1990 Volkswagen Jetta: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta. The newest campaign is 93V129000. NHTSA received the report on 2 Aug 1993. The NHTSA record gives the component Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings. NHTSA has 22 complaints on file for this model year. 4 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 93V129000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will install a preheating tube support bracket to ensure proper positioning relative to the right front metal brake line.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns, newest first. 1,095,225 units in total.

93V1290002 Aug 1993Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
92V05800014 Apr 1992Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
92V05000014 Apr 1992Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System / Heater Core
90V1420006 Aug 1990Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Caliper
90V00700022 Jan 1990Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist System

93V129000Received 2 Aug 1993. 76,000 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
An engine preheating tube may not be properly supported due to a missing support bracket, causing the preheating tube to chafe against the right front metal brake line. This can damage the hydraulic line, causing brake fluid leakage and diminished braking in one brake circuit.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Diminished braking can result in increased stoppingdistances and a possible accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a preheating tube support bracket to ensure proper positioning relative to the right front metal brake line.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 24 Sep 1993.
92V058000Received 14 Apr 1992. 358,000 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Fuel leakage in the engine compartment can cause an underhood fire if the fuel comes in contact with a source of ignition.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace the fuel hose attached to the fuel rail and install a new spring type self-tightening clamp.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 22 May 1992.
92V050000Received 14 Apr 1992. 650,000 units.
Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System / Heater Core
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The end cap connecting the heat exchanger's core to the engine cooling system could rupture and allow hot coolant to escape into the passenger compartment.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The coolant escaping into the passenger compartment couldcontact the driver's feet and injure the driver. Also, steam from the heatedliquid will cloud on the window surfaces and impair the driver's vision andcould result in a vehicle accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace the heater core with an improved heater core.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 29 May 1992.
90V142000Received 6 Aug 1990. 11,000 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Caliper
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Omission of air ducts intended to guide flow of cooling air to left and right front brake calipers could allow brake fluid to exceed allowable operating temperature under certain operating conditions.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If brake fluid boils, this could result in reducedbraking pressure with potential for an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install missing left and right front air ducts.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Aug 1990.
90V007000Received 22 Jan 1990. 225 units.
Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist System
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Power steering pump bracket is subject to breakage due to excessive tension caused by a lack of clearance between the pump mounting bracket and sealing flange edge of the oil pan.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Bracket breakage could allow power steering pump to loosen and drive belt to slip, resulting in the need for unexpected increased steering force with the potential for an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace power steering pump bracket.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 22 Mar 1990.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

22 complaints, 29 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1990 Volkswagen Jetta: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Engine and Engine Cooling		9
Vehicle Speed Control		4
Electrical System		4
Visibility		4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic		3
Fuel System, Gasoline		2
Power Train		1
Seat Belts		1
Tires		1

Complaints that report a crash: 1
Complaints that report a fire: 1
Injuries in the complaints: 0
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 25 Jul 2007

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1995, with 3 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA93008	Engineering analysis	DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER	Structure	3 Mar 1993	17 Sep 1993
PE92089	Preliminary evaluation	DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER	Structure	17 Dec 1992	3 Mar 1993
EA91054	Engineering analysis	HEATER CORE FAILURE	Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System	9 Dec 1991	12 Jun 1992	92V050000
PE91030	Preliminary evaluation	UNSTABLE HIGH ENGINE IDLE	Engine and Engine Cooling	14 Jan 1991	31 May 1991

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1990 Volkswagen JettaThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1990 Volkswagen Jetta: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/volkswagen/jetta/1990/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta?: 1,095,225 units in 5 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Volkswagen Jetta have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 79 recall campaigns for the Volkswagen Jetta, model years 1980 to 2026. 5 of them name the 1990 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta name most often?: Engine and Engine Cooling: 9 of 29 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta open?: No. Each of the 4 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.