Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Volkswagen Eurovan problems
Owners filed 17 complaints about the 1999 Volkswagen Eurovan with NHTSA between Jul 1999 and Nov 2020. The most-cited component is seat belts (5).
Complaints
17
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Seat belts5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Structure2
- Equipment2
- Visibility2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Power train1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Other / unknown1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
3
1
3
0
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Seat belts
5 reports1 crash
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports
“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”
Structure
2 reports
“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”
Equipment
2 reports
“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”
Visibility
2 reports
“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”
Fuel system, gasoline
1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.