1981 Volkswagen Vanagon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1981 Volkswagen Vanagon

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 2 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Fuel System, Gasoline: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Vanagon years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

2 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2002

Fuel System, GasolineFire

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN LIFTING THE COVER TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER COULD SEE IT BURNING WITH A BRIGHT WHITE FLAME, CONSUMER STATES THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WHICH STARTS THE FIRE AND IGN…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #566958

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1998

Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN DRIVING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, WATER GETS TRAPPED ON TOP OF FUEL TANK, CAUSING TANK TO RUST, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826306

Recall campaigns

84V084000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Jul 10, 1984

SPRING, WHICH HOLDS THE LATCH ON THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS, MAY BREAK AND DOOR MAY OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL AFFECTED LOCKS WITHOUT CHARGE.

81V076000 · EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:SLIDE-IN Camper

Jun 23, 1981

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE POP TOP COULD LOOSEN FROM ITS ANCHOR DUE TO WIND PRESSURE. IT COULD OPEN AND SEPARATE ENTIRELY FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, MODIFY ANCHORAGES TO MAKE SURE POP TOP WILL BE SECURED UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

PE90024 · Fuel Leak, Evaporative Vnt

Opened Dec 4, 1989 · Closed Feb 20, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.