Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1990 Volkswagen Fox

Routine

Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline › delivery › fuel pump. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump2
010
Unknown or Other1
000
Structure › Body › Hood1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)1
000
Power Train1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System95V105000
Filed May 23, 1995164,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. IN THE EVENT OF A COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE COOLANT CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TO RISE TO A LEVEL WHERE A LEAK IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN OCCUR.

Risk. A LEAK OR FAILURE OF THE HEAT EXCHANGER LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD CAN ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF A PASSENGER. HOT COOLANT CAN ALSO STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BYPASS VALVE KIT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ROUTE EXCESSIVELY HOT COOLANT TO THE ENGINE WITHOUT FLOWING THROUGH THE HEAT EXCHANGER. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A PLASTIC COVER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ENSURE THAT THE PASSENGER IS NOT EXPOSED TO HOT COOLANT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAK.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings92V058000
Filed Apr 14, 1992358,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Mar 29, 2001NJ

WIRES THAT CONTROL CAR BURNED OUT ON HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE SHOOK AND KEPT CUTTING OFF. FUEL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING FUEL THROUGH OUT CAR.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jul 4, 2000CA

LEFT TURN ONLY AND HARD ACCELERATION ENGINE WILL FALTER LIKE STARVED FOR FUEL. WILL OCCUR WITH FULL OR EMPTY FUEL TANK. REPLACED FUEL PUMP TWICE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 3, 1998MT

RECALL LOCATION.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Apr 27, 1998MA

FUEL FILLER FAILURE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)
Filed Jun 9, 1997CA

OWNER TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN THIRD GEAR AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel PumpFire
Filed Mar 3, 1997VA

OWNER STATES WHILE IN THE GAS STATION HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, OWNER NOTES THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HE BELIVES IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FUEL PUMP. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Nov 4, 1996HI

RECALL NO- 95V105000, THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Sep 11, 1996VA

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING A LEAK. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Aug 28, 1996TX

DRIVING THE VEHICLE SAW UNDER THE DASH SMOKE, APPARENT ELECTRICAL SHORT, WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE, VEHICLE COMPLETE BURNED. *AK

Structure › Body › Hood
Filed Apr 1, 1996NY

HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING HIT WINDSHIELD TWICE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Dec 11, 1995GA

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN RECALL NO 95V105000, DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE WHICH RUINED THE ENGINE. TT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 20, 1995UT

THE OIL LEAK DEALER FIXED IS STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM PURCHASED USED HAVING MORE PROBLEM . TT`

Power Train
Filed Aug 30, 1995WA

PURCHASE CAR NEW REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD TWO TIMES AND HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM NOW . TT

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Mar 14, 1995AK

SHOULDER BELT NEEDS TO BE FASTEN TO START THE ENGINE. COPPER WIRES MOVED AND BROKE. TT

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Mar 1, 1995TX

HEATER CORE FAILED. *SKD

15 of 15 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
199318210Routine
19925200Routine
19911300Routine
1990 — this page15220Routine

Compare every Fox year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 23, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.