1990 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

HI I PURCHASED A 1990 VW PASSAT THE VIN # IS [XXX] .... THE HEATER CORE BLEW ON THIS VEHICLE, I BY PASSED THE HOSES 2 STOP THE HEATER CORE FROM LEAKING, IT SMELLED LIKE SYRUP AND VISIBILITY WAS BAD IF I HAD TO USE THE WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER , I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD OF THIS RECALL AND CHECKED YOUR SITE AND SAW THAT THIS RECALL I HEARD ABOUT WAS TRUE. SO NEXT I WENT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER(JACK DANIELS, LOCATED IN FAIR LAWN NJ). I GAVE HIM THE VIN # AND HE SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DO NEXT SO IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT THANKS. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 78,964

WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HEATER CORE BURST, FILLING INTERIOR OF CAR WITH HOT COOLANT AND STEAM. HER VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE STEAM ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HE HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC. MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, HAD SOME COOLANT SPILL ONTO HER SHOE. VOA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PART BEFORE ON OTHER SERIAL NUMBER RANGES AND OTHER MODELS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY CLAIMED MY VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF RECALL CRITERIA, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME EXACT PART SUFFERED THE SAME EXACT FAILURE.*AK

Mileage: 121,000

RECALL 96V115000: THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAT, THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY HEATING CORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEATER CORE, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 146,000

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

Mileage: 179,000

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

Mileage: 179,000

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

Mileage: 179,000

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

Mileage: 179,000

THE RIGHT BALL JOINTS AND SWAY BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LOW MILEAGE. NLM

THE RIGHT BALL JOINTS AND SWAY BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LOW MILEAGE. NLM

RECALL 96 V 115 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING IN WHICH COOLANT / STEAM WAS COMING INTO VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK HEATING CORE FAILED AND LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM REPAIR WHILE THE SAME FAILURES AS IN THE RECALL OCCURED. *YH

RECALL 96 V 115 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING IN WHICH COOLANT / STEAM WAS COMING INTO VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK HEATING CORE FAILED AND LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM REPAIR WHILE THE SAME FAILURES AS IN THE RECALL OCCURED. *YH

WATER PUMP FAILED AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A LEAK. *AK

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (03/11/00 AND 07/03/00) I WAS TRAVELLING AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH AND HEARD A SUDDEN SNAP COMING FROM ONE OF MY TIRES. HOWEVER, THE SOUND WAS VERY MUCH LIKE THE SOUND WHEN SOMETHING GETS CAUGHT UNDERNEATH THE CAR MOMENTARILY WHILE PASSING OVER IT. THE FIRST OCCASION INVOLVED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, THE SECOND INVOLVED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ON EACH OCCASION I FOUND THE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE, LEAVING THE STEEL BELT UNDERNEATH TOTALLY EXPOSED. BOTH INCIDENTS INVOLVED THE SAME MODEL OF FIRESTONE TIRE, THE FIREHAWK SS10. THE AFFECTED TIRES REMAINED COMPLETELY INFLATED, SO HAD I NOT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER THE INITIAL SNAP, I WOULDN'T HAVE NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I FEAR THAT IF I HAD NOT PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, I MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE REST OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, PERHAPS ONLY A FEW MILES DOW

WE DID NOT REALIZE OTHER OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL YEAR UNTIL WE READ YOUR REPORTS.WE DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT OUR PROBLEMS MAY BE ONE OF A FEW. OTHERS ARE "HARD START, ROUGH/HUNTING AT IDLE ,HARSH ENGAGEMENT & FINALLY NO 4TH GEAR SHIFT. *AK

RECALL NUMBER 96V115000; CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML

SPRING STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS FAILED. YH

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED. YH

FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. YH

CV JOINT FAILED. YH

FRONT END VIBRATION CAUSED THE TIRE TO WEAR OUT AND WHEELS TO BEND. YH