Volkswagen Jetta · model year

1987 Volkswagen Jetta

21 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
21
Recalls
0

The verdict

The 1987 Volkswagen Jetta posts top-quartile complaint standing among its own model-year siblings.

Top 12%
fewest complaints, own model years
0
recall campaigns

The 1987VolkswagenJetta carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 4 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 1987 Jetta is visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core with 3 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump (2) and seat belts:front:retractor (1). 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 1987 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.

21
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1987 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.

Total Complaints

21 filings

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

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT1

Recent Complaints

20030514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED ON A 5-SPEED JETTA WITH GASOLINE ENGINE.-----DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-------769740. *AK

20010917FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP INSIDE OF GAS TANK GETS HOT IT AND QUITS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED RECALL ON FUEL PUMP PROBLEM AND REPAIR WAS DONE. *YH

20010502VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

CONSUMER STATES THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE-THRU, ANTIFREEZE LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS AND RADIO COMPARTMENT ONTO THE FLOOR WITH PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE, ONE PERSON WAS BURNT WITH RADIATOR FLUID, RADIO SHORTED. *SLC

20010227VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE CONSUMER WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND TIRED TO STEP ON GAS TO GO, RADIATOR EXPLODED, AND THROUGH RADIATOR WATER ENTERED INTO VEHICLE BURNING PASSENGER, AND FLOODING VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF RECALL NUMBER 92V050000.*AK

20010227ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

WHILE CONSUMER WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND TIRED TO STEP ON GAS TO GO, RADIATOR EXPLODED, AND THROUGH RADIATOR WATER ENTERED INTO VEHICLE BURNING PASSENGER, AND FLOODING VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF RECALL NUMBER 92V050000.*AK

20010108CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, WHEEL CAME OFF, TIE ROD SNAPPED IN HALF, VEHICLE ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

20010108CrashSTEERING:LINKAGES

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, WHEEL CAME OFF, TIE ROD SNAPPED IN HALF, VEHICLE ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

19990830STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREQUENTLY STICK, AND EVENTUALLY BREAK, ESPECIALLY WHEN EXPOSED TO COLD WEATHER. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE, THOUGH THE INTERIOR MECHANISMS FOR THE DOOR LATCHES USUALLY WORK WELL.

19990704ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POWER WENT OFF/ LIGHTS/ENGINE FAILED AT 65 MPH ON HWY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. THEN CAME BACK ON AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. NEVER DID IT SINCE. NOT SURE WHAT FAILED, BUT IT WAS SCARY. *AK

19990312SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLE ON A HILL AREA THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CRACKED AT ONE POINT, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO MOVE AROUND FREELY. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS INCIDENT. THE OWNER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. *AK

19990217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES MOST OF THE WAY DOWN AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP UNTIL IT IS PRESSED FOR THE SECOND TIME. MECHANIC SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. *AK

19970606VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING 25MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 45MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IN ORDER TO STOP, THE GEARS WERE SWITCHED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

19970418SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. *AK

19960601ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BRACKET HOLDING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TOGETHER BROKE, DUE TO BEING MADE OF ALUMINUM, CAUSING FAILURE OF VEHICLES FINAL DRIVE. *DSH

19951130FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS A VAPOR FORMING WHICH HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER OR HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. TT CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 87V053 REGARDING A FAULTY FUEL PUMP, OVER THE YEARS AFTER REPAIR, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION AND STALLING IN HOT CONDITIONS OR HEAVY TRAFFIC, CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO HESITATION OR STALLING, FUEL PUMP WOULD MAKE A HUMMING NOISE. *SLC

19951130FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS A VAPOR FORMING WHICH HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER OR HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. TT CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 87V053 REGARDING A FAULTY FUEL PUMP, OVER THE YEARS AFTER REPAIR, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION AND STALLING IN HOT CONDITIONS OR HEAVY TRAFFIC, CONSUMER STATES PRIOR TO HESITATION OR STALLING, FUEL PUMP WOULD MAKE A HUMMING NOISE. *SLC

19950929VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDSHIELD HAS BECOME PITTED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY TO SEE THE ROAD. TT

19950622FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

ELECTRICAL FIRE, ORIGINATING AT FUSE BOX AND PRECEDED BY A CLICKING NOISE. *TW

19950609SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

SHOULDER BELT WILL STICK IN COLD WEATHER. DRIVER STATES MUST RIDE WITHOUT BELT UNTIL VEHICLE WARMS. TT

19950608VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

HEATER CORE BURST, CAUSING INJURY. *TW

Compare 1987VolkswagenJetta to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1987 Volkswagen Jetta have?
The 1987 Volkswagen Jetta has 21 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most-complained component for the 1987 Volkswagen Jetta is VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1987 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 1987 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.