The 1991 Volkswagen Jetta has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 447,665 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC93V1290001993-08-0276,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
DIMINISHED BRAKING CAN RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PREHEATING TUBE SUPPORT BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER POSITIONING RELATIVE TO THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE.
THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.
Consequence
THE VENTURI TUBE CAN PARTIALLY BLOCK THE THROTTLE PLATEAND PREVENT IT FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN UNWANTEDENGINE SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN A FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR.
Remedy
REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.
THE LOCK NUT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD FOR THE OPERATING SERVO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED DURING MANUFACTURE.
Consequence
INADEQUATE TORQUE OF THE LOCK NUT COULD ALLOW THE RODADJUSTMENT TO CHANGE. THIS COULD INCREASE THE ENGINE IDLE SPEED, AND POSSIBLYINCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE WITH A POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
CHECK AND ASSURE PROPER LOCK NUT TORQUE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC90V1730001990-09-25465 affected
Defect
FRONT BRAKE HOSES OF INSUFFICIENT LENGTH WERE INSTALLED IN SOME VEHICLES. THESE SHORT HOSES COULD STRETCH AND DEVELOP CRACKS.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE, WITH LOSS OFFLUID PRESSURE AND BRAKING ABILITY.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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!”
“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 diagnosed or repaired the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vin and failure mileage…”
“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 diagnosed or repaired the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vin and failure mileage…”
“I was driving on hw 87 in san jose ca. I was in the center lane when the left rear tire separated. A piece of the tire tread that had separated hit the parking brake cable and jammed the left rear parking brake on. This caused vehicle to spin out of control. The vehicle did a complete 180 degree…”
“I was driving on hw 87 in san jose ca. I was in the center lane when the left rear tire separated. A piece of the tire tread that had separated hit the parking brake cable and jammed the left rear parking brake on. This caused vehicle to spin out of control. The vehicle did a complete 180 degree…”
“1991 volkswagen jetta heater core failure. Coolant smell and coolant loss dripping on carpet by drivers feet and fogs up windshield making it dangerous to drive especially at night. I have access to alldata auto repair website and there is a recall listed for this vehicle. The local dealer said it…”
“1991 volkswagen jetta heater core failure. Coolant smell and coolant loss dripping on carpet by drivers feet and fogs up windshield making it dangerous to drive especially at night. I have access to alldata auto repair website and there is a recall listed for this vehicle. The local dealer said it…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1991 volkswagen jetta. Ever since the vehicle was purchased, the contact has had to replace the brakes, calipers, master cylinder, and brake booster. While driving 10 mph, she would have to place the vehicle into neutral and engage the emergency brake in order to stop the…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA93008 Opened 1993-03-03 · closed 1993-09-17
DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE92089 Opened 1992-12-17 · closed 1993-03-03
DETACHMENT OF BUMPER COVER
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE94068 Opened 1994-09-14 · closed 1994-12-30
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Volkswagen Jetta as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.