Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon failed the safety check 0.63% of the time — 16% less often than the average 1985 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 159,550 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon.
| 1985125 18 Nov 1985 | Structure On certain vehicles, the door latch of the passenger side sliding door may be damaged if excessive force is used for closing the door. Should this happen, the d… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE LATCH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR MAY BECOME DAMAGED IF EXCESSIVE FORCE IS USED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DAMAGED DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WILL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER BUMPY ROADS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A PASSENGER COULD FALL OUT CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621613 | SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
OVERHEAD A/C SEPARATION
SLIDING DOOR LATCH FAILURE
FUEL LEAK, EVAPORATIVE VNT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation