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 17 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.
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
17 reports
170,000 miles · Dec 1, 2011
Visibility
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: …
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10438013
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETURN BACK INTO RETRACTOR. LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8016270
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Visibility
SUNROOF ALMOST FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8016269
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Visibility
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
NHTSA ODI #747709
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2000
Exterior Lighting
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…
Read full complaint
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...
NHTSA ODI #726477
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2000
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #718880
Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages
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
NHTSA ODI #854204
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1999
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic
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
NHTSA ODI #850169
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1999
Power Train
BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WARM WEATHER/TRANSMISSION WONT DOWNSHIFT/CAR ALMOST STALLS/NO POWER
NHTSA ODI #706052
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998
Latches/locks/linkages
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
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
2
EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.
PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
1993 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration