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1996 Volkswagen Jetta
The 1996 Volkswagen Jetta appears in 1 NHTSA recall campaign (latches/locks/linkages) and in 174 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is visibility: 183.7 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 59.2 per 1,000 across all 1996 model-year vehicles and against 52.3 per 1,000 for the Volkswagen Jetta line as a whole.
That is about the same as the average of 181.9 complaints per model year across the 45 Volkswagen Jetta model years on this register; 17 complaints reported a crash and 5 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 1998 (32); the most recent in the file is dated 7 Nov 2010.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 5 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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: 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.
Filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta (black) against all 1996 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1996 | Jetta line | All 1996 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 183.7 | 52.3 | 59.2 |
| Electrical System | 142.9 | 151.8 | 83.8 |
| Power Train | 102 | 117 | 98.2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 85.7 | 86.8 | 141.4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 73.5 | 18.2 | 13.7 |
| Air Bags | 65.3 | 67.6 | 66.6 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 45 | 183.7 | 52.3 | 59.2 |
| Electrical System | 35 | 142.9 | 151.8 | 83.8 |
| Power Train | 25 | 102 | 117 | 98.2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 85.7 | 86.8 | 141.4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 18 | 73.5 | 18.2 | 13.7 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 65.3 | 67.6 | 66.6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 65.3 | 39.6 | 121.3 |
| Structure | 12 | 49 | 30.6 | 39.4 |
| Equipment | 10 | 40.8 | 18.5 | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 32.7 | 27.3 | 41.9 |
| Wheels | 6 | 24.5 | 7 | 8.6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 24.5 | 40.4 | 22.9 |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 24.5 | 38.5 | 22.1 |
| Steering | 5 | 20.4 | 17.5 | 48.9 |
| Suspension | 4 | 16.3 | 14.4 | 55 |
| Seats | 3 | 12.2 | 32.5 | 14.2 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 8.2 | 0.3 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 8.2 | 1.8 | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 8.2 | 15 | 23 |
| Tires | 1 | 4.1 | 13.2 | 37.3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 4.1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 4.1 | 20.4 | 51.6 |
174 unique complaints, 245 component mentions; 12 injuries and 1 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA00028 | Engineering analysis | FUEL TANK PUNCTURE | vehicle speed control:linkages | 28 Dec 2000 | 29 Jan 2002 | 02V026000 |
| PE00033 | Preliminary evaluation | FUEL TANK PUNCTURE | vehicle speed control:linkages | 10 Aug 2000 | 28 Dec 2000 | — |
| EA00020 | Engineering analysis | LIGHT AND /WINDSHIELD WIPERS | exterior lighting | 10 Aug 2000 | 9 Oct 2002 | 02V256000 |
| PE00006 | Preliminary evaluation | LIGHTS AND/OR WINDSHIELD WIPER OBSCURED | exterior lighting | 2 Feb 2000 | 10 Aug 2000 | — |
| PE98037 | Preliminary evaluation | HOOD LATCH FAILURE | structure | 1 Jul 1998 | 20 Jul 1998 | 98V160000 |
Other Volkswagen Jetta model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 930,000 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 | 933,225 |
| 1982 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 930,000 |
| 1983 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 105,000 |
| 1984 NHTSA | 1 | 1 | 105,000 |
| 1985 | 3 | 13 | 938,020 |
| 1986 | 2 | 14 | 928,520 |
| 1987 | 3 | 18 | 936,520 |
| 1988 | 7 | 19 | 1,096,384 |
| 1989 | 4 | 28 | 1,092,000 |
| 1990 | 5 | 22 | 1,095,225 |
| 1991 | 5 | 31 | 447,665 |
| 1992 | 2 | 30 | 370,650 |
| 1993 | 4 | 17 | 529,000 |
| 1994 | 5 | 117 | 530,100 |
| 1995 | 4 | 220 | 529,000 |
| 1996 | 1 | 174 | 238,000 |
| 1997 | 1 | 141 | 487,284 |
| 1998 | 2 | 191 | 497,095 |
| 1999 | 6 | 349 | 1,623,805 |
| 2000 | 4 | 436 | 1,766,326 |
| 2001 | 6 | 666 | 2,823,326 |
| 2002 | 5 | 701 | 2,490,376 |
| 2003 | 2 | 450 | 1,004,564 |
| 2004 | 2 | 228 | 1,021,284 |
| 2005 | 4 | 233 | 1,400,867 |
| 2006 | 4 | 560 | 652,730 |
| 2007 | 4 | 183 | 593,943 |
| 2008 | 4 | 163 | 593,943 |
| 2009 | 6 | 792 | 573,901 |
| 2010 | 4 | 784 | 548,194 |
| 2011 | 7 | 488 | 1,806,643 |
| 2012 | 5 | 388 | 1,705,306 |
| 2013 | 4 | 289 | 1,537,031 |
| 2014 | 4 | 201 | 1,165,962 |
| 2015 | 7 | 86 | 842,058 |
| 2016 | 4 | 45 | 989,141 |
| 2017 | 6 | 31 | 902,895 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | 897,219 |
| 2019 | 11 | 74 | 756,044 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 625,595 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 75,575 |
| 2022 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 43,091 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 123,488 |
| 2026 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 48,165 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Volkswagen Jetta model years · Volkswagen: 43 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign name this model year; the most recent, 98V160000, was reported to NHTSA on 16 Jul 1998 and concerns latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch. Across all model years the Volkswagen Jetta line has 79 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 5 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta complain about most?
Visibility: 45 of 245 component mentions (183.7 per 1,000). Next is electrical system with 35. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.