IllustrationWHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS THROWN OUT OF DRIVER'S SEAT, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS THROWN BACKWARDS CAUSING MINOR INJURIES, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE BACK UNDER CONTROL, THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH PASSENGER SEAT AS WELL. *JB
1987 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 →13Owner complaints
Model-year median: 2
7Recall campaignsView recall details →
3InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1987 Volkswagen Vanagon
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 13 owner complaints · 7 recall campaigns · 3 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: 5 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 2 reports
- Equipment: 1 reports
- Fuel System, Other: 1 reports
- Power Train: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
- 93V175000 — Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
- 89V067000 — Vehicle Speed Control
- 88V076000 — Tires
- 88V038000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
- 87V083000 — Seats:mid/rear Assembly
- 87V085000 — Power Train:automatic Transmission
- 87V052000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
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
Compare all Vanagon years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 2 of 13 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 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 reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
Seats complaints
1 reportsRecall campaigns
793V175000 · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
Oct 29, 1993
THE PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE CENTER AIR FLOW DUCT, WHICH IS FASTENED BY TWO MOUNTING SCREWS TO THE CEILING OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAN CRACK AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PLASTIC BREAKS WHERE IT IS HELD AT THE TWOMOUNTING SCREWS, THE CENTER AIR FLOW DUCT CAN SEPARATE FROM ITS SUPPORTS ANDCAUSE INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS SITTING IN THE CENTER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT PLATE AT THE CONNECTIONS OF BOTH THE CENTER AND REAR AIR FLOW DUCTS.
89V067000 · Vehicle Speed Control
May 1, 1989
WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TENSION MAY ALLOW THE CABLE TO SAG AND BECOME ENTANGLED WITH THE WATER PIPE BRACKET IMPEDING ITS RETURN TO IDLE POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE POSITION COULD LEAD TO ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE PRESENT ACCELERATOR CABLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
88V076000 · Tires
May 6, 1988
DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING PROCESS, SEMPERIT TIRES 20570R14 MOUNTED ON ALLOY WHEEL SIZE 6J X 14 COULD EXPERIENCE TINY CRACKS IN THE BEAD AREA.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: TIRES COULD LOSE AIR, CREATING POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: REPLACE TIRES AS NECESSARY.
88V038000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Mar 23, 1988
IN LINE FUEL FILTER LOCATED BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP COULD SEEP FUEL AT THE SEAM OF THE PLASTIC CASING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD SEEPAGE OCCUR, LEAKING FUEL CAN CAUSE A RISK OFFIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Remedy: THE IN LINE FUEL FILTER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A STRAIGHT FUEL HOSE.
87V083000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly
Jun 8, 1987
SEAT BRACKETS WHICH ANCHOR REARWARD PASSENGER SEATS MAY NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT COULD BREAK LOOSE DURING ACCELERATION AND CAUSEINJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: ASSURE THAT SEAT BRACKETS ARE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
87V085000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jun 8, 1987
PIN IN SHIFT LOCKING PAWL MAY NOT BE PROPERLY WELDED TO THE PAWL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF PIN SEPARATES FROM PAWL, DRIVER WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVETHE SHIFT LEVER DURING DRIVING INTO ANY POSITION WITHOUT PRESSING SAFETYRELEASE BUTTON.
Remedy: REPLACE SHIFT LOCKING PAWL.
87V052000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Apr 14, 1987
USAGE OF FUEL WITH REID PRESSURE UP TO 14 PSI COULD, UNDER HIGH ENGINE LOAD AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, LEAD TO STALLING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL FLOW COULD BECOME RESTRICTED AND CAUSE THE ENGINETO STALL.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW FUEL TANK, CONTAINING A REDESIGNED FUEL FILTER, AS WELL AS MODIFIED CONTROL UNITS.
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
3PE93043 · Overhead A/c Separation
Opened May 5, 1993 · Closed Oct 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
EA91026 · Sliding Door Latch Failure
Opened Jun 4, 1991 · Closed Jan 27, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE91050 · Sliding Door Latch Failure
Opened Feb 21, 1991 · Closed Jun 4, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
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.