND HE GAVE ME AN 800-NUMBER TO CALL. (INCIDENTALLY, WHEN I WAS AT THE VW DEALER, MR. HUYNH SAID I SHOULD HAVE CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT RATHER THAN USING THE WEBSITE. I SUGGESTED TO MR. HUYNH THAT THE WEBSITE SHOULD SAY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CALL IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A VERY SIMPLE PROBLEM. HE SAID THE WEBSITE INSTRUCTED PEOPLE TO CALL IF THEY HAD COMPLEX PROBLEMS. I WENT BACK TO THE GREENWAY VW WEBSITE AND FOUND NO SUCH INSTRUCTION AND HAVE PRINTED OUT THE RELEVANT WEBPAGES.) THANKS FOR ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10045297
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
CARBON MONOXIDE IN BLOODSTREAM OF DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DIMINISHED BRAKING CAN RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PREHEATING TUBE SUPPORT BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER POSITIONING RELATIVE TO THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: REPLACE THE HEATER CORE WITH AN IMPROVED HEATER CORE.
Consequence: PROLONGED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A LEAKING BRAKELINE RESULTING IN DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT WHICH WOULD INCREASETHE STOPPING DISTANCES AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: CURVE OR REPLACE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA91054 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Dec 9, 1991 · Closed Jun 12, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
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