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
What owners actually said
13 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2012
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON, EQUIPPED WITH MASTER CRAFT GLACIER GRIP TIRES SIZE: 185/70/ R14. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEELS BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CHORDS WERE DETACHED FROM THE TIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON, EQUIPPED WITH MASTER CRAFT GLACIER GRIP TIRES SIZE: 185/70/ R14. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEELS BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CHORDS WERE DETACHED FROM THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10451794
40,000 miles · Aug 17, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline
I BELIEVE AN AGENT OF VOLKSWAGEN FALSIFIED DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE RECALL CLOSING AND REPAIR OF MY FATHER'S VW VAN VIN [XXX] . RECALL CAMPAIGN NHTSA #88V-038 AND POSSIBLY 87V-052. THESE ARE PRESENTLY BEING FIXED BY SOUTHTOWNE VW IN SOUTH JORDAN UTAH TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST 3000.00 AT OUR EXPENSE. VOLKSWAGON NEVER SENT MY FATHE…
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I BELIEVE AN AGENT OF VOLKSWAGEN FALSIFIED DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE RECALL CLOSING AND REPAIR OF MY FATHER'S VW VAN VIN [XXX] . RECALL CAMPAIGN NHTSA #88V-038 AND POSSIBLY 87V-052. THESE ARE PRESENTLY BEING FIXED BY SOUTHTOWNE VW IN SOUTH JORDAN UTAH TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST 3000.00 AT OUR EXPENSE. VOLKSWAGON NEVER SENT MY FATHER, THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ANY RECALL LETTERS, AND IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THEY ARE NOW FIXING THE RECALLS BUT CHARGING US. THEY SAY THE RECALLS ARE CLOSED AND CANNOT PROVE TO ME THEY WERE FIXED (BECAUSE THEY NEVER WERE) I AND MY FATHER WERE LIED TO ABOUT THIS RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE RECALLS, BY VOLKSWAGEN INTERMOUNTAIN, THE DEALER HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE LEAKING GAS, THAT IT WASN'T DANGEROUS, WHEN WE ASKED THEM ABOUT LEAKING GAS. THEY ALSO TOLD MY FATHER NOT TO GO ABOVE 30 RPM'S WHICH IS VERY STRANGE. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION DONE. I WANT EITHER PROOF OF THE VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED (WHICH I KNOW IT WASN'T) FOR FREE BY THE DEALER, OR OUR MONEY BACK FOR THE REPAIRS CURRENTLY BEING DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY MORE COMPLAINTS FILED ABOUT THIS. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #10165800
96,000 miles · Oct 24, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL TANK LEAKS OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. *AK WHEN THE ENGINE WAS UNDER HIGH LOAD AND HOT, IT STALLED. (FUEL STARVATION DUE TO RESTRICTION) THE FUEL KEPT DROPPING UNTIL THE 3/6 LEVEL RUBBER GROMMETS WERE CHANGED. THE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING UNDER A HEAVY LOAD AND CLIMBING ON A HOT DAY, IT STARVED FOR FUEL AND LOST POWE…
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FUEL TANK LEAKS OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. *AK WHEN THE ENGINE WAS UNDER HIGH LOAD AND HOT, IT STALLED. (FUEL STARVATION DUE TO RESTRICTION) THE FUEL KEPT DROPPING UNTIL THE 3/6 LEVEL RUBBER GROMMETS WERE CHANGED. THE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING UNDER A HEAVY LOAD AND CLIMBING ON A HOT DAY, IT STARVED FOR FUEL AND LOST POWER. *SCC THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TANK WAS FILLED, THERE WAS SEEPAGE FROM THE FILLER PIPE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10038083
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2001
Equipment
RECALL 93 V 175 000/AIR CONDITION:HOSE:DUCT:AIR: DEALER;EGC VOLKSWAGEN; NEW HYDE PARK,NY, PHONE# 516/488-2420REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #898395
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001
SeatsInjury
WHILE 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
NHTSA ODI #561195
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
PUMP CORROSION DUE TO STEEL/ALUMINUM INTERATION. STEEL BRACKET CLAMPING ALUMINUM FUEL PUMP CAUSED PUMP CORROSION TO THE EXTENT THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM PUMP CASE
NHTSA ODI #729670
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE AFTER PULLING OVER ON THE SHOULDER. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC
NHTSA ODI #853968
Mileage unknown · May 13, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control
OWNER STATES THAT THE THROTTLE STICKS,AND THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. DRIVER MUST USE CLUTCH TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #812209
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling
DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD GASKET , THE GASKET IS LEAKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER ALSO NEEDS TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, CONSUMER CONTINUED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #805589
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline
DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
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.
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.
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.
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