Volkswagen SCIROCCO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
144,023 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1975 to 1988 model years. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 12 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 41.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 41.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006998 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
CONTACTED VW DEALERSHIP AFTER BEING NOTIFIED REPEATEDLY BY VWOA TO GET THE TANK REPLACED AND THEY REFUSED TO CHANGE IT AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A DAY AND PUTTING 30 MILES ON IT...AM I GOING TO BLOW UP NOW? ALSO..CIRCLIPS IN TRANSMISSION CASING MADE THE TRANSMISSION GRENADE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM' **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734286
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734263 · 2000-10-13 (October 13, 2000)
I OWN 2 1987 VW SCIROCCOS, BOTH HAVE HAD SUDDEN AND CATOSTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH COMPLETLY DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSIONS, BOTH LOCKED UP ON THE ROAD AND NEARLY CAUSED HORRIFIC ACCIDENTS. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN SEVERAL MODELS WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION AND HAS BEEN IGNORED BY VW AND VWOA. THIS CAR ALSO HAS A LEAKING FUEL TANK WHICH I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALERS REFUSE TO EVEN CONFIRM THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH LARGE GROUPS OF VW OWNERS WITH THESE PROBLEMS, AND THE RESULTS FROM DEALER INSPECTIONS OR JUST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717443 · 2000-01-17 (January 17, 2000)
REFERENCE RECALL 91V201000: A RECALL ON 1987 VW 16V SCIROCCOS' FUEL TANK. MY 1986 16 V SCIROCCO WAS AN EARLY RELEASE OF THE 16V SCIROCCO MODEL; IT IS ACTUALLY A 1986 1/2. IT IS EXACTLY LIKE THE 1987 MODEL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUF. AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LUCK, SAME WITH DEALER SO FAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047670 · 2003-11-26 (November 26, 2003)
MY CAR BEGAN LEAKING GAS RECENTLY. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR I COULD SEE (AND I HAVE WITNESSES) THAT GAS IS RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK WHEN I FILL THE TANK UP. I FOUND OUT FROM SPEAKING TO SCIROCCO OWNERS ONLINE THAT MANY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SHOWED ME THE RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE GAS TANK LISTED ON NHTSA.DOT.GOV. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A VOLKSWAGEN (VW) DEALER TO INSPECT IT. RICH AT THE VW DEALER IN BURLINGTON, NJ LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR SAID "THE LEAK COULD BE FROM ANYWHERE SINCE I SEE RUST ON THE BOTTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 144,023 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129744 · 2005-07-22 (July 22, 2005)
DT: CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 91V201000 CONCERNING FUEL SYSTEM/GAS STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY IN 2000-2001. HE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, AND THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, CONSUMER WAS HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. HE WAS NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK LEAKING PRIOR TO HAVING IT REPLACED. AFTER THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING GAS AND CONTINUED TO LEAK. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS. ALSO, HAD DRIVING PROBLEMS/STALLING. CONSUMER…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415007 · 2011-07-25 (July 25, 2011)
VIN NUMBER = [XXX] VW DEALER 4724 ROOSEVELT WAY NORTHEAST, SEATTLE, WA [phone removed] HAS NOT BEING HELPFUL WITH 1978 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC RECALL 83V116000. MY BRAKES FAILED GOING DOWN A HILL IN OCT 2010 FORTUNATELY I DOWNSHIFTED AND USE THE HANDBRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. I HAD TRULINE POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1983 AND I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE VW MAKE THE REPAIR SINCE SAFETY RECALLS AE FOREVER. UNIVERSITY VW HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL WITH MY PROBLEM AS I LEFT MY CAR THERE FOR NEARLY A MONTH AND ALL …
Owner-reported narrative. 220,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415007 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 6 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1979 | 7 |
| 1980 | 2 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 1 |
1975: 6; 1976: 7; 1977: 6; 1978: 8; 1979: 7; 1980: 2; 1981: 1; 1982: 1; 1985: 3; 1986: 1; 1987: 2; 1988: 1