1990 Volkswagen Vanagon
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Volkswagen › Vanagon › 1990
These records cover every 1990 Volkswagen Vanagon. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1990 Volkswagen Vanagon. Newest first.
The plastic material of the center air flow duct, which IS fastened by two mounting screws to the ceiling of the passenger compartment, can crack and eventually break.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the plastic breaks where it IS held at the twomounting screws, the center air flow duct can separate from its supports andcause injury to the passengers sitting in the center seat of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will install a reinforcement plate at the connections of both the center and rear air flow ducts.
The fuel hose attached to the fuel distribution rail on the engine may shrink beyond the clamp force of the fuel hose clamps, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Fuel leakage in the engine compartment can cause an underhood fire if the fuel comes in contact with a source of ignition.
Remedy
Replace the fuel hose attached to the fuel rail and install a new spring type self-tightening clamp.
Owner complaints
13 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling
Consumer stated that while driving and without warning anti freeze will leak from the engine cause and distraction to the consumer. Dealer notified. Ts
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
When the weather turned cold the junction of a small, plastic fuel line with an overlapping rubber fuel line (held together with a large crimp connector) started to leak directly on the distributor cap. the rubber in the fuel line had degraded and cracked. this crimp connector could not be…
When the weather turned cold the junction of a small, plastic fuel line with an overlapping rubber fuel line (held together with a large crimp connector) started to leak directly on the distributor cap. the rubber in the fuel line had degraded and cracked. this crimp connector could not be tightened or easily replaced to eliminate the leak. many eurovan owners on the internet have reported similar fuel leaks. I couldn't afford to take the vehicle in to the dealer for repair so I replaced the degraded rubber hose myself, using rubber hose from an auto parts store and screw-type stainless steel hose clamps. *Ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
Plastic crossover hose on top of fuel was cracked & leaked fluid. The fuel tank IS located in front of engine. Will be taking vehicle to dealer. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring
My 1990 VW vanagon had numerous occasions of intermittent power losses from the time of purchase in 1990 until december 1998 when VW part number 025906302a was installed. Several of these power losses resulted in near accidents, once when passing a slow moving truck on a two lane interstate with…
My 1990 VW vanagon had numerous occasions of intermittent power losses from the time of purchase in 1990 until december 1998 when VW part number 025906302a was installed. Several of these power losses resulted in near accidents, once when passing a slow moving truck on a two lane interstate with another truck right behind me, suddenly the engine completely stopped for several seconds. Only the alertness of the truck driver behind me in slowing quickly prevented an accident. The jackson wy dealer could find nothing wrong with the vehicle. on a recent trip to wyoming from california the intermittent power losses reoccurred. An independent (VW trained) mechanic in jackson informed me that a design defect which affected all VW vanagons from 1985 on required a new wiring harness to the engine air control system. The VW dealer in idaho falls confirmed that all such wiring harnesses should be replaced, but stated that I would have to pay for it as there was no recall by VW. The problem IS explained in the VW technical bulletin 24 93-07 dated november 15, 1993. VW has refused to reimburse me for the part (approximately $140) on the grounds that the vehicle IS out of warranty and that there was no government mandated recall. My concern IS that there are many other vw's which according to the technical bulletin have this same defect. VW should inform all of those owners as they should have informed me and VW should replace the wiring harnesses at no cost to those owners. Since this design defect IS admitted by VW to cause intermittent power losses which obviously can lead to accidents in many situations, it would seem most appropriate for the dot to order this recall. If dot considers that this IS just an economic problem affecting a class of consumers and not a safety problem necessitating a recall then please inform me of this decision. *ak
- Electrical system · Electrical system › Ignition · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control
Ignition coil and wires, distributor car and rotor and oxygen sensor failed.
- Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system · Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
When driving through high altitude areas the vehicle may start running like it IS out of gas, but it really isn't. the fuel injection computer dosen't adjust to the situation. Dealer has been contacted. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Gas leaked from fuel tank twice. (qcaw)
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Consumer IS complaining of a plastic delivering pipe for cooling water from the engine to the radiator , the end pulled off which dumped all of the water out of vehicle. Dealer notified and refused to repair unless cost IS to the consumer.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Headlights do not provide sufficient light while on low beam.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Design flaw, causing corrosion of engine parts/loss of coolant.
- Tires
Michelin tires blew out and exploded. *ak
- Seat belts › Rear/other
The first bench seatbelt broke in half. Please describe. tt
- Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
Mfg., recall #rv; air getting into fuel injection system causes vehicle to skip, in cold conditions. Dealer replaced, jeep still skips when weather IS cold. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Overhead a/c separation
There is no summary currently available
- Sliding door latch 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.
- 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.
- 621613Subject regarding latch system lower anchors and tethers for children, installing / retrofitting.
Every Volkswagen Vanagon model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.