Volkswagen Fox Recalls

The Volkswagen Fox has 8 recalls spanning the 1976–1993 production run, with the most serious recent issues being a fuel hose on 1993 models that can shrink past its clamps and leak fuel into the engine compartment, risking an underhood fire.

The 1991 model year has a related fire risk: a metal fuel line routed with an incorrect shape can rub against the intake manifold over time, wear through, and leak fuel that can ignite in the engine compartment. On 1993 models, there is also a heater core concern where overheating coolant can pressurize the system to the point where the heat exchanger under the dashboard leaks, releasing hot coolant onto a passenger's feet.

The 1987 model year carries three separate issues. The secondary hood latch can corrode and seize, and if the primary latch is also not engaged, the hood can fly open while driving and block the driver's view. The steering wheel on some 1987 vehicles can loosen on the steering shaft if grease or oil contaminated the friction surface during reassembly, reducing the driver's ability to control steering direction. There is also the same overheating heater core risk noted above for 1993 models, where failing coolant system components can send hot coolant or steam into the cabin.

Going further back, the 1978 model year had front brake caliper guide bolts that may not have been tightened to the correct torque during assembly. The 1976 model year has a fuel pump electrical connection in the fuse and relay board that can develop high resistance, causing low fuel pressure, hard starting, and stalling in traffic.