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1987 Volkswagen Fox

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Fox.

Transmission Manual 4-spd

The 1987 Volkswagen Fox pairs a 4-speed manual transmission with an engine lubricated by 3.2 quarts of oil in 2W-40, 20W-50, or 15W-40 API SL grades, returning EPA fuel economy of 23 city, 27 highway, and 25 combined mpg. Within the model's documented complaint history covering 1990 through 1993, the 1987 model year itself accounts for 15 owner complaints — with visibility as the most-cited category and three recalls on file — putting it between the 1991 low of a single complaint and the 1993 high of 24. That middle-of-the-road standing, paired with the narrow concentration of issues around visibility rather than spread across major mechanical systems, frames 1987 as a representative rather than outlier year in the Fox's overall reliability record.

Model year1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type2W-40 / 20W-50 / 15W-40 API SLOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy23/27/25 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Manual 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	163.4 in
Overall width	63 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	92.9 in
Curb weight	2194 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	23 / 27 / 25 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	77 cu ft
Cargo volume	10 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Fox of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.50 sec — 1987 GL Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1987	GL Sedan 1.8L I-4	10.50 sec	17.90 sec	81 hp	FWD
1988	GL 3-door Wagon 1.8L I-4	10.80 sec	18.20 sec	81 hp	FWD
1989	GL Sedan 1.8L I-4	12.30 sec	18.50 sec	81 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.2 qt of 2W-40 / 20W-50 / 15W-40 API SL engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	API · 2W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 15W-50
Engine Oil Capacity	3.2 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Oxygen Sensor (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal dataset does not include a specific entry for 1987, so the exact complaint and recall counts for that year are unavailable. However, the surrounding early‑1990s show a relatively modest and fluctuating pattern: complaints rise from a low of 1 in 1991 to a peak of 24 in 1993, while recalls stay between 2 and 3 per year and technical service bulletins range from 2 to 11. The 1987 complaint profile that is available—seven visibility issues, six engine‑cooling concerns, and a single report each for equipment and structure—suggests a focus on basic functional areas rather than systemic safety failures, as evidenced by zero crash‑related and zero fire‑related complaints. Compared with the later years, 1987 sits before the spike in complaints seen in 1993, implying it was not part of the generation’s higher‑risk period. **Takeaway:** With no recorded crash or fire complaints and only routine visibility and cooling issues, 1987 appears to be a comparatively safe vintage within the model’s early‑life arc, making it a reasonable year to consider for purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 15 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Visibility7

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Equipment1

Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V105000Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling SystemReported 23/05/1995

IN THE EVENT OF A COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE COOLANT CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TO RISE TO A LEVEL WHERE A LEAK IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN OCCUR. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BYPASS VALVE KIT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ROUTE EXCESSIVELY HOT COOLANT TO THE ENGINE WITHOUT FLOWING THROUGH THE HEAT EXCHANGER. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A…

88V187000Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle BarReported 01/12/1988

STEERING WHEEL/SHAFT DESIGNED TO USE SURFACE FRICTION MAY LOOSE THIS FRICTION IF GREASE OR OIL IS PRESENT ON THE CONESHAPED SURFACE OF THE STEERING SHAFT. Remedy: REMOVE THE STEERING WHEEL OF VEHICLES AND CLEAN FRICTION SURFACE AND INSTALL A SPRING RETAINER, REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL NUT WITH A SELF LOCKING NUT.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Fox. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 3.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Fox take?

3.2 qt of 68 degrees F TO 104 degrees F 40 API SL OR GREATER, 32 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 30 API SL OR GREATER, 14 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 2W-40 OR 20W-50 API SL OR GREATER, 5 degrees F TO 86 degrees F 15W-40 OR 15W-50 API SL OR GREATER, -4 degrees F T, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Fox have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Fox get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 27 highway / 25 combined mpg.