Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

1985 Volkswagen Jetta

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.

4
Open recalls
13
NHTSA complaints
3
Defect investigations
1
Service bulletins

Consumer complaints

13 filed
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Power TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
    3
  • STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
    1
  • Engine AND Engine COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
    1
  • Seat BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Service BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
    1
  • Service BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION Components
    1
  • Electrical SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
    1

Recalls

4 campaigns
06E018000·SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2006-03-01

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."

RiskBRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

FixFOREIGN 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.

92V050000·VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE1992-04-14

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.

RiskTHE 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.

FixREPLACE THE HEATER CORE WITH AN IMPROVED HEATER CORE.

87V053000·FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1987-04-14

FUEL PUMP, LOCATED INSIDE FUEL TANK, COULD SEIZE DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF AN EXTREME FINE MESH FUEL FILTER RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW.

RiskFUEL SUPPLY TO ENGINE WOULD BE PARTIALLY INTERRUPTED,RESULTING IN STALLING.

FixINSTALL A MODIFIED FUEL PUMP AND FILTER.

84V144000·SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1984-11-14

THE CLIP LOCATED ABOVE THE EXHAUST PIPE WHERE IT ENTERS THE PRE-MUFFLER MAY MELT FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSED BY ENGINE IDLING.

FixTHE DEALER HAS INITIATED A TWO STEP CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE: THE FIRST STEP CONSISTS OF IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF THE PLASTIC CLIP ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. STEP TWO INVOLVES REPLACEMENT OF THE PLASTIC CLIP WITH A METAL ONE WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA investigations

3 actions
EA91054·VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1991-12-09 → 1992-06-12

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Led to recall92V050000

PE91114·VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1991-08-26 → 1991-12-09

HEATER CORE FAILURE

PE91031·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1991-01-14 → 1991-04-29

ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE

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