1987 Volkswagen JETTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 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 | 0 |
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: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 1; 2001: 4; 2002: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10008555 · 2002-11-15 (November 15, 2002)
OXYGEN 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489225 · 1995-05-03 (May 3, 1995)
HEATER CORE BURST, CAUSING INJURY. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489330 · 1995-04-19 (April 19, 1995)
ELECTRICAL FIRE, ORIGINATING AT FUSE BOX AND PRECEDED BY A CLICKING NOISE. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500550 · 1996-01-01 (January 1, 1996)
BRACKET HOLDING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TOGETHER BROKE, DUE TO BEING MADE OF ALUMINUM, CAUSING FAILURE OF VEHICLES FINAL DRIVE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785316 · 2001-02-24 (February 24, 2001)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 877632 · 2001-01-08 (January 8, 2001)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 877632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 881629 · 2001-02-27 (February 27, 2001)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 896401 · 2001-09-17 (September 17, 2001)
FUEL 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 896401 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 ↗89V221000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1989-12-08 (December 8, 1989)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V050000 · Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
Reported: 1992-04-14 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗