1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet recalls & complaints

1. Fuel system

What's wrong, in plain English: Fuel lines, tank or pump. Fuel problems usually mean a leak, and leaks mean fire risk. 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.

What could happen: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

The fix: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 CABRIOLET.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 92V058000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

2. Fuel system

What's wrong, in plain English: Fuel lines, tank or pump. Fuel problems usually mean a leak, and leaks mean fire risk. A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.

What could happen: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULDCATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

The fix: CHECK VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A FUEL TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE FUEL TANK IF DEFECT IS FOUND.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 CABRIOLET.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 91V201000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

3. Vehicle Speed Control

What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. THE CENTER OF THE WATER SEPARATOR PANEL LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN ENGINE AND FIREWALL COULD BEND IN THE EVENT SOMEONE LEANS ON IT DURING ENGINE MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS OR CHECKING OF FLUID LEVELS. A BENT PANEL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE FREE MOVEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE.

What could happen: INTERFERENCE WITH THE FREE MOVEMENT OF THE ACCELERATORLINKAGE COULD RESULT IN UNWANTED ACCELERATION WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

The fix: INSTALL REINFORCEMENT BRACKET TO SECURE SEPARATOR PANEL.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 CABRIOLET.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 91V162000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

4. Airbags

What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. THE AIRBAG HARNESS WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE DASHBOARD CROSSMEMBER AND COULD BE PINCHED AND CHAFED BETWEEN TWO PANELS EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE WIRE.

What could happen: IF THE AIRBAG HARNESS WIRE IS DAMAGED, THE PASSIVERESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT WILLILLUMINATE, BUT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL NOT FUNCTION UNTIL THE WIRE ISREPAIRED.

The fix: SECURE WIRE TO THE CROSSMEMBER WITH A CLIP.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 CABRIOLET.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 91V215000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Most complained-about parts: Airbags (6), Fuel system (3), Gasoline (3), Engine (1), Equipment (1).

Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.