RoadVitals

1988 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.
3
Latest Jul 22, 2005
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.
1
Latest Nov 18, 1991
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

  • Fuel system3100.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Nov 18, 1991
51,000 units potentially affected
The defect: A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.
The risk: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULDCATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: CHECK VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A FUEL TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE FUEL TANK IF DEFECT IS FOUND.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Jul 22, 2005

DT: CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 91V201000 CONCERNING FUEL SYSTEM/GAS STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY IN 2000-2001. HE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, AND THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, CONSUMER WAS HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. HE WAS NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK LEAKING PRIOR TO HAVING IT REPLACED. AFTER THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING GAS AND CONTINUED TO LEAK. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS. ALSO, HAD DRIVING PROBLEMS/STALLING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID THAT THE CAR HAD A BAD LEAK SOMEWHERE ON TOP OF THE TANK. BUT COULD NOT TELL CONSUMER WHY IT WAS LEAKING. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. HE CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH GAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. THE DEALER WANTE DTO CHARGE CONTACT $500.00 TO PULL THE GAS TANK OUT AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. VOLKSWAGON. TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT IF THE GAS TANK THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2001 HAD THE SAME DEFECT AS THE ORIGINAL TANK THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. BUT IF NOT, THEN CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY $500.00 FOR TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10129744
Incident
Sep 15, 2004
Mileage
95,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 13, 1999

WHILE IN VEHICLE NOTICED GAS SMELL . ALSO PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE . NOTIFIED OF A RECALL91V201000 DEALING WITH FUEL TANK LEAKAGE. BUT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
853994
Fuel system
Filed Jan 23, 1997

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED AND NOW FUEL IS LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS YEAR BUT DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOT ON MY VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
808039
Incident
Oct 1, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0101

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Scirocco by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1991000
1988Viewing310
1987920
1986210
1985030
1984000
1983000
1982010
1981010
1980020
1979170
1978180
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.