Model year record

1993 Volkswagen Jetta recalls & problems

The 1993 Volkswagen Jetta has 6 safety recalls and 17 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is latches/locks/linkages (5 complaints).

Recalls6safety recalls

Complaints17filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 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, hydraulicAug 17, 1998

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 98V195000153,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.

Latches/locks/linkagesJul 16, 1998

Hood › Latch

Recall 98V160000238,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

Engine and engine coolingSep 20, 1995

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 95V17800034,000 vehicles

Problem: IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Vehicle speed controlAug 18, 1995

Vehicle speed control

Recall 95E03400079 vehicles

Problem: WHEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES, A TIE WRAP IS USED TO GUIDE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SOME TIE WRAPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH A LARGE LOOP OPENING IMPROPERLY GUIDING THE CABLE WHICH COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.
Risk: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THEPOTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE COLLISION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CRUISE CONTROL TIE WRAP AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED GUIDE.

EquipmentMar 13, 1995

Mechanical › Integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer

Recall 95V054000104,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.

Components: Equipment › Mechanical › Integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer; Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift

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 III

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

Jetta III

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Jetta III

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-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	Typical mileage*
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch; Doors › Latch	5	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core	4	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor	3	—
Exterior lightingTail lights; Brake lights	3	—
Electrical systemIgnition	2	—
EquipmentMechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	1	—
StructureBody › Door	1	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	1	—
Power trainManual transmission	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
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…
Jun 27, 2011 · 170,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETURN BACK INTO RETRACTOR. LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Aug 12, 2001
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
SUNROOF ALMOST FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Feb 15, 2002
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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
Jul 1, 2001
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
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...
Jan 1, 2000
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
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
Feb 17, 2000
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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
Dec 21, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
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
Dec 1, 1998

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

NHTSA defect investigations

FUEL TANK PUNCTUREClosedLed to recall 02V026000
EA00028 · opened Dec 28, 2000 · closed Jan 29, 2002
FUEL TANK PUNCTUREClosed
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.
PE00033 · opened Aug 10, 2000 · closed Dec 28, 2000