Model year record

1992 Volkswagen Jetta recalls & problems

The 1992 Volkswagen Jetta has 4 safety recalls and 30 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (8 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints30filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

Exterior lighting

Recall 09E01200016,270 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Service brakes, hydraulicMar 1, 2006

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 06E018000266 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES, P/N 171.611.107B, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1975-1985 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) RABBIT; 1985-1992 VW GOLF; AND 1980-1992 VW JETTA PASSENGER VEHICLES. POSSIBLE BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD OCCUR WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Risk: BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE BRAKE HOSES WITH COMPLIANT BRAKE HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTORS AT 305-885-8646 EXT. 11.

Vehicle speed controlSep 15, 1992

Vehicle speed control

Recall 92V13100012,650 vehicles

Problem: THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.
Risk: 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.
Fix: REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.

Fuel system, gasolineApr 14, 1992

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 92V058000358,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Fix: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Jetta Diesel

33mpg combined

City / highway	31 / 36 mpg
Fuel	Diesel

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Jetta

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Jetta

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Jetta GLI 16v

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cruise control	8	2	1	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	6	0	0	1	—
Electrical systemIgnition; Starter assembly	6	0	2	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor	3	3	0	5	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core; Glass, side/rear	3	0	0	0	—
SuspensionRear	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineCarburetor system; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components	1	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift	1	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, air	1	1	0	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedalCrash1 injury
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO A GUARD RAIL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
Jun 12, 2004
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedalFire
2025 HRS: TRAFFIC WAS GENTLE, WITH TRAILERS ON THE RIGHT AND SMALLER CARS AND TRUCKS PASSING ON THE LEFT THAT DAY. I WAS TRAVELING TO CROWN POINT FROM LAFAYETTE USING HIGHWAY 65 NORTH (60-65 MPH -WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC), WHEN 3/4 MILES AWAY FROM RENESELAER THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FROZE STILL HALFWAY. IT WOULD NOT RELEASE TO THE FULL POSITION, NOR WILL IT DEPRESS PAST HALFWAY. AT THAT MOMENT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND STARTED SPEEDING UP. I WATCHED WITH PANIC AS MY JETTA'S SPEEDOMETER READ 67, 70, 72 AND 75 PROGRESSIVELY. TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, I STEPPED ON THE BREAKS GRADUALLY; WHICH HELPED A LITTLE, BUT NOT BY MUCH. I HAD JUST PASSED THE "1/4 MILE TO RENESELEAR" EXIT NUMBER 215, WHICH MERGES…
Jul 2, 2004
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system1 injury
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
Jun 2, 2003 · 119,646 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
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…
Feb 4, 2001
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
HEATER COIL BURSTED AND COOLIANT CAME INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP WASN'T AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT SAID THAT SHE WILL CALL THEM TODAY.*AK
Nov 4, 2000
Electrical system › Ignition
THIS VEHICLE FROM NEW ( WITHIN 5 DAYS OF DELIVERLY) HAS STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE WARRANTY PROVIDED FOR REPLACEMANT PARTS BUT NO MECHANIC COULD EVER FIND THE ROOT OF THE CAUSE. WHILE DRIVING THE TACHOMETER WILL BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ENGINE SURGING AND ATTEPMTING TO DIE OUT. AND IT WILL DIE OUT . NO CERTIAN SPEED OR CIRCUMSTANCE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THIS. VW JUST REPLACES PARTS WITHOUT EVER IDENTIFYING WHAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE IS. THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITH HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES AT A COST OF 300.00 EACH. THIS MASKES THE PROBLEM BUT DUE TO ITS INTERMINATE NATURE NO ONE CAN PUT IT ON A SCOPE AND SAY THIS IT IT. IT BECOMES A SAFTY PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKS…
Oct 30, 1992
Seat beltsCrash1 injury
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH, THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S NECK/SHOULDER AND BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC
Dec 12, 1996
Vehicle speed control › LinkagesCrash
WHEN STARTED VEHICLE HEARD A NOISE, SMELLED SMOKE, AND VEHICLE LURGED FORWARD. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN REAR END COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT OF A PICKUP TRUCK PARKED IN THE LANE. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY ACCELERATOR CABLE SNAPPING IN HALF. APPLIED BRAKES, BUT FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE PRIOR TO COLLISION. *AK
Sep 9, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.