1989 Volkswagen Fox
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Volkswagen › Fox › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Volkswagen Fox. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1989 Volkswagen Fox. Newest first.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A 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.
Remedy
Dealers 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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If 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.
Remedy
Remove the steering wheel of vehicles and clean friction surface and install a spring retainer, replace the steering wheel nut with a self locking nut.
Owner complaints
9 complaints1 involved a crash
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery · Electrical system › Ignition › Module · Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system · Unknown or other
Consumer while driving would lose power. Computer system went crazy, oil light/battery light came on. after a couple of days it would be okay. then it would start acting up again. Dealer said car needed heating valves. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Defective cooling system--recall. wants to be reimbursed for repairs.
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control
The car was taken to a dealership earlier this year becuase the ecu had fialed. Dealership also told me that my heater core needed to be replaced because a cloudy substance was entering the car through the vents along with a peculiar odor. The car runs extremely hot, although there IS plenty of…
The car was taken to a dealership earlier this year becuase the ecu had fialed. Dealership also told me that my heater core needed to be replaced because a cloudy substance was entering the car through the vents along with a peculiar odor. The car runs extremely hot, although there IS plenty of coolant. The inside of my dashboard IS extremely hot. A friend told me that a recall was issued for this problem in vw's. A VW repair shop told me there was no such recall given my vin. I would like to know if there IS a "secret warranty" for this.
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Service bulletin work done unsatisfactory, still having problems with cooling system. Please describe. *ak
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
H a boyde and lancaster auto house volskwagen 95v105. Unfortunately repair for recall did not remedy the problem, driver has taken vehicle back on four different occasions, problem still has not been corrected. *ak
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
Bent heater hose causes defroster to fail, obscuring vision occasionally. *Dh
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Muffler system fell apart/hung up on rear tire, causing accident.(ohio state police report) *sd
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Drivers side seat belt locks with no prior warning. tt
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Main latch came loose, plastic latch broke and flew back, stricking and breaking windshield, buckled hood and broke hinges. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Heater core failure
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 621613Subject regarding latch system lower anchors and tethers for children, installing / retrofitting.
Every Volkswagen Fox model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.