1993 Volkswagen Jetta

Routine

Owners filed 17 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the latches/locks/linkages › hood › latch. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch4
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly3
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core1
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission1
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch1
000
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights1
000
Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift1
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings98V195000
Filed Aug 17, 1998153,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

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.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch98V160000
Filed Jul 16, 1998238,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan95V178000
Filed Sep 20, 199534,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

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.

Vehicle Speed Control95E034000
Filed Aug 18, 199579 vehiclesRostra Precision Controls

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.

Equipment › Mechanical › Integrated Jack/Leveler/Stabilizer95V054000
Filed Mar 13, 1995104,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Dec 1, 2011170,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA III. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL HOSE, CAUSING FUEL TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT WOULD ALSO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE VIN DID NOT ASSOCIATE WITH THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 92V058000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 202,365. UPDATED 12/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MAIN COMPLAINT WAS ABOUT THE HEATER CORE, WHICH WAS THE HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD VENT. THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAME FILLED WITH RADIATOR FLUID MIST. A MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BLOWN HEATER CORE. UPDATED 12/30/11

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Aug 14, 2002CA

SUNROOF ALMOST FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Aug 14, 2002CA

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETURN BACK INTO RETRACTOR. LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Jul 3, 2001CA

I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD AIR COMING FROM THE ROOF OF MY CAR AND LOOKED UP AND MY SUNROOF BLEW OFF AND COULD HAVE HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME CAUSING SERIOUSE INJURY OR DEATH HAD IT HIT THE WINDSHIELD OF ANOTHER VEHICAL. I HAD NO WARNING AND MY SUNROOF WAS NOT OPEND AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Aug 2, 2000CA

TAIL LIGHT ASS'YS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY PER SERVICE BULLETIN (APPROX. 1995) BECAUSE TRUNK STOPS WEREN'T HIGH ENOUGH AND TRUNK WOULD CLOSE ON TAILLIGHT, PUNCTURING LENS, THEN FILL UP WITH WATER AND BLOW OUT BULBS. APPROX. 3 YEARS LATER, I REC'D A TICKET FROM CHP BECAUSE OF NO TAIL LIGHTS OR BRAKE LIGHTS. SAME PROBLEM. I COVERED HOLE WITH SILICONE AND REPLACED THE BULBS. LATER, THE BLINKERS/FLASHERS STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE HORN QUIT AND DEALER SAYS IT MAY A CRIMPED WIRE WHICH ALSO KILLED THE A\C. ONE OTHER PERSON I KNOW WITH A SIMILAR JETTA ALSO HAS BLINKERS/FLASHERS THAT STOPPED WORKING, THEN THEIR HORN...

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Feb 17, 2000CA

SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. SEATBELT GETS CAUGHT IN DOOR. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER YEARS AGO. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT! THE SHOULDER BELTS ARE NOW ALMOST COMPLETELY CUT THROUGH FROM BEING CAUGHT IN THE DOOR SO MANY TIMES. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Dec 21, 1999NJ

DOOR LOCKS ARE STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION DUE TO THE LOCK CYLINDER FALLING OUT OF THEIR WELDED POSITION INTO THE DOOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Oct 7, 1999SC

RECALLS 98V195000 AND 98V160000; REAR BRAKE LINE AND THE HOOD LATCH RECALLS WHICH WERE NOT YET MODIFIED BECAUSE OF NO AVAILABILITY OF PARTS. DEALER IS PULLIAM FORD, 655 BROAD RIVER ROAD, COLUMBIA, SC 29210 PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Apr 28, 1999NJ

BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WARM WEATHER/TRANSMISSION WONT DOWNSHIFT/CAR ALMOST STALLS/NO POWER

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Nov 17, 1998CA

RECALL # 98V160000 VW/HOOD LATCH; PARTS UNAVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. DEALER IS NOT SURE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Nov 13, 1998MA

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY. IN EACH ATTEMPT TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED, THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 98V16000. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Oct 30, 1998CA

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Aug 11, 1997CA

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK AND FRAME BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE REARWARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Jan 22, 1997CA

SUNROOF FAILED.

Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
Filed Jan 14, 1997CA

JACK RECALLED, REPLACEMENT JACK HAS NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jul 7, 1995NJ

THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 11, 1995MA

WHILE APPLYING SEAT BELT, BELT BECOMES TWISTED AND BECOMES JAMMED. TT

17 of 17 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2009
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20265100Routine
202528200Routine
202443010Routine
202343000Routine
202242100Routine
202168402Fatalities reported
202052600Routine
20195481130Do not drive
201831300Routine
2017159731Fatalities reported
2016161550Routine
2015194810Routine
2014386520Above average
2013516630Above average
2012499860Above average
20116071090Above average
2010852550Above average
2009888780Above average
2008188640Routine
2007201670Above average
2006580660Above average
20052487140Above average
20042315200High concern
20034574701Fatalities reported
200270277110Fatalities reported
20016687121Fatalities reported
20004395142Fatalities reported
1999349790Above average
1998192380Routine
1997141251Fatalities reported
1996174251Fatalities reported
19952206110Above average
1994117750Routine
1993 — this page17600Routine
199230430Routine
199131700Routine
199022710Routine

Compare every Jetta 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: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.