Recall Campaign Letter
September 1995Subject: Recall Campaign TD Install Heater Bypass Valve
Dear Volkswagen Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Volkswagen has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1987-1993 model Volkswagen Fox vehicles. Our records show that your vehicle is one of the vehicles affected by this action.
Defect Description
Volkswagen has determined that in the event a cooling system component fails and the vehicle is continuously operated in that condition, the coolant could overheat causing its pressure to rise to a level where a leak in the pressure circuit could occur. Overheating of the coolant is indicated by the illumination of a warning light on the instrument panel. A leak or failure of the heat exchanger underneath the dashboard on the passenger side could allow hot coolant to escape and cause injury to the feet of the passenger. Leakage of hot coolant could also steam up the interior of the vehicle, temporarily impairing the driver's visibility. This could result in an accident.
Remedy
Your authorized Volkswagen dealer will install, free of charge, a valve which will allow excessively hot coolant to bypass the heat exchanger protecting it against malfunction. Your dealer will also install a cover underneath the dashboard on the passenger side to reduce the risk of injury in the event the coolant system develops a leak. In addition, your dealer will make a functional check of the entire cooling system and replace any leaking heat exchanger, free of charge. Any repairs necessary to maintain the cooling system in your car will, of course, be at your expense.
What You Need To Do
Please contact the Service Department of your authorized Volkswagen dealer for an appointment to have the necessary work performed as soon as possible. All the necessary parts will be available by August 31,1995 and the repair will take approximately two hours.
Precautions
Until corrective repairs can be performed, we urge that you take the following precautions: If the coolant temperature warning light on the instrument panel comes on, pull off the road, turn off the engine and contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer.
Overheating can also occur if the radiator fan is not working, the boiling point of the coolant has been reduced due to an incorrect mixture of additive and water, the V-belt connected to the water pump has failed or the air flow to the radiator is obstructed. Any maintenance repairs of the cooling system, except replacement of the heat exchanger, where necessary, and the recall work described in this letter, will be at your expense.
If your authorized Volkswagen dealer fails or is unable to remedy the defect free of charge within a reasonable time, please call or write to:
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Attn: Customer Relations - 2F02 (TD)
3800 Hamlin Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2855
Toll-free Telephone: 1 (800) 822-8987
If you still cannot obtain satisfaction, you may file a complaint with: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 1(800) 424-9393 (Washington, DC area: 366-0123).
We regret any inconvenience this matter may cause you; however, we want to make sure that your vehicle is safe and that you are satisfied with the performance of your Fox vehicle.
Thank you for driving a Volkswagen.