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1990 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 68.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Visibility complaints

4 reports
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219,200 miles · Jul 25, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HIS WINDOWS STEAMED UP AND HE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, NEARLY CRASHING INTO A WALL. HE DISCOVERED COOLANT ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HIS WINDOWS STEAMED UP AND HE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, NEARLY CRASHING INTO A WALL. HE DISCOVERED COOLANT ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE SIX WEEKS AGO, THE CONTACT JUST FOUND RECALL NUMBER 2V050000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:HEATER CORE). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 219,200.

NHTSA ODI #10197423

105,102 miles · Mar 3, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

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…

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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. 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. NOTES: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC,

NHTSA ODI #10184109

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1998
Visibility

HOT STEAM AND HOT WATER CAME THROUGH VENTS AND FROM UNDER DASH, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BECOME FOGGED OVER.

NHTSA ODI #540147

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1997
Visibility

HEATER CORE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #517952

Official recalls

5

93V129000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Aug 2, 1993

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.

92V050000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:heater Core

Apr 14, 1992

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.

92V058000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Apr 14, 1992

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

90V142000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper

Aug 6, 1990

OMISSION OF AIR DUCTS INTENDED TO GUIDE FLOW OF COOLING AIR TO LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS COULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO EXCEED ALLOWABLE OPERATING TEMPERATURE UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BRAKE FLUID BOILS, THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCEDBRAKING PRESSURE WITH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL MISSING LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT AIR DUCTS.

90V007000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

Jan 22, 1990

POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET IS SUBJECT TO BREAKAGE DUE TO EXCESSIVE TENSION CAUSED BY A LACK OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE PUMP MOUNTING BRACKET AND SEALING FLANGE EDGE OF THE OIL PAN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRACKET BREAKAGE COULD ALLOW POWER STEERING PUMP TO LOOSEN AND DRIVE BELT TO SLIP, RESULTING IN THE NEED FOR UNEXPECTED INCREASED STEERING FORCE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET.

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

4

EA93008 · Detachment Of Bumper Cover

Opened Mar 3, 1993 · Closed Sep 17, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE92089 · Detachment Of Bumper Cover

Opened Dec 17, 1992 · Closed Mar 3, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

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

PE91030 · Unstable High Engine Idle

Opened Jan 14, 1991 · Closed May 31, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available