1987 Volkswagen CABRIOLET: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
170,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 6 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 50.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4; Steering: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024749 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS FUEL TANK AS STATED IN RECALL # 94V065000; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329430 · 2010-05-08 (May 8, 2010)
1 NORMAL DRIVING 2 LOWER BEARING OF THE STEERING COLUMN FALLS FROM BEARING RACE, CREATES HAZARDOUS STEERING 3 A PLASTIC BEARING RETAINER IS THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT AND THIS BRAKES CAUSING THE FAILURE. REPLACEMENT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10329430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560478 · 2001-03-23 (March 23, 2001)
THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED ONTO THE CONSUMERS LEGS, THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BURNS TO BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT CALVES, DUE TO THE PAIN OF THE HOT STEAM THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE EMBANKMENT (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 746286 · 2001-06-02 (June 2, 2001)
I HAVE HEARD THAT THE FUEL TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES HAD A RECALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 746286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8016770 · 2002-08-20 (August 20, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8016770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 879250 · 2001-01-29 (January 29, 2001)
CONSUMER HAD FOUND A CRACK ON FUEL TANK AFTER SMELLING FUEL, AND FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM TANK. TANK HAD TO BE REPAIRED. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER HAD FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL 94V065000 WHICH DEALT WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 879250 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V053000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 1987-04-14 (April 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: FUEL SUPPLY TO ENGINE WOULD BE PARTIALLY INTERRUPTED,RESULTING IN STALLING.
Remedy: INSTALL A MODIFIED FUEL PUMP AND FILTER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V201000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1991-11-18 (November 18, 1991)
A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.
Consequence: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULDCATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: CHECK VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A FUEL TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE FUEL TANK IF DEFECT IS FOUND.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V065000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1994-04-08 (April 8, 1994)
A CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK ADJACENT TO A SEAM WELD IN THE REAR OF THE TANK.
Consequence: FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACKED FUEL TANK WHICH COULD CATCH FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE VEHICLE WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED TOOL FOR THE PRESENCE OF A TANK CRACK, AND REPLACE THE FUEL TANK IF THE DEFECT IS PRESENT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗