1988 Volkswagen Jetta 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 Jetta, 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
- Driver assistance419.0%
- Seat belts314.3%
- Brakes314.3%
- Body & structure314.3%
- Visibility29.5%
- Interior & seats29.5%
- Exterior lighting14.8%
- Fuel system14.8%
- Tires & wheels14.8%
- Electrical14.8%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS PEDAL STICKS IN COLD WEATHER, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *DH
DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT FRONT LAP BELTS . VOLKSWAGEN SAYS THAT THE CAR MEETS ALL STANDARDS. *AK
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE LAP BELTS IN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE, MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SUPPLY. TT
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
BRAKES REPLACED.
VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION SPEED 90 MPH, TO STOP APPLIED REAL HARD. TT
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
INSIDE/OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF. *AK
THE ONWER WENT TO GET INTO HIS CAR AND THE TRIGGER BROKE IN THE DOOR HANDLE SO THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO GET IN HIS CAR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME THRU VENT AND STEAMED UP ALL WINDOWS RADIATOR COOLANT CAME INSIDE THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED PRIOR TO RECALL. (92V-050) (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *AW
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
LEFT REAR DOOR LATCH STICKS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUT.
REAR DOOR LOCKED UP, COULD NOT OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXPERIENCED FIRE IN TRUCK FROM LIGHT BULB THAT MALFUNCTIONED. TT
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
BRAKES REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRIDGESTONE TIRE SIDEWALL IS CRACKING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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 .