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1992 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Volkswagen Jetta are lower than the model-year median of 68.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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 30 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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119,646 miles · Jun 26, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE HEATER CORE. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN A BOILING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE AIR VENT AND VIEWED HEAVY STEAM COMING FROM THE DASH BOARD AS WELL, AND WHEN THE VENTS WERE OPENED, HOT RADIATOR COOLANT WAS SPLASHED IN THE CONSUMERS FACE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022474

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, MY CAR WILL JUST "DIE" WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. I HAVE BEEN IN ALMOST 2 ACCIDENTS NOW BECAUSE OF IT. IT DOESN'T GIVE ANY WARNING THAT IT IS GOING TO DIE. I JUST NOTICE IT WHEN THE "DUMY LIGHTS" COME ON OR WHEN I LOOSE MY STEERING. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS HOT OR COLD, AT ANY SPEED. IT JUST DOESN'T MA…

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FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, MY CAR WILL JUST "DIE" WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. I HAVE BEEN IN ALMOST 2 ACCIDENTS NOW BECAUSE OF IT. IT DOESN'T GIVE ANY WARNING THAT IT IS GOING TO DIE. I JUST NOTICE IT WHEN THE "DUMY LIGHTS" COME ON OR WHEN I LOOSE MY STEERING. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS HOT OR COLD, AT ANY SPEED. IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER. SOMETIMES I CAN TELL, BECAUSE THE RPM WILL DROP TO ALMOST 0. BUT USUALLY NOTHING HAPPENS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 7 OR 8 TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY HAVE GONE AS FAR AS SAYING THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEVERAL WITNESS'S THAT HAVE BEEN WITH ME IN MY CAR THAT CAN DISPUTE THIS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIE AS MUCH AS 7X IN ONE DAY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY BASICALLY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY JUST CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN AND ASKED IF THEY COULD SEND AN ENGINEER OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR AS IT DIDN'T SEEM THE TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALER WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND THEY TOLD ME "NO" IT IS AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE SERVICE MANAGER TO DECIDE THIS. SO, TILL NOW, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, OR EVEN DETECT WHERE IT IS COMING FROM AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS TO KEEP LOOKING. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM DRIVING A "DEATH TRAP". THE CAR IS TOTALLY UNSAFE. 3 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. IT IS A LEMON AND THE DEALER BASICALY ADMITTED IT, BUT WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. IN THE PAST 10 YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE AROUND 45 TIMES. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS?*AK

NHTSA ODI #759246

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT BREAKS ANNUALLY WHICH CAUSES ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DLR 4 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832101

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY AND FINALLY STALLED COMPLETELY, WITH NOT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI #546629

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE TWICE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #505777

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AW

NHTSA ODI #480368

Official recalls

2

92V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 15, 1992

THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VENTURI TUBE CAN PARTIALLY BLOCK THE THROTTLE PLATEAND PREVENT IT FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN UNWANTEDENGINE SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN A FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR.

Remedy: REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.

92V058000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Apr 14, 1992

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.