RoadVitals

1999 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.
17
Latest Nov 30, 2020
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.
0
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.
1
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
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Volkswagen Eurovan, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and body & structure categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 64 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

  • Seat belts526.3%
  • Engine421.1%
  • Body & structure210.5%
  • Electrical210.5%
  • Visibility210.5%
  • Other / unspecified15.3%
  • Brakes15.3%
  • Transmission15.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE03015ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE SEPARATION

Opened Apr 15, 2003
Closed Aug 15, 2003

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE)03-015 ON APRIL 15, 2003, BASED ON THREE REPORTS ALLEGING THAT FAN BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC COOLING FAN.ALL THREE VEHICLES WERE WINNEBAGO RIALTA CLASS C MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS.DURING THE PE INVESTIGATION, VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED 125 ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF FAN FAILURES.THE ADDITIONAL REPORTS INCLUDED 107 REPORTS ON RIALTA VEHICLES (ALL USING A SIEMENS MANUFACTURED COOLING FAN) AND 18 REPORTS ON EUROVAN VEHICLES (15 USING SIEMENS FANS AND 3 USING BOSCH FANS).AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS INVESTIGATION (EA03-013) HAS BEEN OPENED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Recent owner complaints

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

Filed Nov 30, 2020

RECALL FOR SAMSUNG MICROWAVE MODEL M5491G. KEY PAD DOESN'T WORK. RANDOMLY TURNS ON. COULD CATCH FIRE. CALLED SEVERAL TIMES, ON HOLD FOR OVER 8 HOURS, REFUND PROMISED BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT

NHTSA ID
11377065
Incident
Nov 30, 2020
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 8, 2008

THE OEM CD CHANGER INSTALLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 99 EUROVAN USED SCREWS THAT PENETRATED THE GAS TANK. 8 YEARS LATER, THE SCREWS IN THE GAS TANK HAVE LOOSENED TO THE POINT THAT ONE CAN SMELL GAS ODOR AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOES ON DUE TO EVAP SYSTEM LEAK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD I EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE SCREWS TO RIP THE GAS TANK DURING IMPACT. VW WOULD NOT PICK UP THE REPAIR DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10237459
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Mileage
91,823 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE COOLING FAN OVERHEATED AND SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAN WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SAW NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME FAILURE AND BELIEVED IT TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 08/07/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10197239
Incident
Jun 20, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2006

THE AUXILIARY FAN BLADE ON MY EUROVAN CRACKED AND FLEW APART INTO SEVERAL PIECES. AFTER POSTING ON A VOLKSWAGEN WEBSITE, I LEARNED OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS HAZARD AS IT COULD INJURE ANYONE IN THE VICINITY WHEN THE BLADE BREAKS. ALSO, IT CLEARLY SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A FIVE-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. HOWEVER, VOLKSWAGEN HAS DECLARED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND WILL CHARGE $600 TO REPAIR IT. I RECENTLY SAW THAT JEEP HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, AND WAS WONDERING IF IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE VOLKSWAGEN TO CONSIDER A SIMILAR RECTIFICATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164363
Incident
Jun 25, 2005
Mileage
51,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2005

VEHICLE: 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CAMPER WITH APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS 2 ELECTRIC RADIATOR FANS. BOTH PLASTIC FAN BLADE ASSEMBLIES FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERWAY, RESULTING IN SEVERE IMBALANCE. MULTIPLE PLASTIC FRAGMENTS WERE SHED, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOOD OPEN. BOTH FANS WERE REPLACED BY A VW DEALER AT A COST OF $962.69. VW SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INVESTIGATED A POSSIBLE RECALL BUT SAID IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. NHTSA PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE03015 SEEMS TO DESCRIBE THIS SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10127173
Incident
Jun 12, 2005
Mileage
34,020 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO INSPECT ENGINE, AND NOTICED FRAGMENTS OF ENGINE COOLING FAN UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10083835
Incident
Jul 29, 2004
Transmission
Filed Mar 4, 2004

1999 VW EUROVAN CAMPER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS UP TO 5 SECONDS OR MORE DELAY ONCE IN DRIVE BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES & VERY HARD DOWNSHIFTS FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD (AUTOMATIC). OF NOTE WERE THE DELAYS & HOOPS THAT THE DEALER FORCED ME THROUGH. HAD TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE & A NUMBER OF TRIPS BEFORE THEY SAID THEY COULD PURSUE ANY WARRANTY. NOTE - HAD TAKEN CAR TO A VW TRANSMISSION COMPANY THAT REBUILDS TRANSMISSIONS FOR VW ACROSS THE NATION. HE DROVE THE CAR & WOULDN'T SERVICE IT BECAUSE HE SAID THERE WAS DEFINITELY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM INCLUDING 1ST TO 2ND UP-SHIFTING AS WELL. VW SERVICE DIDN'T HELP OR CARE ABOUT TRANSMISSION DEALER'S INPUT. I FORCED DEALER TO ESCALATE IT TO REGIONAL LEVEL THAT TOOK MORE THAN 3 MONTHS TO GET ANY ANSWER (WITH MY NAGGING & CHECKING A NUMBER OF TIME). HIS DECISION WAS THE LONG DELAY FROM PARK TO DRIVE WAS NORMAL. MANY MORE WEEKS LATER I HAD NO ANSWER TO MY ORIGINAL SERVICE COMPLAINT ON THE DOWN-SHIFT PROBLEM. WHEN MY WARRANTY WAS ALMOST UP, I CONTACTED VW AMERICA WHO SAID THEY HAD TO RESPECT DEALERS DECISION, AND MAYBE SEE ANOTHER DEALER. WE ONLY HAVE ONE DEALER & THE CLOSEST OTHER DEALERSHIP IS 3.5 HOURS AWAY OVER A MOUNTAIN PASS. I THEN PURCHASED $700 WORTH OF EXTENDED WARRANTY (2 YEARS OR 24,000 MILES APPROX. DEC 2002) VIA A SEPARATE COMPANY WITH SOME HASSLES. THE SERVICE MANAGER, AFTER I SIGNED THE PAPERWORK, INDICATED THAT I SHOULD BRING IN THE CAR IN A FEW MONTHS (WINKING) & THEY'LL SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. OF COURSE, I WILL NEVER USE THIS DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE MY CAR. THE QUESTION IS, WHO IS FORCING THEM TO IGNORE WARRANTY & POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SERVICE WORK IN THE APPARENT PURSUED OF BOTTOM LINE PROFIT? THE DEALER IS CARRERA MOTORS OF BEND, OREGON. PHONE 541-382-1711. I HAVE ANOTHER YEAR OR 17,000 MILES LEFT ON THE WARRANTY. I NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE SIMILAR SITUATIONS OUT THERE. THANKS.

NHTSA ID
10060453
Incident
Sep 17, 2002
Mileage
45,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
767066
Incident
Nov 6, 2000

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.

V941901201152119

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Update model year applicability to include 2023.

V271901201189422

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.

V171901201285534

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)

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
1999Viewing170143.7
1998201
1997141038.1
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.