RoadVitals

1997 Volkswagen Eurovan

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jun 27, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 11, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Volkswagen Eurovan, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 35 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical315.0%
  • Fuel system315.0%
  • Transmission210.0%
  • Other / unspecified210.0%
  • Seat belts210.0%
  • Brakes210.0%
  • Tires & wheels210.0%
  • Visibility15.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V016001

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Feb 11, 1997
201 units potentially affected
The defect: DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE CAMPER EQUIPMENT, AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED POWER TOOL DRILL BIT PUNCTURED THE FUEL TANK VAPOR CONTAINER.
The risk: FUEL VAPORS CAN ESCAPE WHICH COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS, ON BEHALF OF WINNEBAGO, WILL CHECK THE FUEL VAPOR CONTAINER FOR THE DEFECT AND IF A DEFECT IS PRESENT, THE FUEL VAPOR CONTAINER, WILL BE REPLACED.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 14
Fuel system
Filed Jun 27, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CONNECTING ENDS OF THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID
10194751
Incident
May 14, 2007
Mileage
61,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Apr 6, 2005

THE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT THAT LATCHES AND UNLATCHES THE BELT BUCKLE BROKE AND THE SPRING POPPED OUT. THE SEAT BELT CANNOT BE USED. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID
10115165
Incident
Mar 13, 2005
Electrical
Filed Dec 19, 2002
Fire reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10000297
Incident
Dec 8, 2002
Mileage
45,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 26, 2001

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.

NHTSA ID
756026
Incident
May 25, 1998
Brakes
Filed May 18, 2001

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKE ROTORS.*AK CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPALCED CONSUMER WAS COMPLAING OF BRAKES BEING NOISY WHEN BRAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID
888575
Incident
May 1, 2001
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Feb 7, 2001

REFRIFERATOR STOPPED WORKING. CJ

NHTSA ID
559523
Body & structure
Filed Apr 17, 2000

DOOR RELEASE LEVER BROKE DUE TO POOR CONSTRUCTION, THIS MEANS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR RELEASE NO LONGER OPERATES "CLEANLY" AS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. NLM

NHTSA ID
551937
Filed Jan 31, 2000

WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE WROTE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MANY OF THE PROBLEMS AND SENT IT TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEY WERE NOT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN ANY OF OUR PROBLEMS. WE CALLED THEM SEVERAL TIMES AFTER SENDING THE DETAILED LETTER AND THEY SAID "TOO BAD, NOT OUR PROBLEM." NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
718113
Incident
Apr 15, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

V171901201285565

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

V171901201285562

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V171901201285560

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V171901201285534

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)

V941901201152115

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.

SM 33-2019

EQUIPMENT

The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Eurovan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004100—
2003151251.8
2002350245.6
2001211246.6
2000250139.9
1999170143.7
1998201—
1997Viewing141038.1
1996000—
1995600—
1994000—
1993823160.1
1992100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.