Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Visibility4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Electrical system4
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Tires1
- Seat belts1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 201,220 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1990 Volkswagen Jetta cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (51 kW, 68 hp) and 1.3 petrol (40 kW, 54 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 51 kW 68 hp | 57 |
| 1.3 petrol | 40 kW 54 hp | 43 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
138 first registered in 1990 are on Dutch roads; 10% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen20
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld15
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast14
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar13
- Band beschadigd9
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm9
- Band onvoldoende profiel8
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af7
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
39 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 193 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
49 of these cars first registered in 1990 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 282,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
13 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta.
| 1997038 18 Feb 1997 | Engine NOTE: GASOLINE POWERED FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES. DURING WINTER PERIODS OF LOW TEMPERATURE WITH HIGH HUMIDITY, THE AIR PRE-HEATING SYSTEM MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO… |
| 1993132 22 Sept 1993 | Fuel System FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AT THE FUEL HOSE TO FUEL RAIL CONNECTION. ESCAPING FUEL COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ENGINE C… |
| 1992149 23 Nov 1992 | Structure CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT MAY PREVENT THE HOOD LATCH AND THE SAFETY CATCH FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOT… |
| 1992057 11 May 1992 | Heater And Defroster IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE WALL OF THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW… |
| 1991115 13 Aug 1991 | Other THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH CMVSS 215 - BUMPERS. TURN SIGNAL LAMP CRACKED IN IMPACT TEST. |
| 1990105 6 Jul 1990 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE WITH THE THREE POSITION LIGHT SWITCH IN THE SECOND POSIT… |
| 1990103 4 Jul 1990 | Fuel System VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT FUEL PUMP WHICH HAS A LOWER OUTPUT AND COULD LEAD TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. REDUCED ENGINE … |
| 1990012 23 Jan 1990 | Steering ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16 VALVE ENGINES, EXCESSIVE TENSI0N COULD CAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET TO BREAK WHICH WOULD LOOSEN THE PUMP AND AND ALLOW THE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
AN ENGINE PREHEATING TUBE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED DUE TO A MISSING SUPPORT BRACKET, CAUSING THE PREHEATING TUBE TO CHAFE AGAINST THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE. THIS CAN DAMAGE THE HYDRAULIC LINE, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT.
THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
OMISSION OF AIR DUCTS INTENDED TO GUIDE FLOW OF COOLING AIR TO LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS COULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO EXCEED ALLOWABLE OPERATING TEMPERATURE UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS.
POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET IS SUBJECT TO BREAKAGE DUE TO EXCESSIVE TENSION CAUSED BY A LACK OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE PUMP MOUNTING BRACKET AND SEALING FLANGE EDGE OF THE OIL PAN.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 1990 Volkswagen Jetta: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621613 | SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT |
| 10026848 | VOLKSWAGEN: EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD, REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES. HEAT SHIELDS ARE TO BE INSPECTED AFTER COMPLETION O ANY TYPE OF REPAIR TO THE UNDERBODY (EXHAUST SYSTEM TRANSMISSION, ETC.), AND IF DAMAGED, REPLACED. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER
DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER
HEATER CORE FAILURE
UNSTABLE HIGH ENGINE IDLE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation