Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet with NHTSA between 1996 and 2010.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
866.7%
Median failure at 170,000 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
216.7%
Body & Structure
18.3%
Steering
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 1996peak 2May 2010
NHTSA investigations into the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA91054Opened 9 Dec 1991Closed 12 Jun 1992VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER CORE FAILURE
EA91016Opened 28 Feb 1991Closed 27 Nov 1991VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
GAS TANK LEAKS
PE91007Opened 29 Oct 1990Closed 28 Feb 1991VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
GAS TANK LEAKS
Recalls on the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1992149300,000 units in Canada
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 MOTION RESULTING IN OBSCURED DRIVER VISION AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE ADVISED BY MAIL REGARDING THE NECESSITY FOR PERIODIC LUBRICATION OF THE ENGINE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM. DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE HOOD MECHANISM WHENEVER AN AFFECTED VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED.
Recall 19911695,533 units in Canada
Fuel System
THE FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A HAIRLINE CRACK ADJACENT TO A SMALL SECTION OF SEAM WELD AT THE REAR OF THE TANK. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, FUEL COULD SEEP OUT WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND FUEL TANKS WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
Recall 198704442,570 units in Canada
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. This could cause the vehicle to stall posing a threat to traffic safety. Correction: A modified fuel pump and filter will be installed.
Recall 198702025,706 units in Canada
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. - INOPERATIVE EGR VALVE -
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
NHTSA complaint #560478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Chandler, AZ
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10329430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesFarmington, MN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10024749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cambridge, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8016770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I HAVE HEARD THAT THE FUEL TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES HAD A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #746286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #560478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leesburg, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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.
NHTSA complaint #879250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sarasota, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
UNABLE TO DRIVE AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE GAS RAN OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND SPILLED ALL OVER THE MANIFOLD.
NHTSA complaint #854124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glen Allen, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I BROUGHT THIS CAR TO THE DEALER FOR WORK ON A LEAKING FUEL TANK AND AFTER MUCH TALKING WITH THE DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE DEALER THAT THE WORK SHOULD BE DONE UNDER A RECALL (YOUR CAMPAIGN NUMBER EITHER 91V201000 OR 94V065000) THE DEALER ALSO FOUND THAT THE INTERNAL FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND IT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAY THAT THIS DOES NOT FALL UNDER A RECALL YET I HAVE A CAMPAIGN NUMBER FOR THIS VERY THING THAT COVERS A MORE FAR REACHING NUMBER OF VEHICLES (87V053000). I WOULD NOT BE QUESTIONING VW OF AMERICA ON THIS BUT I PROBABLY WENT THROUGH 6 PEOPLE BEFORE I FOUND ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO AGREED THAT THIS SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER A RECALL NOTICE ON THE FUEL TANK. IT SEEMS I NEED TO REACH A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PERSONNEL BEFORE ANY ACTION THAT IS SATISFACTORY IS DONE. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE.....
NHTSA complaint #713289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorba Linda, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE FRONT A ARM HAS TENDENCY TO BECOME WEAKENED AND DEVELOP A CRACK ON A POOR WELD SEAM UNDERNEATH THE CAR
NHTSA complaint #703973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorba Linda, CA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT A ARM HAS TENDENCY TO BECOME WEAKENED AND DEVELOP A CRACK ON A POOR WELD SEAM UNDERNEATH THE CAR
NHTSA complaint #703973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Temple City, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. ONCE IN APRIL OF 97 AND ONCE IN AUGUST OF 97. THE FUEL TANK IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #816600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clifton, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
RECALL REPAIRS FOR FUEL TANK LEAKAGE REFUSED SINCE VEHICLE WA SPREVIOUSLY INSPECTED AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND 41/2 YEARS AGO (94V-065).
NHTSA complaint #509357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.