VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON · model year

1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON

14 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1987VOLKSWAGENVANAGON carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 VANAGON is power train with 1 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap (1) and fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1987 VANAGON, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

14
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

14 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
TIRES1

Recent Complaints

20120315TIRES

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.

20060817FUEL 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 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 FRE

Mileage: 40,000

20030903FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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

Mileage: 96,000

20011029EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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

20010530SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

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

20000920FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

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

20000103FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

19981014FireFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FIRE OCCURED AS A RESULT FROM A GASOLINE LEAK IN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM.

19970513VEHICLE 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

19961126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

19961126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

19961114FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

19960229FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

FUEL FILLER TUBE FAILED. *SD

19950601POWER TRAIN

ALTERED ODOMETER. *SKD

Compare 1987VOLKSWAGENVANAGON to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON have?
The 1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON?
The most-complained component for the 1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON is POWER TRAIN with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS.
Is the 1987 VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.