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Volkswagen Fox Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 81 owner complaints across 7 model years of the Volkswagen Fox (1987–1993). The most-complained-about year is 1988.

5
safety recalls, all years
81
owner complaints, all years
1987
year with most recalls
1988
year with most complaints

Pick your Volkswagen Fox model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1993 Volkswagen Fox218
1992 Volkswagen Fox25
1991 Volkswagen Fox31
1990 Volkswagen Fox215
1989 Volkswagen Fox29
1988 Volkswagen Fox223
1987 Volkswagen Fox310

What Volkswagen Fox owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA. The 1988 model year has the most, with 23.

All Volkswagen Fox recalls (5)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Volkswagen Fox, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 95V105000 Reported 164,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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.

    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…

    Model years: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 92V058000 Reported 358,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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.

    Remedy: Replace the fuel hose attached to the fuel rail and install a new spring type self-tightening clamp.

    Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 91V087000 Reported 2,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Metal fuel lines with an incorrect contour were installed in the engine compartment. The incorrect contour can cause the metal fuel line to rub against the intake manifold.

    Remedy: Replace fuel line with correctly contoured fuel line.

    Model years: 1991

  4. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 88V187000 Reported 104,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Steering wheel/shaft designed to use surface friction may loose this friction if grease or oil is present on the coneshaped surface of the steering shaft.

    Remedy: Remove the steering wheel of vehicles and clean friction surface and install a spring retainer, replace the steering wheel nut with a self locking nut.

    Model years: 1987, 1988, 1989

  5. Wheels

    NHTSA 87V162000 Reported 138 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Under heavy load conditions, the rear tire sidewalls may chafe against the wheel housing.

    Remedy: Install a different type sport wheels or install standard wheels.

    Model years: 1987

Other Volkswagen models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.