Model year record

1987 Volkswagen Vanagon

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 14 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 93V175000

Equipment: appliance: air conditioner

Component
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
29,500
Reported to NHTSA
1993-10-29
Owners notified
1994-03-04

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT PLATE AT THE CONNECTIONS OF BOTH THE CENTER AND REAR AIR FLOW DUCTS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 89V067000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
300
Reported to NHTSA
1989-05-01
Owners notified
1989-06-08

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE POSITION COULD LEAD TO ANACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

THE PRESENT ACCELERATOR CABLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V076000

Tires

Component
Tires
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
130
Reported to NHTSA
1988-05-06
Owners notified
1988-07-01

Defect description

DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING PROCESS, SEMPERIT TIRES 20570R14 MOUNTED ON ALLOY WHEEL SIZE 6J X 14 COULD EXPERIENCE TINY CRACKS IN THE BEAD AREA.

Safety risk

TIRES COULD LOSE AIR, CREATING POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE TIRES AS NECESSARY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V038000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
12,000
Reported to NHTSA
1988-03-23
Owners notified
1989-04-21

Defect description

IN LINE FUEL FILTER LOCATED BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP COULD SEEP FUEL AT THE SEAM OF THE PLASTIC CASING.

Safety risk

SHOULD SEEPAGE OCCUR, LEAKING FUEL CAN CAUSE A RISK OFFIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Manufacturer remedy

THE IN LINE FUEL FILTER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A STRAIGHT FUEL HOSE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V085000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component
Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
1,600
Reported to NHTSA
1987-06-08
Owners notified
1987-09-01

Defect description

PIN IN SHIFT LOCKING PAWL MAY NOT BE PROPERLY WELDED TO THE PAWL.

Safety risk

IF PIN SEPARATES FROM PAWL, DRIVER WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVETHE SHIFT LEVER DURING DRIVING INTO ANY POSITION WITHOUT PRESSING SAFETYRELEASE BUTTON.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE SHIFT LOCKING PAWL.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V083000

Seats: mid/rear assembly

Component
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
2,397
Reported to NHTSA
1987-06-08
Owners notified
1987-10-09

Defect description

SEAT BRACKETS WHICH ANCHOR REARWARD PASSENGER SEATS MAY NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY.

Safety risk

SEAT COULD BREAK LOOSE DURING ACCELERATION AND CAUSEINJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

ASSURE THAT SEAT BRACKETS ARE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V052000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected
15,500
Reported to NHTSA
1987-04-14
Owners notified
1987-05-29

Defect description

USAGE OF FUEL WITH REID PRESSURE UP TO 14 PSI COULD, UNDER HIGH ENGINE LOAD AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, LEAD TO STALLING.

Safety risk

FUEL FLOW COULD BECOME RESTRICTED AND CAUSE THE ENGINETO STALL.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A NEW FUEL TANK, CONTAINING A REDESIGNED FUEL FILTER, AS WELL AS MODIFIED CONTROL UNITS.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Fuel system, gasoline140,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings196,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
Power train1
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Tires1
Vehicle speed control1

The 1986 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1988 model has 4 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.