1999 Volkswagen Eurovan problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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 complaint #11377065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10237459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10237459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10237459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10197239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10164363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

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 complaint #10127173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10083835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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 complaint #10060453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #767066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE UNLESS IT IS HELD SHUT AND LOCKED AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA complaint #785948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, ALL THE ELECTICAL ITEMS SUCH AS THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER AND CLOCK IN THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND WHEN THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON IT SHORTED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #785948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE UNLESS IT IS HELD SHUT AND LOCKED AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA complaint #785948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, ALL THE ELECTICAL ITEMS SUCH AS THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER AND CLOCK IN THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND WHEN THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON IT SHORTED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #785948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #894296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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.

NHTSA complaint #725080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

WINSHIELD WIPERS FROZE DURING VERY LIGHT SNOW,CAUSING THEM TO STOP WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #854475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS ARE DESIGNED TO HOLD A CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT IN PLACE. TO DO THIS, YOU EXTEND THE BELT FULLY UNTIL YOU HEAR A CLICK, BUCKLE THE BELT, THEN LET IT RETRACT. YOU SHOULD HEAR A RATCHETING NOISE. THE BELT SHOULD NOT EXTEND. THIS IS IN FACT WHAT HAPPENS. HOWEVER, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS DESIGN DOES NOT COMFORTABLY ACCOMODATE A CAR FULL OF ADULTS. I DO NOT HAVE ANY SMALL CHILDREN. WHEN ANY OF US, SITTING IN A PASSENGER SEAT, LEAN FORWARD TO PICK UP SOMETHING OFF THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, OR OFF THE DASHBOARD, THE CHILD SAFETY FEATURE ENGAGES, AND WHEN YOU LEAN BACK, YOU ARE LOCKED TO THE SEAT. THIS CHILD FEATURE IS DANGEROUS TO ADULTS, BECAUSE IT, BECAUSE THE MANUAL SAYS TO DO IT, MAKES YOU UNDO THE SEAT BELT TO RESET THE SAFETY FEATURE. ALSO, I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY AGENCY OR AUTO INDUSTRY ADVOCATING THE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD SAFETY BELT IN A FRONT SEAT, WHEN THERE ARE BACK SEATS AVAILABLE. I WOULD LIKE VW TO PUT A DRIVER SEAT TYPE THREE POINT BELT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WOULD BE SAFER FOR MY FAMILY.

NHTSA complaint #712822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER BELT LATCH WILL NOT STAY FASTENED WHILE USING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THIS CAUSES THE CSS TO MALFUNCTION, AND CHILD TO FALL FORWARD WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #844719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.