Total Complaints
29 filings
VOLKSWAGEN FOX · model year
1993 VOLKSWAGEN FOX
29 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993VOLKSWAGENFOX carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 FOX is engine and engine cooling:cooling system with 5 filings, followed by power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) (2) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1993 FOX, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
29
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE TRAVELING A LONG DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS, THE AIRFLOW SENSOR, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY. *AK THE PREVIOUSLY LOST 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL FRONT OIL SEAL FAILED, FUSES KEPT FAILING AT THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE OIL SEALS AND WATER PUMP FAILED. *JB
Mileage: 90,000
20040326ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHILE TRAVELING A LONG DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS, THE AIRFLOW SENSOR, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY. *AK THE PREVIOUSLY LOST 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL FRONT OIL SEAL FAILED, FUSES KEPT FAILING AT THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE OIL SEALS AND WATER PUMP FAILED. *JB
Mileage: 90,000
20040326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
WHILE TRAVELING A LONG DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS, THE AIRFLOW SENSOR, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY. *AK THE PREVIOUSLY LOST 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL FRONT OIL SEAL FAILED, FUSES KEPT FAILING AT THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE OIL SEALS AND WATER PUMP FAILED. *JB
Mileage: 90,000
20030317SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT UPPER TORSO BUCKLE STICKS OUT, IT IS JUST A FEW INCHES FROM THE HEAD. *AK
20020412ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CONSUMER HAD RECALL 95V105000 REPAIRS DONE IN 1995, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO HEAT EXCHANGER UNDERNEATH DASH. WOULD ALSO LEAK UNDERNEATH PASSENGER'S SEAT. STEAM FROM COOLANT COMES THROUGH VENTS. CAN'T SEE TO DRIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
20020411ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE IS LEAKING COOLANT UNDERNEATH AND IN ENGINE AREA. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE ARE DEFECTIVE CAUSING COOLANT TO SPLASH ALL OVER VEHICLE. *JG
20020411VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
VEHICLE IS LEAKING COOLANT UNDERNEATH AND IN ENGINE AREA. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE ARE DEFECTIVE CAUSING COOLANT TO SPLASH ALL OVER VEHICLE. *JG
20020118VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO TURN ON HEATER. FLUID STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTS ONTO PASSENGERS OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
20000517POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOUND OUT THAT CLUTCH WAS HARD TO PRESS. CLUTCH PLATE FELL OFF, CAUSING CLUTCH SYSTEM TO FAIL. *AK
20000319ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
19991207ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING HEAT EXCHANGER FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 95V105000 DEALER AND MANUFAFCTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
19990217FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TRAVELING 45MPH, STARTED TO SMELL GAS. HEARD AN EXPLOSION. STOPPED & GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. NOTICED SMOKE THEN FLAMES. FIRE DEPT. CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS BURNED OR MELTED. *AK
19981014VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD RESERVOIR DISINTEGRATED.
19981014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED TWICE, SECOND TIME ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO BATTERY.
19981014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
BATTERY FAILED TWICE, SECOND TIME ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO BATTERY.
19981014FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED. GAS HOSES DISNTEGRATED CAUSING GAS TO LEAK.
19981014FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL PUMP FAILED. GAS HOSES DISNTEGRATED CAUSING GAS TO LEAK.
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CONSUMER HAD TO TIE MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE TO CAR, DUE TO DISINTEGRATED RUBBER PART THAT HELD UNIT TO VEHICLE.
19980518ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
HOT COOLANT ESCAPED INT PASSENGER SIDE, RECALL DIDNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, COLLANT STILL COMES ON THE PASSENAGER SHOES.
19980205POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER FAILED.
Compare 1993VOLKSWAGENFOX to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA24004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
RQ24010Recall QueryClosed
Inadvertent Door Opening
RQ23007Recall QueryClosed
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
PE23017Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
EQ22001EQClosed
LGES High Voltage Battery Failures
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN FOX have?▼
The 1993 VOLKSWAGEN FOX has 29 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN FOX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN FOX is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN FOX safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.