Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Volkswagen Eurovan problems

Owners filed 21 complaints about the 2001 Volkswagen Eurovan with NHTSA between Dec 2001 and Oct 2014. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (7).

Complaints
21
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling7
  2. Electrical system3
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  4. Seats2
  5. Wheels2
  6. Suspension2
  7. Power train2
  8. Engine1
  9. Visibility1
  10. Tires1
  11. Steering1
  12. Vehicle speed control1
  13. Equipment1

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 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20011
20023
20032
20046
20053
20061
20071
20080
20091
20100
20111
20120
20131
20141

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

7 reports
“ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FAILURE. THE LARGER OF THE 2 FAN BLADE WHEELS HAS A LARGE MISSING PIECE WHICH HAS SOMEHOW DISINTEGRATED WITHOUT ANY REASONABLE EXPLANATION. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EUROVAN ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE, HOWEVER A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, WHILE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RIALTA, WHICH USES THE SAME FAN AS THE EUROVAN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10436086

Electrical system

3 reports
“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.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2005Electrical systemODI 10126268

Service brakes, hydraulic

3 reports1 crash
“MY BRAKES ARE SOFT AND FAIL TO KEEP THE CAR AT REST. THE PROBLEM STARTED ON 09/29/2004. SINCE THEN THE VW DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH MANY PARTS WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2004Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10104634

Seats

2 reports1 fire
“DRIVER SEAT HEATER CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED HOLE IN SEAT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2013SeatsFire reportedODI 10491520

Wheels

2 reports
“TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE WHEELS ON THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN EURO VAN WITH14000 FAILURE MILEAGE INSPECTED DUE TO CONSTANT AIR LEAKAGE THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED STRESS CRACKS IN THE TWO REAR WHEELS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16100.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2007WheelsODI 10182305

Suspension

2 reports
“I PURCHASED, NEW, A 2001 VW EUROVAN WINNEBAGO CAMPER. IN 31,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE IS NOW ON ITS' THIRD SET OF BRAKES. MY LAST VEHICLE, A 1992 MAZDA NAVAJO; I FINALLY REPLACED BRAKES AT APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES. MY DRIVING IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE VW. EACH SET OF CAMPER BRAKES COSTS, RIGHT AT $1,500.00. VW PICKED-UP THE COST OF BRAKE SET #2 AT 17,000 MILES. AN AWA, AS THEY ARE ONLY WARRANTEED FOR 12,000 MILES. RIDICULOUS, TO BE SURE. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THE BRAKES ARE "GOING OUT". ONCE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON - YOU MUST REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM, NOT JUST PADS. AT 3 SETS IN 31,000 MILES; BRAKES ALONE ARE COSTING $150.00 FOR EVERY 1,000 MILES DRIVEN. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH ELEVEN TIRES IN THIS SAME TIME FRAME, DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SHOCKS (NOT HEAVY DUTY), AND THE COLLAPSE OF A MAJOR SPRING WHICH SUPPORTS THE CAMPER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER VW CAMPER OWNERS WITH 2001 MODELS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS WITH BRAKES AND TIRES. VW AND WINNEBAGO DO NOT CARE AND WILL NOT LOWER THE PRICE OF THEIR BRAKE SYSTEMS, NOR EVEN PROVIDE THE PART NUMBERS FOR ANY HEAVY DUTY SHOCKS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2004Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, TiresODI 10093043
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.