1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
50
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
The 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT has received a total of 50 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingengine (7 complaints), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (5 complaints), and Seat Belts (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, potentially affecting up to 20,750 vehicles.
Recall 96V115000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
| 8,100 vehicles affected
Defect: IN THE EVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY IN THAT CONDITION, THE COOLANT PRESSURE WILL RISE TO A LEVEL AT WHICH THE HEAT EXCHANGER COULD LEAK.
Consequence: A LEAKING HEAT EXCHANGER WILL ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER'S FEET OR COULD STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEAT EXCHANGER ON THESE VEHICLES.
View full details →Recall 92V131000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 12,650 vehicles affected
Defect: THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.
Consequence: THE VENTURI TUBE CAN PARTIALLY BLOCK THE THROTTLE PLATEAND PREVENT IT FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN UNWANTEDENGINE SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN A FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR.
Remedy: REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
50 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
HI I PURCHASED A 1990 VW PASSAT THE VIN # IS [XXX] .... THE HEATER CORE BLEW ON THIS VEHICLE, I BY PASSED THE HOSES 2 STOP THE HEATER CORE FROM LEAKING, IT SMELLED LIKE SYRUP AND VISIBILITY WAS BAD IF I HAD TO USE THE WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER , I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD OF THIS RECALL AND CHECKED YOUR SITE AND SAW THAT THIS RECALL I HEARD ABOUT WAS TRUE. SO NEXT I WENT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER(JACK DANIELS, LOCATED IN FAIR LAWN NJ). I GAVE HIM THE VIN # AND HE SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DO NEXT SO IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT THANKS. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HEATER CORE BURST, FILLING INTERIOR OF CAR WITH HOT COOLANT AND STEAM. HER VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE STEAM ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HE HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC. MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, HAD SOME COOLANT SPILL ONTO HER SHOE. VOA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PART BEFORE ON OTHER SERIAL NUMBER RANGES AND OTHER MODELS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY CLAIMED MY VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF RECALL CRITERIA, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME EXACT PART SUFFERED THE SAME EXACT FAILURE.*AK
RECALL 96V115000: THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAT, THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY HEATING CORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEATER CORE, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC *JB
MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB
MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB
Safety Rating for the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
- 1988 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 0 complaints
- 1989 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 0 complaints
- 1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (current)
- 1991 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 30 complaints
- 1992 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 60 complaints
- 1993 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 90 complaints
- 1994 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 36 complaints
- 1995 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 142 complaints
Other VOLKSWAGEN Models
- VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — 13,715 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 3,613 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 3,104 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS — 2,635 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GOLF — 1,991 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GTI — 1,916 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 — 1,568 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN CC — 1,356 total complaints