1978 Volkswagen Scirocco Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1978 Volkswagen Scirocco has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,848,305 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 83V117000 1983-11-09 930,000 affected
Defect

THE FUEL PUMP MAY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAN OCCUR BECAUSE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN THE FUSE PANEL MAY OVERHEAT AND INTERRUPT THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUSE BOX AND ITS CONNECTORS FOR CORROSION, AND CORRECT WHERE NECESSARY. A BYPASS ADAPTER TO THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL BE INSTALLED.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 83V116000 1983-11-09 661,585 affected
Defect

BRAKE LINES INSTALLED UNDERNEATH THE CARPETING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MAY RUST DUE TO THE ENTRY OF WATER AND ROAD SALT. IF RUSTING REMAINS UNCHECKED, IT PRODUCES LEAKS IN THE LINES AND BRAKE FLUID MAY BE LOST.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE INTERIOR BRAKE LINES AT NO COST TO OWNER. OWNERS ARE ALSO ADVISED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE INSPECTED AT TWO-YEAR INTERVALS.

STRUCTURE 81V113000 1981-09-24 448,167 affected
Defect

CORROSIVE DAMAGE AND INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY TO STOP FUNCTIONING. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS ONE OF SEVERAL RELAYS ON A RELAY BOARD LOCATED NEAR THE FIREWALL. CORROSION CAUSED BY RAIN ENTERING AN IMPROPERLY SEALED ANTENNA HOLE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS, BUT…

Remedy

VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE MODIFICATION HAS BEEN PERFORMED. IF NOT, A BYPASS WILL BE INSTALLED TO LOCATE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AWAY FROM THE RELAY BOARD. ANY CORRODED RELAY BOARDS OR CONNECTORS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 81V012000 1981-01-28 110,000 affected
Defect

THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH LEADS FROM THE TRANSMISSION LEVER TO THE THROTTLE HOUSING MAY MALFUNCTION. ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN BENT DURING INSTALLATION OR DURING SERVICING OF ENGINE COMPONENTS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE STEEL BAND CABLE TO BIND AND CAN RESULT IN DELAYED RESPONSE DURING DECELERATION, HIGH ENGINE…

Remedy

THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. IN ADDITION, OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ACCELERATION SYSTEM WILL BE CHECKED, LUBRICATED, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACED. THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT CHARGE.

STRUCTURE 80V035000 1980-03-26 140,000 affected
Defect

ON SOME VEHICLES, THE FENDER OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE ANTENNA CABLE IS ROUTED MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED. AS A RESULT, SPLASHED WATER FROM THE TIRES COULD ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE OPENING, ENTER THE FUSE RELAY BOARD AND CAUSE CORROSION OF THE TERMINALS. ALSO, BECAUSE WATER IS A GOOD CONDUCTOR OF…

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, SEAL THE RADIO ANTENNA HOLES AND REPLACE CORRODED COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER..

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 79V120000 1979-05-17 540,000 affected
Defect

DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY SEALED ANTENNA MOUNTING HOLE, WATER COULD SEAP INTO THE FUSE RELAY BOARD. THE WATER ENTERING THE FUSE RELAY BOARD ACTS AS A CONDUCTOR OF CURRENT, THEREBY CHARGING THE STARTER.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL SEAL ALL RADIO ANTENNA CABLE HOLES. IN ADDITION, ELECTRICAL PARTS OF THE RELAY/FUSE BOARD WILL BE CHECKED AND REPLACED IN THE CASE OF CORROSION.

PARKING BRAKE 78V118000 1978-06-01 53 affected
Defect

THE REAR AXLE BRAKE CABLE BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE OF A FLANGE BOLT OF THE REAR AXLE. THIS BRACKET WAS NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL RELOCATE THE BRACKET AND INSTALL A NEW FLANGE, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 77V182000 1977-10-18 18,500 affected
Defect

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE TWO RUBBER ELBOWS, LOCATED AT EACH END OF THE PLASTIC PIPE LEADING FROM THE THROTTLE VALVE BODY HOUSING TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM PUMP, MAY BE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER CLAMP INSTALLATION.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RUBBER ELBOW CONNECTIONS AND INSTALL NEW TYPE CLAMPS, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
Total complaints2

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Vin number = [xxx] vw dealer 4724 roosevelt way northeast, seattle, wa [REDACTED] has not being helpful with 1978 volkswagen scirocco service brakes, hydraulic recall 83v116000. My brakes failed going down a hill in oct 2010 fortunately I downshifted and use the handbrakes to come to a stop. I had…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2010-10-21

“Vin number = [xxx] vw dealer 4724 roosevelt way northeast, seattle, wa [REDACTED] has not being helpful with 1978 volkswagen scirocco service brakes, hydraulic recall 83v116000. My brakes failed going down a hill in oct 2010 fortunately I downshifted and use the handbrakes to come to a stop. I had…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · reported 2010-10-21
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1978 Volkswagen Scirocco as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.