We study all extensions of the standard model (SM) with a vector dark matter (VDM) candidate which can explain the peak structure observed recently by the DAMPE experiment in the electron–positron cosmic ray spectrum. In this regard, we consider all leptophilic renormalizable VDM-SM interactions through scalar, spinor, and vector mediators. We show that only two out of six possible models could produce a DAMPE signal by annihilation of VDM with a mass of about 1.5 TeV in a nearby subhalo, whilst simultaneously satisfying the constraints from DM relic density, direct/indirect detection, and the collider bounds. These two models have a scalar/pseudoscalar mediator ϕ with Mϕ ∈ [1500, 3000] GeV.