Volkswagen Vanagon Reliability

57 NHTSA complaints (1981–1991). Complaint rate: 575.8 per 1,000 vehicles.

Severity Score
1383.8
Complaints
57
Crash Rate
0.0%
Fire Rate
21.1%
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—

Which Years to Buy & Avoid

Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.

Bottom line: Avoid the 1990 Volkswagen Vanagon. The 1988 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.

Avoid These Years

1990
~16/yr complaints
1987
~14/yr complaints

Average

1986
~9/yr complaints
1991
~9/yr complaints

Better Years

1988
~4/yr complaints
1984
~2/yr complaints
1981
~2/yr complaints
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Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA complaint count per model year

Volkswagen Vanagon — Complaints by Model YearPeak: 1990 (16)
05914181981198419861987198819901991

Common Volkswagen Vanagon Problems

Most reported component complaints to NHTSA

ComponentComplaintsCrash %
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY60.0%
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER50.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS40.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE40.0%
TIRES40.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE30.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE30.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM30.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH20.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION20.0%

Year-by-Year Breakdown

NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.

YearGenerationComplaintsCrashesFiresDetails
1981GOOD—201View→
1984GOOD—20—View→
1986—904View→
1987AVOID—1402View→
1988GOOD—402View→
1990AVOID—160—View→
1991—902View→

See also: Volkswagen Vanagonaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.

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Volkswagen Vanagon Years to Avoid (1981–1991) — Reliability, Problems & Best Years to Buy | VinItel