1994 Volkswagen Golf
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Volkswagen › Golf › 1994
These records cover every 1994 Volkswagen Golf. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 1994 Volkswagen Golf. Newest first.
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 and remedy
Risk
Repeated chafing could eventually result in a leaking brake line causing diminished braking in one brake circuit increasing the vehicle's stopping distance.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the brake line and replace any damaged lines.
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 and remedy
Risk
Unexpected opening of the hood could occur obstructing the driver's view of the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the hood latch and securing bolts and replace them if necessary.
Improper material was used in manufacturing the radiator fan motor shaft causing the shaft to wear and become noisy.
Risk and remedy
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.
Remedy
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.
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 and remedy
Risk
The engine speed may not return to idle increasing thepotential for a vehicle collision.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the cruise control tie wrap and install a newly designed guide.
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 and remedy
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.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with a new jack.
Owner complaints
41 complaints1 involved a crash4 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system › Wiring
Seconds after pulling into oncoming traffic, smoke started coming into the cabin from the driver's side air vent. The vehicle ignited into flames. *ak the smoke had come from the driver side vents. *scc *jb
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump · Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The car stalls out of no where while I'm driving. I recently changed the fuel filter w/ the tune-up but it still does that. can it possibly be the fuel filter? I heard about the faulty fuel pump. how about it? Does 1994 golf have one? please, let me know. thank you!*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Rear seatbelts will not pull out of retractor. dealer has replaced retractors three times. Cause unknown.*ak consumer also stated that seatbelts on both sides of the back seat have been (faulty) repaired several times in 1995 when car was brand new. (record from dealer have been archived)…
Rear seatbelts will not pull out of retractor. dealer has replaced retractors three times. Cause unknown.*ak consumer also stated that seatbelts on both sides of the back seat have been (faulty) repaired several times in 1995 when car was brand new. (record from dealer have been archived) consumer was informed by an VW rep that this has been a problem in the 1995 VW golf's, and feels she shouln't have to pay out of pocket. *scc
- Electrical system
Consumer states that on several occasions the lights on the dashboard would intermittently come on and off and the factory installed alarm system would not activate, dealer stated that the harness and the wires from the dashboard to the fusebox all the way back to the tail-lights were completely melted and the car needed to be re-wired. *tt
- Parking brake › Conventional · Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc
The vehicle was towed by a towing service with emercency brakes activated. Tow company claims vehicle was towed with rear wheels lifted on wheel dolly. What type of safety violation would this be considered if if my daughter were to drive the vehicle and were involved in an accident. Due to brake…
The vehicle was towed by a towing service with emercency brakes activated. Tow company claims vehicle was towed with rear wheels lifted on wheel dolly. What type of safety violation would this be considered if if my daughter were to drive the vehicle and were involved in an accident. Due to brake failure. would their be enough heat to to warp and desroy rear rotors and destroy brake padswith emergency brake activated. Tow company denies any wrong doing or causing this problem. Was this a dangerous situation?*ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
The driver's side door lock cylinder snapped when trying to unlock vehicle in a dark parking lot, all locking and unlocking must be done on the passengers side, the broken lock cylinder IS easily removed and may increase the risk of a brake in when unattended. *mjs
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
While driving vehicle stopped suddenly to avoid a deer, and driver's seatback broke, causing driver to fall backward. driver hit steering column, but did not sustain any injuries, the seat broke on the left side. *slc
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
The vehicle will stall and lose power, the dealer has replaced the power relay switch and the crankshaft position sensor, however the problem IS still occurring. *slc
- Vehicle speed control
The vehicle "bucks" upon acceleration especially during rain. nlm
- Electrical system › Wiring · Parking brake › Conventional · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
The car was being driven at a relatively slow speed (thank god) when the brakes felt funny. Pulled the vehicle into a parking lot, and lots of smoke was coming out of it. When we jumped out of the car, we saw flames shooting out through the hubcaps. The police came right away and extinguished the…
The car was being driven at a relatively slow speed (thank god) when the brakes felt funny. Pulled the vehicle into a parking lot, and lots of smoke was coming out of it. When we jumped out of the car, we saw flames shooting out through the hubcaps. The police came right away and extinguished the flames. Subsequently the vehicle was towed to a VW dealer (who did a complete check up on this vehicle in sept. 1999). They said the caliper froze and caused the fire. They also said there was a problem with the emergency brake cable. The emergency brake has never been used since I've had this car (aug. 1999). This morning the dealer called and said he was replacing the caliper on the other side, too, for safety reasons!!!
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element
Electrical defroster: defogger control switch caught on fire . manufaturer has been notified. *ak
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element
Electrical heater: defroster:defogger control switch caught fire. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Passenger's side seat belt won't retract. Consumer took vehicle into repair shop for the second time. on march 18, 1999, consumer will be bringing vehicle back into repair shop once again for seat belt failure. thus far, dealer can't determine the problem. *Ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The consumer received two recall letters. one letter was concerning the rear brake line, the second letter was concerning the hood latch. when the consumer contacted the dealer, the dealer made an appointment for inspection, but canceled because there were no parts available to fix the defect. these defects are associated with recall numbers 98v195000 and 98v1960000. *ak *nlm
- Electrical system › Ignition
Beginning on date above, ignition failed suddenly and without warning causing complete lack of power. pull-off to roadside was uneventful. Every day subsequently ignition has failed with similar unpredictability, sometimes on interstate highways at high speed. restart so far has been normal.…
Beginning on date above, ignition failed suddenly and without warning causing complete lack of power. pull-off to roadside was uneventful. Every day subsequently ignition has failed with similar unpredictability, sometimes on interstate highways at high speed. restart so far has been normal. Ignition switch appears to operate normally, but occasionally breaks contact without action of the driver causing unpredictable and unexpected shutdown of ignition. this failure could be the cause of serious injury or fatality if it occurred in heavy and or fast traffic where time and space for recovery are insufficient. dealer will be notified of this defect.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Seat belts fail intermittently.
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
When passenger's side door IS opened, the seatbelt IS pulled out and does not retract. It has to be manually put back into place. The belt also gets caught in door. Dealer has tried to fix seat belt, and the problem still exists. *ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Hood latch can loosen anytime, causing the latch to move. It might disengage the hood striker from the latch. *ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Locks on vehicle continually freezing and locking up.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Received recall notice 98v195000 in the mail. Notified the dealer for an appointment. Informed no parts available for rear brake lines. Will notify owner when parts do become available. *Ak
- Electrical system › Ignition · Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control
Wiring harness wires rubbed through causing shorting out and smoking due to location design.
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Had received recall notice (98v160000). Notified the dealer. Informed no parts available for the hood latch. Will notify the owner when they do become available. *ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The consumer received two recall letters. recall 98v195000 "rear brake line, " and recall 98v160000 "hood latch." when the consumer received the recll letters, dealer was unable to provide any parts for the vehicle. since then, it has been a month, and still the parts remain unavailable. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
The seat belts will not retract once driver unhooks them. taken to the dealer and had them replaced. provide more details. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Rear brake line leaked due to a rupture, causing passenger's front tire to lock up and vehicle skidded. By alternately releasing and applying pressure driver was able to slow down and regain control. *Ak
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.
- 10213836Airbag Issues.
- 10159010The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
- 10157383VAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide
- 10155644This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
- 10128105This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions.
- 10128104This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, ElsaPro infomedia icons grayed out, workshop equipment tool storage application, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions.
- 10128055This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest inbound and outbound ProFi requests.
- 10126785Update model year applicability to include 2017.
- 10125850Golf Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections: A checklist to insure a customer receives a wonderful delivery of a vehicle that looks, feels, and meets the expectations of a new vehicle that he/she has purchased
- 10125765Golf Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections: A checklist to insure a customer receives a wonderful delivery of a vehicle that looks, feels, and meets the expectations of a new vehicle that he/she has purchased
- 10122255Golf/GTI Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections:
- 10026848Volkswagen: exhaust heat shield, replacement guidelines. Heat shields are to be inspected after completion o any type of repair to the underbody (exhaust system transmission, etc.), and if damaged, replaced.
- 10001091Installing new style switch for the throttle position sensor.
- 621613Subject regarding latch system lower anchors and tethers for children, installing / retrofitting.
- 53644Conditions regarding exterior door locks cannot be locked or unlocked with key when ambient temperature IS below freezing.
- 53633Chart identifies which transmission control modules (tmc) are available for various states.
- 53616Toothed belt runs towards outside, wears out/ jumps off, and cracks.
- 53603Engine intermittently will not start, possibledtc's stored in tcm dtc memory
- 53600Vehicles with daytime running lights can experience loss of instrument cluster illumination if driven foe extended durations/replace original instrumentcluster housing with 1996 version.
- 45674Diagnostics for complauints of engine miss/poor performance.
- 45673Hood lock fastener, torque revision.
- 45017Oil accumulation in the air intake system.
- 45015Daytime running lights, resistor wire installation.
- 44003Unknown
- 42012Intake air supply system, oil accumulation.
- 42011Exterior door locks freezing.
Every Volkswagen Golf model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.