Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports11 fire reports17 injury reports

Fuel System, Other complaints

4 reports

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68,000 miles · Jun 24, 2007

Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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WELL, I' HAD SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 1995 VW JETTA III. FIRST, I HAD TO PUT 2 NEW STRUTS PLUS A WHOLE NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM. NEXT, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO WORK. IT WAS TAXING ON THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION, AND IT COSTS OVER $450 USD TO REPAIR. ON MY WAY HOME FROM A 2 1/2 HOUR TRI THE CAR STALLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, AND WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL I WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER I BARELY HAD HALF A QUART IN IT , AFTER HAVING AN OIL CHANGE LESS THAN 1200 MILES AGO. I GOT THE CAR HOME, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT COST ME $900 USD. I GOT THE CAR FIXED, AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE FOR A WHILE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED STALLING AT RANDOM MOMENTS. ONE TIME, I WAS ON A NASTY MOUNTAIN ROAD, WITH NO PLACE TO STOP, I ALMOST HIT A ROCK WALL, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK THEM 3 TIMES TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS A CLOGGED FUEL PUMP. I ALSO HAVE A DUMMY AIR BAG LIGHT THAT NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT, AND NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I ASKED MY MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE BATTERY LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE WINDSHIELD COWL THAT PROTECTED THE CAR AND ENGINE FROM DEBRIS. IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY ROTTED, CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOOT WELLS. MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM HAS BEEN BEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR. MY BACK DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS BEEN BROKEN SINCE I GOT THE CAR, BUT THIS WA SA NEW PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, YOU COULD NOT BUY JUST THE WINDOW REGULATOR, AND YOU HAVE TO BUY THE MOTOR AS WELL. I'M TIRED OF THE CAR, AND IT WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I LOVE DRIVING IT. IT WAS A NICE LOOKING CAR. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENE DTHE LAST YEAR, AND IT COST ME OVER $3,500 USD TO HAVE THEM FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10194082

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1999

Fuel System, Other

GAS GAUGE IMPROPERLY READS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837670

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 1999

Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT GAS GAUGE BECAME INOPERATIVE. IT COULD NOT INDICATE HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN STALLING, ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837141

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1998

Fuel System, Other

BRAKE LINE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #542483

Official recalls

98V195000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Aug 17, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.

98V160000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Jul 16, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME. THE LATCH WOULD MOVE CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

95V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Sep 20, 1995

IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.

95V054000 · Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift; Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer

Mar 13, 1995

THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer

THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.

Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.

Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift

THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.

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

EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

No summary supplied.

PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

PE98037 · Hood Latch Failure

Opened Jul 1, 1998 · Closed Jul 20, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

ODI HAS RECEIVED THREE REPORTS, INCLUDING THE PETITIONERS, REGARDING ALLEGED HOOD LATCH FAILURES.ALL OF THE ODI REPORTS INDICATE THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING.FOLLOWING A TELEPHONE INQUIRY, VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED ODI WITH SOME LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING SIX ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF HOOD FLY-UP FOR MODEL YEARS 1995 AND 1996.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.DEFECT DESCRIPTION:IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ON SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH MAY LOSE THEIR SPECIFIED FASTENING TORQUE OVER TIME.SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE LATCH COULD MOVE OUT OF ITS DESIGN POSITION AND CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.IN SOME VEHICLES THE LATCH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ALIGNED DURING PRODUCTION.REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HOOD WITH AN IMPROPERLY ALIGNED LATCH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE LATCH.EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD AND COULD OBSTRUCT A PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.REMEDY: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. WILL INITIATE A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL INSTRUCTING ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO CHECK THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

DP98006 · Hood FLY-UP

Opened Jun 11, 1998 · Closed Jul 1, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available