1999 Volkswagen Eurovan Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Volkswagen Eurovan, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Seat belts526.3%
- Engine421.1%
- Body & structure210.5%
- Electrical210.5%
- Visibility210.5%
- Other / unspecified15.3%
- Brakes15.3%
- Transmission15.3%
- Fuel system15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AND PRESSING BRAKES SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, CAUSING INJURIES.*AK
THE REAR SEAT FEMALE BUCKLE APPARATUS BREAKS WHEN A CAR SEAT IS INSTALLED. THE BASE PLATE OF THE BUCKLE BREAKS OFF, ALLOWING SPRINGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ASSEMBLY TO FALL OUT, AT WHICH POINT THE ASSEMBLY IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE UNLESS IT IS HELD SHUT AND LOCKED AT THE SAME TIME.*YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE UNLESS IT IS HELD SHUT AND LOCKED AT THE SAME TIME.*YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS FUMES COMING THROUGH HEATER/ AIR CONDITIONER, AND VENTILATION DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITION. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK *SLC
WINSHIELD WIPERS FROZE DURING VERY LIGHT SNOW,CAUSING THEM TO STOP WORKING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WEEKENDER MODEL, THE "H" SHAPED WHICH IS USED TO PUSH UP/ POP VAN SO SOME ONE CAN SLEEP UP THERE. IF ANYONE HOLDS TO THE BAR ON THE "H" TOP CAMPER FALLS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. IT MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BRACKET TO HOLD THE CAMPER UP OR THE "H" BAR UP. *AK THE LIFT MECHANISM NEEDS A POSITIVE LOCK FEATURE. THE TOP ASSEMBLY WEIGHS CLOSE TO 100 POUND AND WOULD CRASH OR SUFOCATE THE CHILD. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .