1990 Volkswagen PASSAT Recalls
NHTSA has 2 recall campaigns on file for the 1990 Volkswagen PASSAT. Every repair below is free at a franchised dealer, by federal law.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
IN THE EVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY IN THAT CONDITION, THE COOLANT PRESSURE WILL RISE TO A LEVEL AT WHICH THE HEAT EXCHANGER COULD LEAK.
Risk: A LEAKING HEAT EXCHANGER WILL ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER'S FEET OR COULD STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEAT EXCHANGER ON THESE VEHICLES.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.
Risk: 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.
Does this apply to your PASSAT?
Campaigns list every affected vehicle at the model level, but individual vehicles may already be repaired or fall outside the affected production range. Check a specific VIN with the Volkswagen recall lookup — free — or see other 1990 Volkswagen models with recalls. Source: official NHTSA recall database.