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Volkswagen CabrioletModel year report

1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet Problems

Complaints
11filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
170,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet. The part named most often is fuel system, with 8 complaints (73% of the total), followed by visibility (2) and steering (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 170,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the tank assembly filed under the same part. Visibility complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Fuel system: “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). …”

NHTSA complaint #713289, filed 1999-10

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “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, filed 2001-03

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, filed 2010-05

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 170,000 and 170,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–150100%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 170,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

199619971999320013200220032010
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Cabriolet FWD1.8L 4-cyl5-speed manual212623$2,900
Cabriolet FWD1.8L 4-cyl3-speed automatic202321$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet.

Other model years of the Volkswagen Cabriolet

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
19908—4—25—Not enough data
19899125,0002—23—Not enough data
19886—2—23—Not enough data
198711170,0003—23—Not enough data
19856—1—23—Not enough data

All Volkswagen Cabriolet model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet have?

NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 8 complaints (73% of the total), followed by visibility with 2.

Has the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet get?

The EPA rates the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet (Cabriolet, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 21 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 170,000 miles and the middle half falls between 170,000 and 170,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.