The 1990 Volkswagen Jetta has 4 recalls, the most serious being a power steering pump bracket that can crack and allow the drive belt to slip, forcing the driver to apply sudden, unexpected force to steer the vehicle.
On 16-valve engine models, this bracket sits too close to the oil pan flange, which puts it under stress until it breaks. There is also a fuel system concern: certain vehicles were fitted with an incorrect fuel pump that delivers less pressure than needed, which can cause the engine to lose power at a critical moment such as when passing another vehicle. The fourth recall is a compliance issue involving the front and rear bumpers, where a turn signal lamp cracked during impact testing, leaving that light vulnerable to damage in a low-speed collision.