1988 Volkswagen Fox Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Volkswagen Fox, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Visibility729.2%
- Engine625.0%
- Body & structure312.5%
- Interior & seats28.3%
- Brakes28.3%
- Heating & air conditioning14.2%
- Fuel system14.2%
- Powertrain (other)14.2%
- Transmission14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD ON DRIVER'S FEET. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEATER COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WINDSHILED WAS CRACKED, AS A RESULT OF GRAVEL BEING DUMPED ON THE HIGHWAY.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL RECALL 95V105000. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SOMETIMES LATER, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM COOLING SYSTEM AREA. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER. VEHICLE WILL BE GOING ON JAN. 22, 1999. *AK
ANTIFREEZE ODOR PRESENT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO INSTALL HEATER BYPASS VALVE UNDER RECALL DUE TO AN AFTER MARKET AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BEING INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER INSISTS THE A/C SYSTEM WAS ON THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. (95V-105)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY POPPED UP AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. *YH BOTH HINGES SECURING THE HOOD HAD BROKEN FROM STRESS. *SCC
VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE, UPON IMPACT VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL/OVERTURNED, ROOF COLLAPSED ON THE DRIVER SIDE, CAUSING INJURY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP AND SMASH INTO WINDSHIELD.
FRONT HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 VOLKSWAGEN FOX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST ALL BRAKING FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION FROM THE METAL BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR RIGHT SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 164,955 UPDATED 8/3/09 *CN UPDATED 08/05/09.*JB
BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ANTIFREEZE ODOR PRESENT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO INSTALL HEATER BYPASS VALVE UNDER RECALL DUE TO AN AFTER MARKET AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BEING INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER INSISTS THE A/C SYSTEM WAS ON THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. (95V-105)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PRESSURE FUEL HOSE WAS CRACKED AND SEEPING GASOLINE. IMMINENT LEAK/FIRE HAZARD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVESHAFT DISCONNECTED FROM TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING REAR ENDED. *TW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE GEARS WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE INSTEAD IT GOES INTO FIRST GEAR. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .