Volkswagen›Fox›1993›Overview/volkswagen/fox/1993/base/

1993 Volkswagen Fox

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Fox.

Transmission Manual 5-spd

The 1993 Volkswagen Fox was offered with a five-speed manual transmission and EPA fuel-economy ratings of 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined mpg, while routine oil service calls for 3.7 quarts of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 20W-20 API oil. Owner-reported data records 24 complaints for this year, with Engine & Engine Cooling cited as the top problem area, alongside two recalls. Within the 1990–1993 model span, 1993 carries the highest complaint count against 1991’s lowest, making it the most documented—and therefore the most scrutinized—year of this short run.

Model year1993199219911990198919881987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 20W-20 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/30/25 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 30 / 25 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume77 cu ft
Cargo volume10 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Fox of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.5–12.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.50 sec — 1987 GL Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989GL Sedan 1.8L I-412.30 sec18.50 sec81 hpFWD
1988GL 3-door Wagon 1.8L I-410.80 sec18.20 sec81 hpFWD
1987GL Sedan 1.8L I-410.50 sec17.90 sec81 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 20W-20 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilAPI · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 20W-20
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE VW. PART NO. G002000

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 7,500 miClutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBrake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Neutral Safety Switch (test) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Volkswagen Fox recorded 24 complaints, the highest in the 1990‑1993 span and well above the 5 complaints in 1992 and the 1 complaint in 1991, while recalls remained steady at two each year. Investigations dropped to zero after 1990 and stayed at 0 for 1991‑1993, and technical service bulletins hovered around 10 annually after rising from 2 in 1990 to 11 in 1991. The top complaint areas for 1993 were Engine & Engine Cooling (6), Seat Belts (5), Power Train (4), and Visibility (3), with one fire‑related complaint and no crash complaints reported. Because the data do not specify root causes for these issues, any inference about underlying defects is unsupported. Given the sharp increase in complaints relative to adjacent years, a cautious approach is warranted; a thorough pre‑purchase inspection is advisable before considering a 1993 Fox as a purchase.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
24
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’91’92’93

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling6
Seat Belts5
Power Train4
Visibility3
Electrical System2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Visibility1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V105000Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling SystemReported 23/05/1995

IN THE EVENT OF A COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE COOLANT CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TO RISE TO A LEVEL WHERE A LEAK IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN OCCUR. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BYPASS VALVE KIT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ROUTE EXCESSIVELY HOT COOLANT TO THE ENGINE WITHOUT FLOWING THROUGH THE HEAT EXCHANGER. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A…

92V058000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 14/04/1992

THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SM 33-20192019-03-27EquipmentThe part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria…
SM 44-2017 EN2017-06-28EquipmentThis special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the…
VHW-17-112017-06-22EquipmentVAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide
1-2017 Update2017-02-01EquipmentThis communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest…
V691601 20104792016-10-31EquipmentUpdate model year applicability to include 2017.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Fox. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 3.7 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Fox take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 68 degrees F: 40W API SL, 32 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 30W API SL, ABOVE 14 degrees F: 20W-40, 20W-50 API SL, 14 degrees F TO 50 degrees F: 20W-20 API SL, BELOW 25 degrees F: 10W API (STARBU, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Fox have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Fox get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined mpg.