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: 1 of 41 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.
Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 7 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 reports4 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
41 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1998
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALL LETTERS. ONE LETTER WAS CONCERNING THE REAR BRAKE LINE, THE SECOND LETTER WAS CONCERNING THE HOOD LATCH. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION, BUT CANCELED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE DEFECT. THESE DEFECTS ARE ASSOCIATED WIT…
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THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALL LETTERS. ONE LETTER WAS CONCERNING THE REAR BRAKE LINE, THE SECOND LETTER WAS CONCERNING THE HOOD LATCH. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION, BUT CANCELED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE DEFECT. THESE DEFECTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH RECALL NUMBERS 98V195000 AND 98V1960000. *AK *NLM
NHTSA ODI #829608
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1998
Electrical System
BEGINNING ON DATE ABOVE, IGNITION FAILED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING COMPLETE LACK OF POWER. PULL-OFF TO ROADSIDE WAS UNEVENTFUL. EVERY DAY SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITION HAS FAILED WITH SIMILAR UNPREDICTABILITY, SOMETIMES ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEED. RESTART SO FAR HAS BEEN NORMAL. IGNITION SWITCH APPEARS TO OPERA…
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BEGINNING ON DATE ABOVE, IGNITION FAILED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING COMPLETE LACK OF POWER. PULL-OFF TO ROADSIDE WAS UNEVENTFUL. EVERY DAY SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITION HAS FAILED WITH SIMILAR UNPREDICTABILITY, SOMETIMES ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEED. RESTART SO FAR HAS BEEN NORMAL. IGNITION SWITCH APPEARS TO OPERATE NORMALLY, BUT OCCASIONALLY BREAKS CONTACT WITHOUT ACTION OF THE DRIVER CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE AND UNEXPECTED SHUTDOWN OF IGNITION. THIS FAILURE COULD BE THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY IF IT OCCURRED IN HEAVY AND OR FAST TRAFFIC WHERE TIME AND SPACE FOR RECOVERY ARE INSUFFICIENT. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #700088
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SPARK PLUGS, DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR.
NHTSA ODI #542028
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1998
Seat Belts
THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT ONCE DRIVER UNHOOKS THEM. TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM REPLACED. PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828135
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKE LINE LEAKED DUE TO A RUPTURE, CAUSING PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE TO LOCK UP AND VEHICLE SKIDDED. BY ALTERNATELY RELEASING AND APPLYING PRESSURE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND REGAIN CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #518344
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED A LEAK WHILE TRAVELIG ON HIGHWAY, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALMOST COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR DUE TO SIGNIFICANR LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *AK
NHTSA ODI #515831
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1997
Interior Lighting
DASH LIGHTS FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA ODI #514275
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1996
Equipment
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE A YEAR AGO FOR THE JACKS, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED PART. RECALL #95V054000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #803862
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1996
Electrical System
INTERMITENT STALLING, ALSO REPLACED POWER LOCKS/ENGINE FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #507368
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1996
Suspension
FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED, CAUISING THE STEERING TO SHAKE WHEN DRIVING.*AK
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1994 Volkswagen Golf Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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