The defect
IN THE EVENT OF A COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE COOLANT CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TO RISE TO A LEVEL WHERE A LEAK IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN OCCUR.
The risk
A LEAK OR FAILURE OF THE HEAT EXCHANGER LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD CAN ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF A PASSENGER. HOT COOLANT CAN ALSO STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BYPASS VALVE KIT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ROUTE EXCESSIVELY HOT COOLANT TO THE ENGINE WITHOUT FLOWING THROUGH THE HEAT EXCHANGER. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A PLASTIC COVER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ENSURE THAT THE PASSENGER IS NOT EXPOSED TO HOT COOLANT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAK.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Fox | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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 Fox | 1987 | 10 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Fox | 1988 | 23 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Fox | 1989 | 9 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Fox | 1990 | 15 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Fox | 1991 | 1 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Fox | 1992 | 5 | 2 |
| Volkswagen Fox | 1993 | 18 | 2 |
Other engine and engine cooling recalls in 1995
10 of the 260 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1995 concerned the engine and engine cooling; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC filed 204 campaigns in all.
| 95V247000 28 Dec 1995 | PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC. |
| 95V248000 28 Dec 1995 | PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC. |
| 95V180000 22 Sept 1995 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 95V178000 20 Sept 1995 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 95V157000 11 Aug 1995 | RANGE ROVER NA., INC. |
| 95V125000 20 Jun 1995 | HOLIDAY RAMBLER CORP. |
| 95V100000 18 May 1995 | MITSUBISHI FUSO TRK, AMER |
| 95V055000 21 Mar 1995 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1995