Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Volkswagen Golf, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Seat belts1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1987 Volkswagen Golf cars on Dutch roads are the 1.3 petrol (40 kW, 54 hp), 1.6 petrol (53 kW, 71 hp) and 1.8 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp), out of 8 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.3 petrol | 40 kW 54 hp | 194 |
| 1.6 petrol | 53 kW 71 hp | 175 |
| 1.8 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 174 |
| 1.8 petrol | 70 kW 94 hp | 121 |
| 1.6 diesel | 40 kW 54 hp | 73 |
| 1.6 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 63 |
| 1.8 petrol | 82 kW 110 hp | 36 |
| 1.6 diesel | 51 kW 68 hp | 28 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
948 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 49% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen119
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde115
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm51
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld45
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar42
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar38
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse37
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af34
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
260 cars built in 1987 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,376 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 471 of these cars first registered in 1987 took their annual MOT test. 71% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1987 the figure was 72%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1987 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 16.8% | 16.0% |
| Brakes | 10.8% | 9.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 10.4% | 7.5% |
| Suspension | 8.5% | 8.3% |
| Visibility | 4.7% | 6.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.5% | 5.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
51 of these cars first registered in 1987 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 221,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
49 1987 cars are on the New Zealand register; 82% arrived as used imports, 10% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1987 Volkswagen Golf.
| 1997038 18 Feb 1997 | Engine NOTE: GASOLINE POWERED FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES. DURING WINTER PERIODS OF LOW TEMPERATURE WITH HIGH HUMIDITY, THE AIR PRE-HEATING SYSTEM MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO… |
| 1992149 23 Nov 1992 | Structure CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT MAY PREVENT THE HOOD LATCH AND THE SAFETY CATCH FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOT… |
| 1992057 11 May 1992 | Heater And Defroster IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE WALL OF THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW… |
| 1987020 16 Feb 1987 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. - INOPERATIVE EGR VALVE - |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL LUG NUTS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY TORQUED.
FUEL PUMP, LOCATED INSIDE FUEL TANK, COULD SEIZE DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF AN EXTREME FINE MESH FUEL FILTER RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
NHTSA investigations
HEATER CORE FAILURE
HEATER CORE RUPTURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation