A self-pumping hydropneumatic vibration damper with internal level control, especially for motor vehicles, has an oil-filled working cylinder under the pressure of at least one gas cushion. The working cylinder is divided into two working spaces by a working piston mounted on a piston rod. A piston pump, which is driven by the sprung movements of the vehicle and thus conveys damping oil from a low-pressure chamber into the working space connected to the high-pressure chamber. The pump cylinder of this piston pump is formed by the hollow piston rod, which connects the working space connected to the high-pressure chamber to the low-pressure chamber. An axially movable stepped pump piston is provided in the pump cylinder.