IllustrationOXYGEN 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
1987 Volkswagen Jetta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
18 reportsFUEL 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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
Official recalls
392V050000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:heater Core
Apr 14, 1992
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE COOLANT ESCAPING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COULDCONTACT THE DRIVER'S FEET AND INJURE THE DRIVER. ALSO, STEAM FROM THE HEATEDLIQUID WILL CLOUD ON THE WINDOW SURFACES AND IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S VISION ANDCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE HEATER CORE WITH AN IMPROVED HEATER CORE.
89V221000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Dec 8, 1989
No summary supplied.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PROLONGED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A LEAKING BRAKELINE RESULTING IN DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT WHICH WOULD INCREASETHE STOPPING DISTANCES AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: CURVE OR REPLACE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE.
87V053000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Apr 14, 1987
FUEL PUMP, LOCATED INSIDE FUEL TANK, COULD SEIZE DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF AN EXTREME FINE MESH FUEL FILTER RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL SUPPLY TO ENGINE WOULD BE PARTIALLY INTERRUPTED,RESULTING IN STALLING.
Remedy: INSTALL A MODIFIED FUEL PUMP AND FILTER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP92003 · Defective Heater Cores
Opened Mar 3, 1992 · Closed Mar 23, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
DEFECTIVE HEATER CORES
EA91054 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Dec 9, 1991 · Closed Jun 12, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
PE91114 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Aug 26, 1991 · Closed Dec 9, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available