The Lemon IndexThe engine isn't getting the fuel pressure it needs. Full P0087 page
18 owner complaints · the #1 code Volkswagen Jetta owners name · 19% of Volkswagen Jetta complaints that name a code (every car: 1.3%)
Middle of 68,000 miles · most between 61,000 and 96,000 (14 owners gave it)
Volkswagen Jetta owners named P0087 in 18 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2009, 2010 and 2013 model years, at a middle of 68,000 miles. The part they name most is the fuel pump (14 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Volkswagen Jetta model years that report P0087
Owner complaints naming P0087, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
68,000 miles is the middle of what 14 owners entered. Half were between 61,000 and 96,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the fuel pump, in 14 of the 18 complaints (78%). 4 of those mention it being replaced or repaired.
- Fuel pump14 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement · what Volkswagen Jetta owners paid
4 complaints mention a recall and 4 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0087
33% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Stalls or shuts off50%9 of 18 complaints
- Won't start or hard to start28%5 of 18 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode17%3 of 18 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0087 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
Other codes named in the same Volkswagen Jetta complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Volkswagen Jetta fuel pump replacement cost
Recalls on these Volkswagen Jetta years
- Fuel system, gasoline · 2014 · issued 2015
A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment. NHTSA 15V028000 - Engine · 2011, 2013 · issued 2014
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. NHTSA 14E007000 - Fuel system, diesel · 2009, 2010, 2011 · issued 2011
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SE… NHTSA 11V490000 - Engine · 2011 · issued 2011
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS, PART NUMBER 1K0 071 910 U, SOLD AS ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 JETTA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 18, 2010, THROUGH AUGUST 2… NHTSA 11E036000 - Engine · 2011 · issued 2011
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 JETTA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 18, 2010, THROUGH AUGUST 22, 2011. NHTSA 11V466000
6 recalls for the same systems (engine and fuel) on the Volkswagen Jetta model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0087. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0087: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Volkswagen Jetta reliability by year
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta problems and recalls
P0087 on other cars
Honda CR-V (15) · Honda Accord (13) · Honda Pilot (13)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0087 means
The engine isn't getting the fuel pressure it needs. That can cause hesitation, loss of power and stalling, especially under load.
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
- Weak or failing fuel pump
- Clogged fuel filter
- Faulty fuel pressure sensor or regulator
- High-pressure pump wear (direct injection)
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11640739, 11499109, 10918844, 10785226, 10746266, 10672021, 10661504, 10659070, 10649894, 10616657, 10592154, 10543940 and 6 more.
Quick answers
What does P0087 mean on a Volkswagen Jetta?
Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too Low. The engine isn't getting the fuel pressure it needs. That can cause hesitation, loss of power and stalling, especially under load.
Which Volkswagen Jetta years have the most P0087 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2009 (9), 2010 (4), 2013 (3) Volkswagen Jetta named P0087 most (18 complaints in all, 2009–2014). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0087 on a Volkswagen Jetta?
Owners most often name the fuel pump (14 of 18 complaints). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0087 show up on a Volkswagen Jetta?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 68,000 miles; half were between 61,000 and 96,000 (14 owners).
Can I drive my Volkswagen Jetta with P0087?
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0087 on the Volkswagen Jetta, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.