1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Problems & Recalls

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 SI...

Mileage: 78,964

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 C...

Mileage: 121,000

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

Mileage: 146,000

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...

Mileage: 179,000

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...

Mileage: 179,000

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...

Mileage: 179,000

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...

Mileage: 179,000

THE RIGHT BALL JOINTS AND SWAY BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LOW MILEAGE. NLM

THE RIGHT BALL JOINTS AND SWAY BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LOW MILEAGE. NLM

RECALL 96 V 115 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING IN WHICH COOLANT / STEAM WAS COMING INTO VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK HEATING CORE FAILED AND LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER...

RECALL 96 V 115 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING IN WHICH COOLANT / STEAM WAS COMING INTO VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK HEATING CORE FAILED AND LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER...

WATER PUMP FAILED AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A LEAK. *AK

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (03/11/00 AND 07/03/00) I WAS TRAVELLING AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH AND HEARD A SUDDEN SNAP COMING FROM ONE OF MY TIRES. HOWEVER, THE SOUND WAS VERY MUCH LIKE THE SOUND WHEN SOMETHING GETS CAUGHT UNDERNEATH THE CAR MOMENTARILY WHILE PASSING OVER IT. THE FIRST OCCASION...

WE DID NOT REALIZE OTHER OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL YEAR UNTIL WE READ YOUR REPORTS.WE DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT OUR PROBLEMS MAY BE ONE OF A FEW. OTHERS ARE "HARD START, ROUGH/HUNTING AT IDLE ,HARSH ENGAGEMENT & FINALLY NO 4TH GEAR SHIFT. *AK

RECALL NUMBER 96V115000; CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML

SPRING STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS FAILED. YH

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED. YH

FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. YH

CV JOINT FAILED. YH

FRONT END VIBRATION CAUSED THE TIRE TO WEAR OUT AND WHEELS TO BEND. YH

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. YH

THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN I APPLY QUICK BRAKES AT 50 MPH. ALSO, WHEN I LEAVE THE HIGHWAY, REDUCING VEHICLE SPEEC TO 30 MPH, UPON APPLYING BRAKING THE ENGINE FREQUENTLY STALLS. THIS IS AN DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT/CRASH. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I APPLY QUICK BRAKES AT 30 MPH. ...

THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN I APPLY QUICK BRAKES AT 50 MPH. ALSO, WHEN I LEAVE THE HIGHWAY, REDUCING VEHICLE SPEEC TO 30 MPH, UPON APPLYING BRAKING THE ENGINE FREQUENTLY STALLS. THIS IS AN DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT/CRASH. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I APPLY QUICK BRAKES AT 30 MPH. ...

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO THE OIL TOP BEING LEFT OFF WHICH CAUSED ANIT-FREEZE FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK

NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER STARTED THE HEATER VENTILATION THE VEHICLE WAS SO HOT INSIDE THAT GLASS WINDOWS WERE FOGGY, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS VERY HOT. CONSUMER COULDN'T DRIVE IN THAT SITUATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED.*AK

ENGINE OVERHEATS, CAUSING THE COOLANT PRESSURE TO RISE, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. *AK

FRAYED CABLE CABLE CAUSED PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT MECHANISM NOT TO FULLY RETRACT.

CONSUMER NOTICED PASSENGER'S FRONT SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE ALL THE WAY, ALSO IT MOVES BY ITSELF; BECOMES LOOSE FROM TOP RETRACTOR . MAKES NOISE, OVER NIGHT DRAINES BATTERY. *AK

THE HEATER CORE LEAKED INSIDE CAR, CAUSING BURN INJURY TO DRIVER.

HEAD GASKET LEAKS, ALLOWING OIL TO RUN ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND BURNS, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES TO ENTE RVEHICLE; ALSO, HEAT EXHANGER LEAKS, CAUSING ODOR TO ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO DRIVER'S FEET OR FOG UP WINDSHIELD.

HEAD GASKET LEAKS, ALLOWING OIL TO RUN ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND BURNS, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES TO ENTE RVEHICLE; ALSO, HEAT EXHANGER LEAKS, CAUSING ODOR TO ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO DRIVER'S FEET OR FOG UP WINDSHIELD.

THE HEATER EXCHANGER LEAKS AND ODER ENTERS PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS LEAK COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE DRIVER'S FEET OR CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG OVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

HEAD GASKET LEAKS ALLOW OIL TO RUN ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND BURN, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THERE IS ALSO A RISK OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

TIMING BELT BROKE AND DISTORYED THE ENGINE

TRANSMISSION SOME TIME FLY BACK INTO THIRD GEAR WHEN ON THE FREEWAY, TURN ENGINE OFF AND RESTART, EVERYTHINGS FINE.

TIMIMG BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING.

RADIO PERFORMING POORLY.

FRONT PASSENGERS WINDOW CAME DOWN WHEN THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS CLOSED.

LONG AXLE METAL DONUT OUTSIDE DIAMOND PRESS, GLUED TO HUB, PRESSED ON SHAFT FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL, SLID DOWN AND WEDGED IN THE FRONT WHEEL AXLE PIVOT. SEE ENCLOSED VIDEO. *AK

VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT MOTOR RUNS CONTINUOUSLY, RUNS DOWN BATTERY, WILL NOT RETRACT OR RELEASE SHOULDER BELT; HAD VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, THEY FAILTO REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK

HEAT CONTROLLED FOR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEGAN HEATING W/SWITCH OFF. THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY HOT IMMEDIATELY. ONCE PULLED OVER TO CHECK, COMPARTMENT FILLED W/SMOKE AND DRIVER'S COAT WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

UPON PURCHASING VEHICLE NEW, PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS FOR DRIVER GET STUCK MIDWAY W/MOTOR RUNNING. OWNER HAS TO DISCONNECT W/EMERGENCY RELEASE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT...

TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED ELECTRONIC FAILURE.

TIMING BELT TENSIONER BEARING SEIZED, CAUSING DESTRUCTION OF TIMING BELT. *DH

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLS DUE TO FUEL SENDING UNIT/FUEL TRANSFER PUMP BREAKING UP/CLOGGING THE FUEL FILTER. *DSH

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING. TT

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING . TT

ABS:TOLD BY DEALER, ENTIRE ABS NEEDS REPLACING;ALIGNED, OWNER GOT AIR INTO SYSTEM WHILE CHANGING PADS, RUINED WHOLE SYSTEM;VOLKSWAGEN WILLING TO PAY FOR HALF.

PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED, THE BELTS STOPPED WORKING. TT