2003 Volkswagen Eurovan Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR IDLING, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAK IN THE MANIFOLD, WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE. THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 08/22/17 *BF *TR

DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, STRAIGHT AND LEVEL DOWN MAIN STREET IN WOODLAND PARK , CO AND EXPERIENCED A LOUD POP, NOISE AND VIBRATION. ENGINE LURCHED TO A STOP. HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. WE THOUGHT WE HAD HIT SOMETHING. TURNED OUT THE COOLING SYSTEM FAN BLADES DISINTEGRATED. PIECES (SCHRAPNEL) PUNCTURED RADIATOR, HOSES AND BELTS. FIRE AND POLICE HAD TO RESPOND DUE TO POSSIBLE FIRE AND FLUID LEAKING. VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE. SAME PROBLEM AS EARLIER RECALLS 1998-2000 AND 2013 (?). VW REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIR.

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET, THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER CAUGHT THE SEAT ON FIRE BURNING SEAT COVER, AND PASSENGER'S COAT, FLEECE VEST AND SCALDING BACK OF PASSENGER. THERE WAS NOT A CRASH, BUT THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE IF IT HAD BEEN THE DRIVER OR IF MORE SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO PASSENGER. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS EVENT BECAUSE OF SAFETY AND LOSS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AND INJURY. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OUR LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP WHO TOOK PHOTOS AND COMMENTED THAT "THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF AGE OF OUR VEHICLE AND WE WILL ADDRESS THIS RIGHT AWAY". WE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN'S ONLINE CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE VIA EMAIL AS ADVISED BY OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FEW EMAIL EXCHANGES, VOLKSWAGEN FINALLY COMMENTED THAT THIS EVENT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN COMMENTED THAT THIS EVENT IS STRICTLY A WARRANTY ISSUE AND CONSIDERING THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THERE ARE NO APPLICABLE WARRANTIES. VOLKSWAGEN COMMENTED FURTHER THAT IF WE WANT TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THE SEAT HEATERS OR OTHER ASPECTS OF THE VAN, WE MUST SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS AND ALL REPAIRS. *TR

THE SIDE DOOR LATCH WON'T LATCH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. SO THE DOOR, WHICH IS ON SLIDERS, WILL JUST SWING OPEN WHILE DRIVING UNLESS YOU HAVE IT BUNGEE-CORDED. IT WILL ONLY LATCH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES OR AFTER YOU PARK IT IN A HEATED GARAGE. THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN OWNERS - AT LEAST THAT SEEMS APPARENT AFTER READING BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. NO ONE AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS I TALK TO SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM THOUGH THEY SEEM FAMILIAR WITH IT. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND LAME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ONLY IN THE PAST TWO WINTERS - BEFORE THAT, WE ONLY DROVE THE CAR IN THE SUMMER. NOW IT IS SO BAD IT'S PRETTY MUCH NEVER CLOSED NOW THAT IS WINTER. AND NO ON WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO CAN FIX IT. *TR

THE SIDE DOOR LATCH WON'T LATCH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. SO THE DOOR, WHICH IS ON SLIDERS, WILL JUST SWING OPEN WHILE DRIVING UNLESS YOU HAVE IT BUNGEE-CORDED. IT WILL ONLY LATCH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES OR AFTER YOU PARK IT IN A HEATED GARAGE. THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN OWNERS - AT LEAST THAT SEEMS APPARENT AFTER READING BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. NO ONE AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS I TALK TO SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM THOUGH THEY SEEM FAMILIAR WITH IT. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND LAME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ONLY IN THE PAST TWO WINTERS - BEFORE THAT, WE ONLY DROVE THE CAR IN THE SUMMER. NOW IT IS SO BAD IT'S PRETTY MUCH NEVER CLOSED NOW THAT IS WINTER. AND NO ON WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO CAN FIX IT. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT LATCH FULLY, AND MAY NOT LOCK/UNLOCK, OR LATCH, AT ALL, AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. EXTERIOR HANDLE STICKS AND DOES NOT OPERATE AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THIS PROBLEM MAY OCCUR TO A LESSER DEGREE AT TEMPERATURES AS HIGH AS 40 DEGREES. THIS PRESENTS A HAZARD OF THEFT/VANDALISM FOR PARKED CARS, AND MAY ENDANGER CHILD PASSENGERS, OR OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO OBJECTS FALLING FROM AN OPENED (UNLATCHED) DOOR. DOCUMENTATION OF EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS DEFECT MAY BE FOUND AT HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?2967817. *TR

THE HEATING ELEMENTS IN THE SEAT WHICH HEAT THE SEAT WHEN TURNED ON (SEAT HEATERS) CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT, ALMOST BURNING MY BACKSIDE. CAR WAS STATIONARY. WARMING UP THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 8 MINUTES IN THE MORNING BEFORE DRIVING TO WORK.

FAULTY SEAT HEATER IN DRIVERS SEAT CAUSED FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. IT WAS WARMING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME BECAUSE OF RECENT ICE STORM. WE MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND IT WAS CONTAINED TO THE ONE SEAT BUT THE SEAT IS BADLY DAMAGED AND THE INTERIOR OF VAN SMELL OF BURNED WIRING. *TR

HIT A POT HOLE ON HI-WAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH CAUSING RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY DAMAGE. THE WHEEL BEARING OVERHEATED AND STARTED FIRE ALONG SIDE OF ROAD. THE REAR HUB ASSY. AND WHEEL WHERE NEVER RECOVERED. CLARE FIRE DEPT. AT 207 W. FIFTH ST., CLARE, MICHIGAN 48617 INCIDENT REPORT #19-000168 WAS FILED ABOUT AUGUST 22 2019

NO CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON AIR PRESSURE FOR THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES. DEALER STATED ,CALL THE MANUFACTURER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME CAN INFLATE FRONT TIRES AT 28 POUNDS, AND REAR TIRES AT 32 POUNDS. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR, MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAD BROKEN INTO SEVERAL PIECES. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVERS SEAT BELT WOULD NOT CONNECT TO THE BASE BUCKLE HOUSING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150000.

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS UP AND DOES NOT EXTEND ONCE LOCKED UP. ONE HAS TO UNDO AND REEL IT BACK IN AND TRY AGAIN TO PULL IT OUT. IF IT MAKES A WHIRRING SOUND AS IT IS PULLED OUT, IT WILL LOCK UP AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO TWO OF OUR VW EUROVANS - A 1999 AND A 2003 - SO I AM ASSUMING IT MIGHT BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITHIN SIX YEARS AT 40,000 BY THE DEALER PER THE WARRANTY. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WARRANTED AND VOLKSWAGEN WANTS HER TO PAY FOR $5,300. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

FAULTY SEAT HEATER IN DRIVERS SEAT CAUSED FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. IT WAS WARMING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME BECAUSE OF RECENT ICE STORM. WE MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND IT WAS CONTAINED TO THE ONE SEAT BUT THE SEAT IS BADLY DAMAGED AND THE INTERIOR OF VAN SMELL OF BURNED WIRING. *TR

HIT A POT HOLE ON HI-WAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH CAUSING RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY DAMAGE. THE WHEEL BEARING OVERHEATED AND STARTED FIRE ALONG SIDE OF ROAD. THE REAR HUB ASSY. AND WHEEL WHERE NEVER RECOVERED. CLARE FIRE DEPT. AT 207 W. FIFTH ST., CLARE, MICHIGAN 48617 INCIDENT REPORT #19-000168 WAS FILED ABOUT AUGUST 22 2019