1994 Volkswagen Golf

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

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

Risk. 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.

Defect. WHEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES, A TIE WRAP IS USED TO GUIDE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SOME TIE WRAPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH A LARGE LOOP OPENING IMPROPERLY GUIDING THE CABLE WHICH COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.

Risk. THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THEPOTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE COLLISION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CRUISE CONTROL TIE WRAP AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED GUIDE.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

SECONDS AFTER PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CABIN FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR VENT. THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. *AK THE SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE DRIVER SIDE VENTS. *SCC *JB

REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT PULL OUT OF RETRACTOR. DEALER HAS REPLACED RETRACTORS THREE TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK SEAT HAVE BEEN (FAULTY) REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES IN 1995 WHEN CAR WAS BRAND NEW. (RECORD FROM DEALER HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED) CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY AN VW REP THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE 1995 VW GOLF'S, AND FEELS SHE SHOULN'T HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *SCC

THE CAR STALLS OUT OF NO WHERE WHILE I'M DRIVING. I RECENTLY CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER W/ THE TUNE-UP BUT IT STILL DOES THAT. CAN IT POSSIBLY BE THE FUEL FILTER? I HEARD ABOUT THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP. HOW ABOUT IT? DOES 1994 GOLF HAVE ONE? PLEASE, LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU!*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF AND THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACTIVATE, DEALER STATED THAT THE HARNESS AND THE WIRES FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE FUSEBOX ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TAIL-LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE CAR NEEDED TO BE RE-WIRED. *TT

THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY A TOWING SERVICE WITH EMERCENCY BRAKES ACTIVATED. TOW COMPANY CLAIMS VEHICLE WAS TOWED WITH REAR WHEELS LIFTED ON WHEEL DOLLY. WHAT TYPE OF SAFETY VIOLATION WOULD THIS BE CONSIDERED IF IF MY DAUGHTER WERE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. WOULD THEIR BE ENOUGH HEAT TO TO WARP AND DESROY REAR ROTORS AND DESTROY BRAKE PADSWITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. TOW COMPANY DENIES ANY WRONG DOING OR CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WAS THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION?*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY TO AVOID A DEER, AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARD. DRIVER HIT STEERING COLUMN, BUT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES, THE SEAT BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. *SLC

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER SNAPPED WHEN TRYING TO UNLOCK VEHICLE IN A DARK PARKING LOT, ALL LOCKING AND UNLOCKING MUST BE DONE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE, THE BROKEN LOCK CYLINDER IS EASILY REMOVED AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A BRAKE IN WHEN UNATTENDED. *MJS

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (THANK GOD) WHEN THE BRAKES FELT FUNNY. PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, AND LOTS OF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF IT. WHEN WE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR, WE SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT THROUGH THE HUBCAPS. THE POLICE CAME RIGHT AWAY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VW DEALER (WHO DID A COMPLETE CHECK UP ON THIS VEHICLE IN SEPT. 1999). THEY SAID THE CALIPER FROZE AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER BEEN USED SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR (AUG. 1999). THIS MORNING THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID HE WAS REPLACING THE CALIPER ON THE OTHER SIDE, TOO, FOR SAFETY REASONS!!!

THE VEHICLE "BUCKS" UPON ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY DURING RAIN. NLM

THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND LOSE POWER, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE POWER RELAY SWITCH AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *SLC

ELECTRICAL HEATER: DEFROSTER:DEFOGGER CONTROL SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

ELECTRICAL DEFROSTER: DEFOGGER CONTROL SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE . MANUFATURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME. ON MARCH 18, 1999, CONSUMER WILL BE BRINGING VEHICLE BACK INTO REPAIR SHOP ONCE AGAIN FOR SEAT BELT FAILURE. THUS FAR, DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

SEAT BELTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY.

WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS OPENED, THE SEATBELT IS PULLED OUT AND DOES NOT RETRACT. IT HAS TO BE MANUALLY PUT BACK INTO PLACE. THE BELT ALSO GETS CAUGHT IN DOOR. DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX SEAT BELT, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN ANYTIME, CAUSING THE LATCH TO MOVE. IT MIGHT DISENGAGE THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V195000 IN THE MAIL. NOTIFIED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REAR BRAKE LINES. WILL NOTIFY OWNER WHEN PARTS DO BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK

LOCKS ON VEHICLE CONTINUALLY FREEZING AND LOCKING UP.

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (98V160000). NOTIFIED THE DEALER. INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE HOOD LATCH. WILL NOTIFY THE OWNER WHEN THEY DO BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALL LETTERS. RECALL 98V195000 "REAR BRAKE LINE, " AND RECALL 98V160000 "HOOD LATCH." WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECLL LETTERS, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN A MONTH, AND STILL THE PARTS REMAIN UNAVAILABLE. *AK