RoadVitals

1978 Volkswagen Scirocco

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
1
Latest Jul 25, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
8
Latest Nov 9, 1983
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1978 Volkswagen Scirocco, most frequently naming the brakes category. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
83V117000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

Nov 9, 1983
930,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FUEL PUMP MAY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAN OCCUR BECAUSE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN THE FUSE PANEL MAY OVERHEAT AND INTERRUPT THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUSE BOX AND ITS CONNECTORS FOR CORROSION, AND CORRECT WHERE NECESSARY. A BYPASS ADAPTER TO THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL BE INSTALLED.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
83V116000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Nov 9, 1983
661,585 units potentially affected
The defect: BRAKE LINES INSTALLED UNDERNEATH THE CARPETING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MAY RUST DUE TO THE ENTRY OF WATER AND ROAD SALT. IF RUSTING REMAINS UNCHECKED, IT PRODUCES LEAKS IN THE LINES AND BRAKE FLUID MAY BE LOST.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE INTERIOR BRAKE LINES AT NO COST TO OWNER. OWNERS ARE ALSO ADVISED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE INSPECTED AT TWO-YEAR INTERVALS.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
81V113000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Sep 24, 1981
448,167 units potentially affected
The defect: CORROSIVE DAMAGE AND INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY TO STOP FUNCTIONING. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS ONE OF SEVERAL RELAYS ON A RELAY BOARD LOCATED NEAR THE FIREWALL. CORROSION CAUSED BY RAIN ENTERING AN IMPROPERLY SEALED ANTENNA HOLE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS, BUT ADDITIONAL MEASURES ARE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CORRECTED.
The remedy: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE MODIFICATION HAS BEEN PERFORMED. IF NOT, A BYPASS WILL BE INSTALLED TO LOCATE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AWAY FROM THE RELAY BOARD. ANY CORRODED RELAY BOARDS OR CONNECTORS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2011

VIN NUMBER = [XXX] VW DEALER 4724 ROOSEVELT WAY NORTHEAST, SEATTLE, WA (206) 634-3322 HAS NOT BEING HELPFUL WITH 1978 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC RECALL 83V116000. MY BRAKES FAILED GOING DOWN A HILL IN OCT 2010 FORTUNATELY I DOWNSHIFTED AND USE THE HANDBRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. I HAD TRULINE POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1983 AND I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE VW MAKE THE REPAIR SINCE SAFETY RECALLS AE FOREVER. UNIVERSITY VW HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL WITH MY PROBLEM AS I LEFT MY CAR THERE FOR NEARLY A MONTH AND ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PARTS OR THEY ARE WAITING FOR FEEDBACK FROM VW HEADQUARTERS. I'D TRIED EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS TO UNIVERSITY VW AND STILL GETTING THE SAME REPLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10415007
Incident
Oct 21, 2010
Mileage
220,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Scirocco by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1991000—
1988310—
1987920—
1986210—
1985030—
1984000—
1983000—
1982010—
1981010—
1980020—
1979170—
1978Viewing180—
1977060—
1976070—
1975060—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.