Volkswagen EuroVan Complaints

219 consumer complaints on file.

#10000297December 19, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 1997 VW EUROVAN CAMPER CAUGHT FIRE ON DECEMBER 8, 2002 AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR REDLANDS, CA. IT WAS TOTALLY LOST. APPARENTLY THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. VW, AFTER INSPECTION, DENIES RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE AN AFTER MARKET RADIO WAS INSTALLED. THE FIRM WHICH INSTALLED THE RADIO HAS INSPECTED THE CAR AND REPORTS THAT THE FIRE WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS GOOD EVIDENCE OF MUCH MORE HEAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WIRE INSULATION JACKETS ARE BURNED OFF THERE AND NOT NEAR THE RADIO. NO WIRES WERE CUT DURING THE RADIO INSTALLATION, BUT RATHER THE RADIO PLUG WAS CONNECTED TO THE VW PLUG. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. ON NOV. 6, 1998, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR MOTOR AND THE WINDOW MOTOR IN THE PASSENGER DOOR. ON JUNE 19, 2000, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR. ON JULY 17, 2000, THE DEALER FOUND A LOOSE WIRE CONNECTION WHEN I REPORTED THAT THE SPEAKERS WERE NOT WORKING SINCE THE JUNE 19 REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001084December 17, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SEAT BELT IN THE CENTER OF THIRD ROW SEAT WILL NOT STAY CLOSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770470December 5, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I CAN NOT FIND THE COMPLAINT WHERE I ALREADY DESCRIBED A DANGEROUS EVENT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RACE, BUCK, LURCH THE CAR FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION, BUT PLEASE CROSS REFERENCE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE VIN NUMBER OF THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOW PROVIDED MORE INFO ABOUT PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURES IN THIS CAR. WE BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, A DANGER TO US AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. WE WANT VW TO TAKE THIS CAR OUT OF SERVICE AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN OUR POSSESSION AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE ENGINE RACING PROBLEM AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE PLAGUED THE CAR FROM THE BEGINNING! DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770401December 3, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND OTHER DEFECTS, THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST, THE MOST SCARY THING THAT HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR, AND THE THINK THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, POTENTIALLY INJURING OR KILLING OURSELVES OR OTHERS. FORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED AT A DESERTED INTERSECTION ON A RURAL ROAD. BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP RACING, BUCKING, WITH THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD UNTIL THE KEY WAS TURNED SO THAT ENGINE STOPPED ALTOGETHER. UPON STARTING THE CAR AGAIN, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. WE THEREFORE HAD TO SIT AT THE INTERSECTION, PARTWAY OUT INTO TRAFFIC UNTIL TRYING AGAIN, THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY. WE HAVE CONMPLAINED ABOUT THIS OVER AND OVER AND ARE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS WORKING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE DATE. IT WAS THURSDAY EVENING SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2002. WE WERE IN CANADA AND PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAD YIELDED THE INFORMATION THAT WE COULD NOT GET SERVICE FOR OUR VEHICLE IN CANADA AS IT WAS NOT SOLD THERE. THUS, FAR FROM HOME, WE NEVERTHELESS HAD TO RETURN TO MILWAUKEE AFTER THE INCIDENT. WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR VERY LITTLE SINCE THAT DAY AND HAVE REPEATEDLY TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. THE INCIDENT OCCURED FOLLOWING GOING DOWN A VERY STEEP HILL (A 12% GRADE AS I RECALL) IN LOW GEAR AND THEN SHIFTING BACK INTO DRIVE AND NEEDING TO COME TO A STOP AT A "T". IT WAS AT THE "T" THAT THIS OCCURRED. EVEN THOUGH NO PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WHICH MIGHT HAVE LED TO THIS INCIDENT, IT OCCURRED ONCE! ONCE WAS ENOUGH. MIND YOU, WE WERE NEAR THE END OF A 24 DAY CAMPING TRIP AND WE HAD GONE UP AND DOWN MANY MOUNTAINS, USING THE LOW GEAR REPEATEDLY WITH SUCH A PROBLEM. IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE PASSING OR ON A MOUNTAIN CURVE. WE WANT THE CAR TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE IF NOTHING CAN BE EXPLAINED OR FIXED! DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768599October 18, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE VEHICILE WAS BEING DRIVEN UP A HILL ON A TYPICAL AUGUST DAY HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHEN THE RIGHT COOLANT FAN BLADES DISINTEGRATED. THE FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THEN 97 MILES LATER THE LEFT COLLANT FAN BLADES DISINTERGRATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. THE SECOND FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT COOLANT FAN WAS RUNNING COUNTER TO ITS CORRECT OPERATING DIRECTION. THE MOTOR DIRECTION WAS CORRECTED BY REVERSING THE ELECTICAL CONNECTOR ON THE RIGHT COOLANT FAN, THUS CORRECTING THE POLARITY OF THE MOTOR, BUT ONLY AFTER HOURS AND MILES OF DRIVING TO FIND THE SOLUTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE COOLANT FANS ARE DEFECTIVE AS TO DESIGN, MANUFACTURE, AND MATERIALS AND HERE IS WHY: 1. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DESIGN THE ELECTRICAL PLUG SO THAT IT WOULD JOIN ITS RECEPTOR IN ONLY THE CORRECT POLARITY DIRECTION, BUT THE PRESENT DESIGN IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE PLUG CAN BE FORCED TO CONNECT WITH THE INCORRECT POLARITY. SEVERAL DESIGN CHANGES WOULD INDIVIULALLY OR COLLECTIVELY MAKE AN INCORRECT CONNECTION IMPOSSIBLE. 2. THERE IS NO SEPARATON BARRIER BETWEEN THE TWO COOLANT FANS SUCH THAT DEBRIS FROM ONE FAN BLADE FAILURE CAN IMPACT THE ADJACENT FAN BLADE PROBABLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SECOND FAN BALDE. THE LACK OF SUCH A BARRIER IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN. 3. THE FAN DESIGN OF SEVEN BLADES WITH AN INTEGRAL MOLDED PERIMETER SHROUD, THE SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THE FAN BLADES AND SHROUD TO-WIT, PLASTIC, AND THE MANUFACTURE OF THE FAN PART ARE ALL DEFECTIVE FOR COOLANT FANS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE SO LONG AS THERE IS NO PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE BLADES. THERE WAS NONE IN THIS CASE. THESE COOLANT FANS DISINTEGRATED IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATIONS AND UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020950October 16, 2002
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE DAYTIME, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS DUE TO THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE PANEL. MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER CAN'T DETERMINE THE SPEED, LOCATE THE GEAR POSITION, GAS, TEMPERATURE, AND SWITCH TO JUDGE MILEAGE. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767066September 12, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018454September 11, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING AND PRESSING BRAKES SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, CAUSING INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#766697September 4, 2002
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS
WHILE TRAVELING FORWARD AT ABOUT 2 MPH, THE PROPANE GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR BRACKET CAUGHT A SMALL RISE ON A PUBLIC STREET. THE GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR BRACKET BROKE FREE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS FORCED BACKWARD INTO THE PROPANE STORAGE TANK. THE PROPANE STORAGE TANK RUPTURED AND IMMEDIATELY EXHAUSTED ABOUT 15 POUNDS OF PROPANE. THE PROPANE TANK OBSTRUCTS THE DESIGNATED JACKING POINT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I PLACED THE SUPPLIED JACK AS CLOSE TO THE JACKING POINT AS POSSIBLE AND PROCEEDED TO JACK UP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED ON THE JACK CAUSING VEHICLE BODY DAMAGE. I HAD JUST REMOVED MY HAND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE RETRIEVING THE PRESSURE REGULATOR BRACKET. UPON INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT WINNEBAGO HAD FAILED TO SUPPLY A REPLACEMENT JACK AS DICTATED IN THE VOLKSWAGON OWNERS MANUAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017570August 29, 2002
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
CAMPER VAN SERIES; REFRIGERATOR HEAT EXHAUST FAN LOCATED 3" BELOW THE ONLY OPENING WINDOW THAT PROVIDES VENTILATION ON ONE SIDE OF VAN CONTAINS THE EXHAUST. THIS LOUVER TRAPS FUMES FROM THE VENT INSIDE SLEEPING COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016626August 19, 2002
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CENTER SUPPORT BEARING
BRACKET ON VEHICLE THAT HOLDS PROPANE TANK GOT CAUGHT AND ALMOST RUPTURED THAT TANK. DESIGN IS POOR ON VEHICLE FOR THAT PART. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WASA NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566778July 29, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING FAN SPEED CONTROL RESISTOR TWICE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPLACED IT TWICE ALSO. THIS TIME THE MECHANIC STATED HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE RESISTOR HEATED UP DUE TO A MALFUNCTION, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013523July 9, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
THERE ARE (2) ELECTRIC MOTOR FANS WHICH WENT INTO AN OVERSPEED CONDITION WHEN VAN WAS DRIVEN THROUGH HIGH ALTITUDES. FANS DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8010664May 29, 2002
WHEELS
STEEL RIMS HAS WELDS AND AIR IS LEAKING FROM THE TIRE. THIS CAUSES REAR TIRES TO GO FLAT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785948April 16, 2002
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE UNLESS IT IS HELD SHUT AND LOCKED AT THE SAME TIME.*YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005267March 8, 2002
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DRIVER'S REAR SIDE WINDOW SHATTERERED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756026December 26, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM IS AN INTERMITTENT, UNNESCESSARY, SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT OF TRANSMISSION WHEN ASCENDING A STEEP, LONG GRADE. AFTER DOWNSHIFTING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT EVEN WHEN RPM'S APPROACH 5000, FORCING ME TO SLOW DOWN. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755576December 12, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DEALER SAID BRAKES DID NOT FAIL - DESIGN PROBLEM - CAR MUST BE STARTED WITH BRAKE ON - I PULLED OUT DOWNHILL AND BRAKE PEDAL FLOORBOARDED - DEALER SAID TO EFFECT I HAVE TO PUMP BRAKES BEFORE USING THE FIRST TIME!. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755200December 3, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
GOOD AFTERNOON FROM GERMANY! LOOKING FORWARD TO GET MY ORDERS (MILITARY) TO NORFOLK, VA, NEXT YEAR. INTENTION IS TO BRING ALONG ONE OR BOTH OF OUR CARS, BOTH VOLKSWAGEN 2.4 LITER DIESEL ENGINES, STANDARD "GERMAN" EDITION. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS TO GET A U.S. LICENSE FOR THOSE CARS, AND IF, WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED BEFORE ENTERING THE U.S. . MAYBE THERE4S A LEAFLET CONTAINING ALL THE INFO I NEED, PLEASE SEND IT TO THE APPROPRIATE ADDRESS GIVEN ABOVE. THANKS, FRANK REININGHAUS, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GERMAN NAVY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755065November 29, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 71,000 MILES. ON 10-9-01, IT WAS INSPECTED BY MCNEVIN VW IN BERKELEY, CA AT 65,456 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE SAID TO HAVE 80% REMAINING AND THE REARS HAD 70% REMAINING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT 70,558 MILES AND HE SAID THE FRONT HAD LESS THAN 50% AND THE REARS WERE AT 20%. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VAN I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE WITH THE THIRD TODAY, 11-29-01. I CALLED THE BERKELEY DEALER AND HE REFERRED ME TO VW OF AMERICA. THE LATTER REFUSED ANY ASSISTENCE OR INFORMATION WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN. WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED THE CAR NEEDED NEW BRAKES AT 27,866, I ASKED WHY SO SOON. THE ANSWER WAS THAT THE CAMPER CONVERSION WAS TOO HEAVY FOR THE EXISTING BRAKES AND I SHOULD EXPECT TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST EVERY 30,000 MILES. THIS WASN'T REVEALED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT CHANGE WAS 26,030 MILE LATER. NOW THEY NEED REPLACEMENT AT 16,800 MILES LATER. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS USED ALL CERTIFIED VW PARTS. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF MY DRIVING IS LONG DISTANCE FREEWAY WITH LITTLE BRAKING. ABOUT 40% IS CITY DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS WITH NO PANIC BRAKING. I DO NOT DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF USING THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION IN TRYING TO FIND A REASONABLE SOLUTION WITH THIS OTHER THAN SELLING THE VEHICLE. IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS I WILL HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1,800 FOR NEW BRAKES. THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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