Total Complaints
18 filings
Volkswagen Jetta · model year
1986 Volkswagen Jetta
18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 18
- Recalls
- 0
The verdict
The 1986 Volkswagen Jetta posts top-10% complaint standing among its own model-year siblings.
- Top 7%
- fewest complaints, own model years
- 0
- recall campaigns
The 1986VolkswagenJetta carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1986 Jetta is fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump with 5 filings, followed by visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core (3) and power train:clutch assembly (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1986 Jetta, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
18
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1986 Volkswagen Jetta
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100927VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ABNORMALLY LEAKING ONTO HER FOOT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HER FOOT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ONTO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,869.
Mileage: 97,869
20021210VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THERE IS A WEAK MELTED SEAL IN THE FUEL BOX WHICH IS LEAKING. *JG THE HEATER CORE WAS RECALLED. RECALL# 87V053000 *SCC
20021210FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THERE IS A WEAK MELTED SEAL IN THE FUEL BOX WHICH IS LEAKING. *JG THE HEATER CORE WAS RECALLED. RECALL# 87V053000 *SCC
20020109FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. DURING LONG IDLING MY FUEL PUMP MAKES ALOT OF NOISE THEN SHUTS DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THE MANUFACTURE STATED THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. ITS AMAZING THAT I HAVE PUT UP WITH THIS FOR THIS LONG. I SPENT MANY HARD EARN DOLLARS TO TRY TO FIGURE THIS PROBLEM OUT AND STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED BECAUSE NOONE COULD FIGURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WAS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART AND DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE . THANK YOU. *AK
20000630FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND THEN STALLS WHILE IDLING AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WORSE DURING HIGH TEMPERATURES. WILL NOT RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. FUEL PUMP MAKES WHINING NOISES.
20000112STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
A SUDDEN FAILURE FROM THE FRACTURE OF THE METAL HOLDING THE PART OF THE K-FRAME WHICH HOLDS THE LOWER LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION MEMBER, STEERING CONTROL BECAME SUDDENLY VERRY SLOPPY, NEARLY RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH ADJOINING TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SECOND FALURE OF THIS MEMBER ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER WANTED TO SELL ME PARTS AND LABOR BUT WAS OTHERWISE NOT INTERESTED. IT SEEMED WHEN I WAS INQUIRING ABOUT PARTS AVAILABILITY THAT THIS MAY NOT BE AN UNCOMMON FAILURE TO OCCURR ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19991109FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION ON CAR DID NOT START UP. THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
19971007VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE HEATER CORE. THE DEALER HAD TO REMOVE THE AIR DUCT SEALS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . DEALER HAD TO REMOVE SEALS IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE RECALL. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE SEALS UNLESS THE OWNER PAYS FOR THEM. *AK
19971003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER FAILED.
19970702CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION RESULTED IN MULTIPLE CUTS/BURNS/CONCUSSION. *AK
19970627SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE INNER PADS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT BOTH SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE BACK PLATES AND PUSHED DOWN IN THE CALIPER, RUBBING AGAINST THE ROTOR.
19970520CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOYED DURING CRASH, INCLUDING A BURN THAT LEFT THE VW EMBLEM FROM THE STEERING WHEEL EMBEDDED ON ARM.
19961231FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMPS FAILED TWICE.
19960304STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AND REAR DOOR HANDLES, DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN OFF CAN NOT GET INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK
19960304STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AND REAR DOOR HANDLES, DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN OFF CAN NOT GET INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK
19960304STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AND REAR DOOR HANDLES, DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN OFF CAN NOT GET INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK
19960125POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, UNABLE TO ENGAGE IN FORWARD GEARS. TT
19960125POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, UNABLE TO ENGAGE IN FORWARD GEARS. TT
Compare 1986VolkswagenJetta to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA24004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
RQ24010Recall QueryClosed
Inadvertent Door Opening
RQ23007Recall QueryClosed
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
PE23017Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
EQ22001EQClosed
LGES High Voltage Battery Failures
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta have?▼
The 1986 Volkswagen Jetta has 18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE and POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.