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Volkswagen Announces Voluntary Recall

5 February 1999

Volkswagen Announces Voluntary Recall

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 5 -- Volkswagen of America, Inc.
today announced that it is voluntarily recalling approximately 11,585 1999 new
Jetta and new Golf four-door models in the U.S. to remove a piece of sound-
absorbing material inside the center-door pillars because it could potentially
ignite from the activation of the seat-belt tensioning system, which provides
additional protection in severe collisions.
    Approximately 1,385 new 1999 Jettas sold in Canada are also involved.
    Volkswagen determined that the type of sound-absorbing material used in
the door pillars of the recently introduced 1999 new Golf and new Jetta models
could have been improperly installed.  As part of the activation process, the
pretensioner creates heat and could potentially ignite this type of material
if it has been damaged by improper installation.
    There have been no accidents or injuries attributed to this concern, and
only one reported incident in a controlled test environment.
    Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by first-class mail.  They
will be asked to phone their authorized Volkswagen dealer to have the material
-- which is designed to reduce sound at higher speeds -- removed from the door
pillars.  All work will be completed at no cost to the customer.
    Customers with questions are welcome to phone a special Volkswagen
customer toll-free number at 1-877-270-4178.
    Volkswagen began selling the all-new 1999 Jetta in November, preceding the
new 1999 Golf, which went on sale last month.  In the new Golf model line,
only four-doors are affected by the recall.