Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Volkswagen Jetta, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Suspension2
- Electrical system2
- Seat belts2
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
- Seats1
- Vehicle speed control1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1987 Volkswagen Jetta cars on Dutch roads are the 1.3 petrol (40 kW, 54 hp), 1.6 petrol (53 kW, 71 hp) and 1.6 diesel (40 kW, 54 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.3 petrol | 40 kW 54 hp | 53 |
| 1.6 petrol | 53 kW 71 hp | 44 |
| 1.6 diesel | 40 kW 54 hp | 20 |
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
148 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 15% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen12
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse8
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht6
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde5
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af4
- Uitlaatsysteem ondeugdelijk bevestigd3
- Richtingaanwijzer werkt niet (goed)3
- Remslang schuurt langs enig deel3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
4 cars built in 1987 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 54 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
16 of these cars first registered in 1987 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 203,000 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
1 1987 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1987 Volkswagen Jetta.
| 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… |
| 1989167 12 Dec 1989 | Brakes A CONTOUR DEVIATION IN THE BRAKE LINE COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LINE TO CHAFE AGAINST A PREHEATING TUBE. PROLONGED CHAFING COULD LEAD TO BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE AND … |
| 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 1987 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
DEFECTIVE HEATER CORES
HEATER CORE FAILURE
HEATER CORE FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation