what it costs new, what it’s worth used, and who has one near you.
The 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon is a vehicle we track across the used market in Canada. A 9-year-old one keeps roughly 40% of a current model's market price — what actually matters over five years of ownership.
Median market price by vehicle age
Fuel economy & range: Natural Resources Canada (Open Government Licence — Canada). Safety recalls & owner-reported complaints: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (public domain); complaint shares are a relative signal, not a failure rate. Prices, payments, depreciation, listing counts and dealer inventory: Conquest market data; payment estimates use market-average terms and are not an offer of credit. Independent service — not affiliated with or endorsed by Volkswagen.
Owner-reported problems and open safety recalls
Most-reported problems
Across 13 owner complaints filed on the 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon
Share of complaints naming each system — a signal of what owners report most on this model, not a failure rate. The denominator is people who filed a complaint, not every owner. Complaints are filed with the US regulator; the same models are sold in Canada.
Safety recalls
7 campaigns issued by the manufacturer
Power Train · Automatic Transmission
PIN IN SHIFT LOCKING PAWL MAY NOT BE PROPERLY WELDED TO THE PAWL.
Campaign 87V085000
Seats · Mid/rear Assembly
SEAT BRACKETS WHICH ANCHOR REARWARD PASSENGER SEATS MAY NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY.
Campaign 87V083000
Equipment · Appliance · Air Conditioner
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.
Campaign 93V175000
Tires
DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING PROCESS, SEMPERIT TIRES 20570R14 MOUNTED ON ALLOY WHEEL SIZE 6J X 14 COULD EXPERIENCE TINY CRACKS IN THE BEAD AREA.
Campaign 88V076000
Fuel System, Gasoline · Delivery · Fuel Pump
IN LINE FUEL FILTER LOCATED BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP COULD SEEP FUEL AT THE SEAM OF THE PLASTIC CASING.
Campaign 88V038000
+ 2 more campaigns.
Recall campaigns are manufacturer-issued and fixed free of charge. This is the US campaign set matched by year, make and model — it is not a check against a specific VIN, and Canadian campaigns may differ.