1981 Volkswagen VANAGON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1981 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
2002: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 566958 · 2002-07-30 (July 30, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN LIFTING THE COVER TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER COULD SEE IT BURNING WITH A BRIGHT WHITE FLAME, CONSUMER STATES THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WHICH STARTS THE FIRE AND IGNITES THE COOLING FAN HOUSING WHICH IS OF MAGNESIUM ALLOY. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566958 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
81V076000 · Equipment:Mechanical:Slide-In Camper
Reported: 1981-06-23 (June 23, 1981)
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE POP TOP COULD LOOSEN FROM ITS ANCHOR DUE TO WIND PRESSURE. IT COULD OPEN AND SEPARATE ENTIRELY FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, MODIFY ANCHORAGES TO MAKE SURE POP TOP WILL BE SECURED UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗84V084000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Reported: 1984-07-10 (July 10, 1984)
SPRING, WHICH HOLDS THE LATCH ON THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS, MAY BREAK AND DOOR MAY OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY.
Remedy: SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL AFFECTED LOCKS WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗