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Volkswagen FOXYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 81 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on record for the Volkswagen FOX.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints81Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls51987–1993 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Volkswagen FOX years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the FOX median. Tap a year for its full report.

'87'88'89'90'91'92'93
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1993Not rated–/10018 complaints · 2 recalls1992Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls1991Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1990Not rated–/10015 complaints · 2 recalls1989Not rated–/1009 complaints · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/10023 complaints · 2 recalls1987Not rated–/10010 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Volkswagen FOX problems

All model years combined: 81 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling281
Visibility190
Power train81
Fuel system, gasoline81
Electrical system72
Structure61
Seat belts60
Latches/locks/linkages40
Equipment30
4 other systems50
5 recalls

Volkswagen FOX recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Engine and engine cooling: cooling system95V-105 · 1987–1993 · May 23, 1995 · 164,000 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings92V-058 · 1990–1993 · Apr 14, 1992 · 358,000 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings91V-087 · 1991 · Jun 3, 1991 · 2,000 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar88V-187 · 1987–1989 · Dec 1, 1988 · 104,000 vehicles–Wheels87V-162 · 1987 · Oct 20, 1987 · 138 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the FOX

  1. HEATER CORE FAILUREEA91054 · 1987–1990 · closed Jun 12, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-050
  2. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONPE88102 · 1987 · closed Jan 5, 1989
    Led to recall 88V-187