1988 Volkswagen Vanagon

$13,995
from
1
listings
$14K–$14K
price range
Download Infographic
Low$13,995
High$13,995
From$13,995
Avg Mileage75,000 mi
Fresh

Sourced from 1 active dealer listings as of

1988 Volkswagen Vanagon Trims

All Trims Combined
From$13,995
$14K–$14K
1 listings75,000 avg miles
GL
From$13,995
6 listings|$14K–$34K

1988 Volkswagen Vanagon Pricing

Price Trend

Building price history...

Low inventory. Don't miss out.

With just 1 on the market, every new listing matters. Set up alerts and be first in line.

Set up alertsFrom $5/week

Volkswagen Vanagon Safety & Reliability

Elevated

The 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon's elevated safety profile includes 4 recall campaigns and 4 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

4
Recalls
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
Recall Findings
93V1750001993-29-10
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.

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.

View at NHTSA
88V0760001988-06-05
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.

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

View at NHTSA
88V0560001988-05-04
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

IMPROPER JACK FURNISHED WITH VEHICLES.

THE JACK MAY NOT REACH FAR ENOUGH INTO THE JACKETSPROVIDED ON BOTH SIDED OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE IMPROPER JACK IS USED, IT COULDSLIP AND POSSIBLY INJURE A PERSON STANDING TOO CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE.

View at NHTSA
View all 4 recalls
89V0670001989-01-05
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE POSITION COULD LEAD TO ANACCIDENT.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon has accumulated 4 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with fuel system, gasoline leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Fuel System, Gasoline3
02Structure1
4 total across 1 model years (1988–1988)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Volkswagen Vanagon Fuel Economy

14–16mpg combined
·
14-16city
·
15-18hwy
·
$2,750-$3,150/yr

With 3 configurations tested, the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon ranges from 14 to 16 MPG combined. That's a 2 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim
Vanagon/Camper 2WD - Manual 4-spd
16mpg
2.1L 4-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive
16 city18 hwy~$2,750/yr-1/10 Poor
Vanagon/Camper 2WD - Automatic 3-spd
15mpg
2.1L 4-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive
14 city16 hwy~$2,900/yr-1/10 Poor
Vanagon Syncro 4WD - Manual 5-spd
14mpg
2.1L 4-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
14 city15 hwy~$3,150/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon

10States

If you're near Texas, you're in luck: 25% of listings are there. But with 10 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 1988.

Buying a 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon a good car to buy?

The 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon has 4 recalls on record. There are 4 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is fuel system, gasoline, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon?

There are 4 documented recalls for the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon?

Fuel economy ranges from 14 to 16 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $469 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon?

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE is the number-one complaint area for the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon, based on 4 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.

How does the 1988 compare to other Volkswagen Vanagon years?

Pricing, reliability, and supply vary across Volkswagen Vanagon model years. Visit the Volkswagen Vanagon buyer's guide to compare year-over-year.

Get Volkswagen Vanagon market updates

We'll email you when prices shift or new data comes in for the 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon.

No spam. We'll only reach out about Volkswagen Vanagon features.