Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

1988 Volkswagen FOX

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

2
Open recalls
23
NHTSA complaints
1
Defect investigations
0
Service bulletins

Consumer complaints

23 filed
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER Core
    5
  • Engine AND Engine COOLING:COOLING System
    5
  • VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
    2
  • LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
    2
  • Power TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
    1
  • Service BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
    1
  • Fuel SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
    1
  • STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
    1

Recalls

2 campaigns
95V105000·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1995-05-23

IN THE EVENT OF A COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE COOLANT CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TO RISE TO A LEVEL WHERE A LEAK IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN OCCUR.

RiskA LEAK OR FAILURE OF THE HEAT EXCHANGER LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD CAN ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF A PASSENGER. HOT COOLANT CAN ALSO STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

FixDEALERS WILL INSTALL A BYPASS VALVE KIT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ROUTE EXCESSIVELY HOT COOLANT TO THE ENGINE WITHOUT FLOWING THROUGH THE HEAT EXCHANGER. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A PLASTIC COVER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ENSURE THAT THE PASSENGER IS NOT EXPOSED TO HOT COOLANT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAK.

88V187000·STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1988-12-01

STEERING WHEEL/SHAFT DESIGNED TO USE SURFACE FRICTION MAY LOOSE THIS FRICTION IF GREASE OR OIL IS PRESENT ON THE CONESHAPED SURFACE OF THE STEERING SHAFT.

RiskIF THE ABOVE CONDITION IS PRESENT AND THE STEERING WHEELNUT IS TORQUED LOWER THAN SPECIFIED, BREAK OF THE FRICTION LOCK COULD RESULT INLOOSENING AND SEPARATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

FixREMOVE THE STEERING WHEEL OF VEHICLES AND CLEAN FRICTION SURFACE AND INSTALL A SPRING RETAINER, REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL NUT WITH A SELF LOCKING NUT.

NHTSA investigations

1 action
EA91054·VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1991-12-09 → 1992-06-12

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Led to recall92V050000

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