Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1991 Volkswagen Jetta, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility7
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Electrical system4
- Seat belts3
- Structure2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Steering2
- Power train2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 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 1991 Volkswagen Jetta failed the safety check 0.85% of the time — 25% less often than the average 1991 passenger car (1.13%). Median odometer at inspection: 174,891 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1991 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 | 53 |
| 1.3 petrol | 40 kW 54 hp | 31 |
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
119 first registered in 1991 are on Dutch roads; 14% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €16,419.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen10
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar10
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse9
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast9
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af8
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld7
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar6
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
46 cars built in 1991 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 175 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
25 of these cars first registered in 1991 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 225,000 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
2 1991 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1991 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. |
| 1991051 19 Mar 1991 | Suspension DEFECTIVE ENGINE SUB-FRAME BOLTS COULD SHEAR OFF AND ALLOW THE FRONT WHEEL CONTROL ARM TO PIVOT THEREBY PLACING THE CORRESPONDING WHEEL OUT OF ALIGNMENT. TH… |
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 VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.
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.
THE LOCK NUT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD FOR THE OPERATING SERVO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED DURING MANUFACTURE.
FRONT BRAKE HOSES OF INSUFFICIENT LENGTH WERE INSTALLED IN SOME VEHICLES. THESE SHORT HOSES COULD STRETCH AND DEVELOP CRACKS.
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 1991 Volkswagen Jetta: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621613 | SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT |
| 53613 | INFORMATION OBTAINING THE FLUID CAPACITY CHART. *YC |
| 10240922 | Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections |
| 10213843 | Jetta Bluetooth manual coding procedure. |
| 10213836 | Airbag Issues. |
| 10159010 | The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided. |
| 10157383 | VAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide |
| 10155644 | This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward. |
| 10128105 | This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions. |
| 10128104 | This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, ElsaPro infomedia icons grayed out, workshop equipment tool storage application, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions. |
| 10128055 | This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest inbound and outbound ProFi requests. |
| 10126785 | Update model year applicability to include 2017. |
| 10125849 | Jetta Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections: A checklist to insure a customer receives a wonderful delivery of a vehicle that looks, feels, and meets the expectations of a new vehicle that he/she has purchased |
| 10125764 | JETTA-JSW Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections: A checklist to insure a customer receives a wonderful delivery of a vehicle that looks, feels, and meets the expectations of a new vehicle that he/she has purchased |
| 10125763 | JETTA Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections: A checklist to insure a customer receives a wonderful delivery of a vehicle that looks, feels, and meets the expectations of a new vehicle that he/she has purchased |
| 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
REAR WHEEL SEPARATION
DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER
DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation