RecallRepo

1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 61,427 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

EQUIPMENT 93V175000 1993-10-29 29,500 affected
Defect

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

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 89V067000 1989-05-01 300 affected
Defect

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

FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE POSITION COULD LEAD TO ANACCIDENT.

Remedy

THE PRESENT ACCELERATOR CABLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.

TIRES 88V076000 1988-05-06 130 affected
Defect

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

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

Remedy

REPLACE TIRES AS NECESSARY.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 88V038000 1988-03-23 12,000 affected
Defect

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

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.

POWER TRAIN 87V085000 1987-06-08 1,600 affected
Defect

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

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.

SEATS 87V083000 1987-06-08 2,397 affected
Defect

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

Consequence

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

Remedy

ASSURE THAT SEAT BRACKETS ARE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 87V052000 1987-04-14 15,500 affected
Defect

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

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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
1fires
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
1fires
Total complaints14

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

TIRES · reported 2011-06-15

“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…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2006-08-09

“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…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · reported 2003-08-17

“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”

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER · reported 2001-07-19

“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”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY · reported 2000-08-23

“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”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1999-12-08

“Defective fuel injection system, causing loss of power at highway speed.”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS · reported 1996-10-22

“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”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM · reported 1996-10-04

Defect investigations

Investigation EA91026 Opened 1991-06-04 · closed 1992-01-27

SLIDING DOOR LATCH FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91050 Opened 1991-02-21 · closed 1991-06-04

SLIDING DOOR LATCH FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE93043 Opened 1993-05-05 · closed 1993-10-29

OVERHEAD A/C SEPARATION

There is no summary currently available

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.