RoadVitals

1989 Volkswagen Jetta Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Latest Aug 30, 2007
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 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

  • Visibility623.1%
  • Fuel system415.4%
  • Driver assistance311.5%
  • Engine27.7%
  • Body & structure13.8%
  • Heating & air conditioning13.8%

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

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT HAVE WAIST BELTS; SHOULDER BELTS ONLY, WHICH I UNDERSTAND MAY BE AGAINST REGULATIONS. THE MANAUFACTURER DISAGREES. *AK

NHTSA ID 718598 · filed Feb 11, 2000

I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL- LAP BELTS WERE TO BE INSTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID 714356 · filed Nov 5, 1999
All 9 reports naming seat belts

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL (92V-050000) ON THE HEATER CORE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NLM THE HEATER CORE PLASTIC NECK CRACKED AND ALLOWED THE HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VOLKSWAGEN STATED THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED, BUT THE PART APPEARED TO BE THE ORIGINAL. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID 10017420 · filed Jul 28, 2003

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 720282 · filed Mar 18, 2000

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TOOK CAR IN FOR FUEL RECALL. GOT CAR BACK AND THEY SAID RECALL WAS DONE AND IT WAS NOT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID 976036 · filed Dec 5, 1995

SHE HAS HAD THE RECALL LETTER FOR THREE YEARS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT RESPOND TO HER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID 975060 · filed Nov 17, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN TEMPERATURE IS 5 DEGREES F OR LOWER (COMMON IN MINNESOTA) THROTTLE WILL STICK OPENLY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ICY AND RPMSAND APPROACHING REDLINE. NOT A RARE PROBLEM IN MINNESOTA, WHERE IT IS OFTEN COLD, WITH 1988 AND 1989 JETTAS (WITH THE DIGIVOX SYSTEM).TEMPORARY FIX BY DIERCK'S REPAIR (BYRON,MN 507-775-2754). VOLKSWAGEN USA CLAIMS NO KNOWLEDGE BUT DIERCK'S SEES SEVERAL EACH TIME IT GETS COLD. WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, WARM AIR FROM ENGINE IS BROUGHT INTO THE THROTTLE HOUSING, CAUSING CONDENSATION.WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS, INTAKE SWITCHES TO OUTSIDE AIR, WHICH IS VERY COLD, AND CAUSES THE WATER TO FREEZE, LEADING TO THROTTLE STICKING. TEMPORARY FIX CONSISTS OF DISCONNECTING WARM AIR INTAKE IN COLD WEATHER AND PLUGGING PORTS.HOWEVER, THIS LEADS TO SOME EXHAUST COMING OFF THE ENGINE AND INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. VERY PREDICTABLE PROBLEM AND PREVENTABLE IF VOLKSWAGEN WOULD PROVIDE FIX-IT KIT. DIERCK'S REPAIR IS WILLING TO TALK ABOUT PROBLEM (ASK FOR BARD). SUMMER DRIVING IS FINE. TAKES SOME TIME IN COLD WEATHER TO BUILD UP ENOUGH WATER IN THROTTLE HOUSING. COMBINE ENOUGH CONDENSATION OVER TIME AND THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR (ONLY 1988 AND 1989). AS A SIDE NOTE-VOLKSWAGEN DEALER LOOKED FOR PROBLEM AND COULD NEVER PIN-POINT PROBLEM. THUS I WAS CHARGED FOR MANY USELESS REPAIRS. DIERCK'S KNEW WHAT IT WAS OVER THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY AND EVEN ASKED IF IT WAS AN 88 OR 89 BEFORE I TOLD THEM THE YEAR. THEY ARE AS FRUSTRATED AS I AM THAT SUCH A SIMPLE YET DANGEROUS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY VOLKSWAGEN. I WOULD BE WILLING TO TALK WITH ANYONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND COULD PUT THE CAR OUT OF GEAR AND LET THE ENGINE REV TO CONTROL MY SPEED ON ICY ROADS (THROTTLE HAS STUCK AT 6500 RPMS AT TIMES). *AK

NHTSA ID 702970 · filed Feb 5, 1999

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD

NHTSA ID 502739 · filed Mar 22, 1996

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I OWN A 1989 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, VIN WVW PA01G4KW724572. I HAD A LEAK OF MY HEATER CORE (PER A NON-VW MECHANIC). THE NHTSA WEBSITE REPORTS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF 1989 JET'S FOR THEIR HEATER CORE. I CONTACTED WES GREENWAY'S ALEXANDRIA VOLKSWAGEN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. I DID SO THROUGH AN ONLINE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COMPANY, IN WHICH I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE SITE, MR. TONY HUYNH, IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL INVOLVING HEATER CORES FOR 1989 JET'S. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD SEEN THAT THERE WAS ONE, THROUGH A WEBSITE, HE CHECKED MY VIN ON HIS COMPUTER AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO "OPEN RECALL" ON MY SPECIFIC CAR. I WENT TO MY OFFICE AND FOUND THE NHTSA NOTICE AND CALLED MR. HUYNH, SO THAT I COULD LET HIM KNOW THAT I FOUND THE RECALL ON AN OFFICIAL SITE, NOT SOMETHING UNOFFICIAL AS HE HAD SUGGESTED WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP (AT WHICH POINT I COULD NOT RECALL THE WEB SOURCE FOR MY INFORMATION). HE CONTINUED TO DENY THERE WAS A RECALL. IN BOTH INSTANCES, HE SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND HE GAVE ME AN 800-NUMBER TO CALL. (INCIDENTALLY, WHEN I WAS AT THE VW DEALER, MR. HUYNH SAID I SHOULD HAVE CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT RATHER THAN USING THE WEBSITE. I SUGGESTED TO MR. HUYNH THAT THE WEBSITE SHOULD SAY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CALL IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A VERY SIMPLE PROBLEM. HE SAID THE WEBSITE INSTRUCTED PEOPLE TO CALL IF THEY HAD COMPLEX PROBLEMS. I WENT BACK TO THE GREENWAY VW WEBSITE AND FOUND NO SUCH INSTRUCTION AND HAVE PRINTED OUT THE RELEVANT WEBPAGES.) THANKS FOR ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. *LA

NHTSA ID 10045297 · filed Nov 2, 2003

CARBON MONOXIDE IN BLOODSTREAM OF DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID 709575 · filed Aug 3, 1999

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DOOR HANDLES FELL OFF. CAN'T OPEN DOORS FROM OUTSIDE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER HAS TO USE ROPE TO TIE THE DOORS SHUT SO HIS CHILDREN WILL BE SECURE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO LUBRICATE HANDLES PER OWNERS MANUAL. THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT STATE WHEN OR WHERE TO LUBRICATE THE HANDLES. DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER VOLKSWAGEN CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS OUTLAWS THIS AS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *JG

NHTSA ID 8006347 · filed Mar 25, 2002

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ANTIFREEZE LEAK.

NHTSA ID 509835 · filed Oct 15, 1996

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

Data on this page last refreshed .