Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Structure3
- Visibility3
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Air bags1
- Electrical system1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta failed the safety check 4.29% of the time — 460% more often than the average 1986 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,059 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1986 Volkswagen Jetta cars on Dutch roads are the 1.3 petrol (40 kW, 54 hp), 1.6 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp) and 1.6 diesel (40 kW, 54 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.3 petrol | 40 kW 54 hp | 49 |
| 1.6 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 45 |
| 1.6 diesel | 40 kW 54 hp | 39 |
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
193 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 36% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar14
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld14
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen12
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde11
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar11
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af9
- Band onvoldoende profiel7
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt7
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
10 cars built in 1986 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 55 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
In Finland
19 of these cars first registered in 1986 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 220,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta.
| 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… |
| 1987044 29 Apr 1987 | Fuel System The fuel pump located inside the fuel tank could seize during high ambient temperatures because of an extreme fine mesh fuel filter restricting the fuel flow. T… |
| 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.
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
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621613 | SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HEATER CORE FAILURE
HEATER CORE FAILURE
ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation