1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet, and owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Tank assembly (fuel system)
A crack can develop in the fuel tank adjacent to a seam weld in the rear of the tank.
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.
-
Tank assembly (fuel system)
A crack can develop in the fuel tank adjacent to a seam weld in the rear of the tank.
Remedy: Check vehicle with a specially designed tool for the presence of a fuel tank crack, and replace fuel tank if defect is found.
-
Fuel pump (fuel system)
Fuel pump, located inside fuel tank, could seize during high ambient temperatures because of an extreme fine mesh fuel filter restricting the fuel flow.
Remedy: Install a modified fuel pump and filter.
11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 170,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 8, 2010 · Steering
“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 complaint to NHTSA, June 23, 2003 · Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–21 / 23–26 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Volkswagen Cabriolet model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Cabriolet model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 Volkswagen Cabriolet | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet | 1 | 6 |
| 1986 Volkswagen Cabriolet | 1 | 3 |
| 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet | 3 | 11 |
| 1988 Volkswagen Cabriolet | 2 | 6 |
| 1989 Volkswagen Cabriolet | 2 | 9 |
| 1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet | 4 | 8 |
Checking a specific 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet
How do I know if my 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 87V053000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Jetta10,000 complaints
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.