The defect
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 risk
THE COOLANT ESCAPING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COULDCONTACT THE DRIVER'S FEET AND INJURE THE DRIVER. ALSO, STEAM FROM THE HEATEDLIQUID WILL CLOUD ON THE WINDOW SURFACES AND IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S VISION ANDCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy
REPLACE THE HEATER CORE WITH AN IMPROVED HEATER CORE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
Components: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen GTI | 1985 | 2 | 2 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 1986 | 2 | 3 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 1987 | 2 | 2 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 1988 | 0 | 1 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 1990 | 0 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1985 | 10 | 5 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1986 | 13 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1987 | 4 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1988 | 9 | 5 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1989 | 17 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1990 | 10 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 1985 | 13 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 1986 | 14 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 1987 | 18 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 1988 | 19 | 7 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 1989 | 28 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 1990 | 22 | 5 |
Other visibility recalls in 1992
7 of the 185 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1992 concerned the visibility; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC filed 204 campaigns in all.
| 92V140000 29 Sept 1992 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 92V077000 18 May 1992 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 92V051000 10 Apr 1992 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 92V043000 1 Apr 1992 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 92V024000 2 Mar 1992 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 92V013000 3 Jan 1992 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1992