1991 Volkswagen Jetta Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1991 Volkswagen Jetta, and owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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5 safety recalls for the 1991 Volkswagen Jetta
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
An engine preheating tube may not be properly supported due to a missing support bracket, causing the preheating tube to chafe against the right front metal brake line. This can damage the hydraulic line, causing brake fluid leakage and diminished braking in one brake circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will install a preheating tube support bracket to ensure proper positioning relative to the right front metal brake line.
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Vehicle speed control
The venturi tube located in the throttle valve housing can become loose and fall against the throttle plate.
Remedy: Replace the press-fit venturi tube with a thread type tube.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
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.
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Linkages (vehicle speed control)
The lock nut of the cruise control rod for the operating servo may not have been properly torqued during manufacture.
Remedy: Check and assure proper lock nut torque on the cruise control rod.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
Front brake hoses of insufficient length were installed in some vehicles. These short hoses could stretch and develop cracks.
Remedy: Replace both brake hoses.
31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1991 Volkswagen Jetta have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 121,987 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Accelerator cable disconnected from the gas pedal while driving at 30 MPH on city street. Pulled over to side of road as car died. Dangerous situation!”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 6, 2017 · Fuel/propulsion system
“Tl* the contact owns a 1991 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal independently disconnected. The contact was able to reconnect the pedal. The vehicle was not dia”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 23, 2017 · Vehicle speed control
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1991 Volkswagen Jetta (Jetta GLI 16v). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–34 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–31 / 26–39 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/1.8/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Volkswagen Jetta model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Jetta model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 1991 Volkswagen Jetta
How do I know if my 1991 Volkswagen Jetta has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1991 Volkswagen Jetta; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 90V173000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
- Cc983 complaints
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.