32 of the 282 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Eurovan are about the electrical system — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
32
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
6
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10995746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC. THE BURN-THROUGH LOCATION IS ON THE VERTICAL SURFACE OF THE SEAT, MID-LINE, AT ABOUT THE LUMBAR HEIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH. A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED SEAT WHEN THE BURN-THROUGH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE BURN-THROUGH, BUT THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #10816208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL TODAY AND WE HAD PUT THE HEATED SEATS ON IN MY 2002 VW EUROVAN. AS WE APPROACHED THE SCHOOL MY DAUGHTER YELLED OUCH AND GRABBED HER BACK. WE DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC AND BURNED A HOLE IN HER NORTH FACE JACKET. IT HAD STARTED TO HEAT UP HER SHIRT BUT LUCKILY SHE FELT IT BEFORE IT GOT EVEN HOTTER. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE BURN TO HER BACK. SHE HAD A LARGE RED PATCH ON HER LOWER BACK BUT NOTHING MORE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD TO THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER - AS BOTH SEATS ARE HEATED AND COULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT ANY TIME. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND THERE ARE SOME AS RECENT AS THIS YEAR ALREADY. IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT VW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR SUCH A PROBLEM AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10449424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10383060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEATED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SMOLDERING. NO FIRE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT. OUT OF WARRANTY. PASSENGER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY. HEATING ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH CLOTH FABRIC. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT DOES PRESENT A FIRE DANGER AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10266376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GENERATOR AND BATTERY INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2006, THE ENGINE FAN WAS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE AND COST THE CONTACT $977. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $92 FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS OF THE GENERATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ISSUED CASE # 60034264 BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #10186994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GENERATOR AND BATTERY INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2006, THE ENGINE FAN WAS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE AND COST THE CONTACT $977. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $92 FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS OF THE GENERATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ISSUED CASE # 60034264 BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #10186994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 EUROVAN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE BATTERY PROBLEM RETURNED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #10134495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: CONTACT STATES A 1993 EURO VAN VOLKSWAGEN BURNED WHILE DRIVING. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO ONGOING INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10126456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: CONTACT STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT START. HOWEVER, AFTER WRIGGLING THE IGNITION SWITCH THE VEHICLE WILL START. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, THE WRIGGLING OF THE IGNITION MIGHTL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10126268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS IN FRONT WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES. WHEN PRESSING THE BUTTON DOWN TO LOWER THE WINDOW SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DOOR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND REPLACED THE WIRING WHICH CONTROLLED BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. ALSO, THE WIRING BURNED DOWN TO THE CONTROL PANEL.*AK.....CONSUMER PAID $491,98 FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10106858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. MANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING GENERATOR, BATTERY, THROTTLE CONTROLS, AND AN ABS SENSOR. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTS. *AK THE MOST DANGEROUS IS THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY, APPARENTLY FOR NO REASON. WE CANNOT TELL WHETHER THERE IS A BRAKE FAILURE, OR ERRONEOUS WARNING. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. TODAY THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND AT THE SAME TIME BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. WE HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM, TURN THE CAR "OFF", THEN RESTART TO GET THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO GO OFF AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO RUN. OBVIOUSLY IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING WITH ZERO VISIBILITY, AND THEN TO HAVE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TO RESTART THE CAR. VW NEEDS TO CORRECT SYSTEMWIDE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 VW EUROVAN.
NHTSA complaint #10102633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WE ARE DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN VWS PRACTICE REGARDING THE RECALL OF IGNITION COIL FAILURES ON THE 2001 VW EUROVAN. IT BELIES THEIR POLICY AS STATED ON THE INTERNET THAT THEY NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM, HAVE SUFFICIENT PARTS IN DEALERSHIPS, AND OFFER ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION AT NO COST. INDEED OWNERS SHOULD BE ALERTED OF POTENTIAL FAILURES AND VW SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF PARTS ON HAND TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TO DATE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM VW OF AMERICA. WE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIT UP. FORTUNATELY FOR US, THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE TAIL END OF A 10,000-MILE JOURNEY ACROSS THE U.S. AND CANADA. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER, COMMUNITY VW OF SANTA MARIA, THE REPAIR PARTS ORDERED ON DECEMBER 8 WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER THREE WEEKS. THE OTHER LOCAL DEALER, KIMBALL MOTORS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, IS ALSO UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS ANY FASTER. YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 18, OUR EUROVAN FAILED TO START. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION. SO WE WILL BE STRANDED FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THOSE REPAIR PARTS WILL BE DELIVERED ON SCHEDULE. EITHER VW SHOULD LIVE UP TO THEIR STATED COMMITMENT BY PROVIDING REPAIR PARTS AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION NOW OR RESTATE THE POLICY TO MATCH THEIR ACTIONS OF LETTING THE BUYER BEWARE. WE HAVE CONVEYED THIS INFORMATION TO VW CUSTOMER SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #10050779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF INSULATION ON MANY WIRES IN DRIVER'S DOOR WIRING HARNESS CAUSED SPARKS, AND ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION OF POWER WINDOWS, POWER LOCKS, DASH LIGHTS, AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. HEAT FROM EXCESSIVE CURRENT AND SPARKS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE. ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVER LEANING OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE IN ORDER TO OPERATE PASSENGER WINDOW. OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS DEAD BATTERY, ENGINE FAILURE, OR SECURITY FAILURE COULD ALSO BE CAUSED BY DEFECT.DEFECT APPEARS TO BE IN DESIGN OF WIRING HARNESS WHICH FLEXES AT THE EXACTLY THE SAME POINT WHEN DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED COMBINED WITH POOR QUALITY MATERIAL USED FOR WIRING INSULATION. INSULATION HAS CRACKED AND SPLIT APART ON MANY OF THE WIRES IN THE DOOR WIRING HARNESS ALLOWING BARE COPPER TO COME INTO CONTACT RANDOMLY FROM WIRE TO WIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10049411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF INSULATION ON MANY WIRES IN DRIVER'S DOOR WIRING HARNESS CAUSED SPARKS, AND ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION OF POWER WINDOWS, POWER LOCKS, DASH LIGHTS, AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. HEAT FROM EXCESSIVE CURRENT AND SPARKS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE. ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVER LEANING OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE IN ORDER TO OPERATE PASSENGER WINDOW. OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS DEAD BATTERY, ENGINE FAILURE, OR SECURITY FAILURE COULD ALSO BE CAUSED BY DEFECT.DEFECT APPEARS TO BE IN DESIGN OF WIRING HARNESS WHICH FLEXES AT THE EXACTLY THE SAME POINT WHEN DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED COMBINED WITH POOR QUALITY MATERIAL USED FOR WIRING INSULATION. INSULATION HAS CRACKED AND SPLIT APART ON MANY OF THE WIRES IN THE DOOR WIRING HARNESS ALLOWING BARE COPPER TO COME INTO CONTACT RANDOMLY FROM WIRE TO WIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10049411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT BURNT THE INSULATION.
NHTSA complaint #10041938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 complaint #10000297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I CAN NOT FIND THE COMPLAINT WHERE I ALREADY DESCRIBED A DANGEROUS EVENT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RACE, BUCK, LURCH THE CAR FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION, BUT PLEASE CROSS REFERENCE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE VIN NUMBER OF THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOW PROVIDED MORE INFO ABOUT PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURES IN THIS CAR. WE BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, A DANGER TO US AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. WE WANT VW TO TAKE THIS CAR OUT OF SERVICE AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN OUR POSSESSION AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE ENGINE RACING PROBLEM AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE PLAGUED THE CAR FROM THE BEGINNING! DT
NHTSA complaint #770470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I CAN NOT FIND THE COMPLAINT WHERE I ALREADY DESCRIBED A DANGEROUS EVENT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RACE, BUCK, LURCH THE CAR FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION, BUT PLEASE CROSS REFERENCE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE VIN NUMBER OF THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOW PROVIDED MORE INFO ABOUT PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURES IN THIS CAR. WE BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, A DANGER TO US AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. WE WANT VW TO TAKE THIS CAR OUT OF SERVICE AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN OUR POSSESSION AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE ENGINE RACING PROBLEM AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE PLAGUED THE CAR FROM THE BEGINNING! DT
NHTSA complaint #770470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I CAN NOT FIND THE COMPLAINT WHERE I ALREADY DESCRIBED A DANGEROUS EVENT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RACE, BUCK, LURCH THE CAR FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION, BUT PLEASE CROSS REFERENCE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE VIN NUMBER OF THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOW PROVIDED MORE INFO ABOUT PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURES IN THIS CAR. WE BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, A DANGER TO US AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. WE WANT VW TO TAKE THIS CAR OUT OF SERVICE AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN OUR POSSESSION AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE ENGINE RACING PROBLEM AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE PLAGUED THE CAR FROM THE BEGINNING! DT
NHTSA complaint #770470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.