2000 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

FAN FOR COOLING THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT (IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT) BLEW APART, DAMAGING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ADJACENT TO IT. THE OTHER FAN (FOR ENGINE COOLING) FAILED LAST YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

ENGINE COOLING FAN ON DRIVER'S (LEFT) SIDE BROKE AND LOST A PIECE, CAUSING THE FAN TO BECOME UNBALANCED. THE LACK OF BALANCE CAUSED SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE CAR. CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR (REPLACEMENT) OF THE FAN. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

MY WIFE, ON A RECENT DRIVE FROM NO. CALIFORNIA TO SOUTHERN CA NOTED AN UNUSUAL SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NO OVERHEATING OR OTHER ISSUES THOUGH. WHEN SHE STOPPED SHE NOTED ONE OF THE PLASTIC RADIATOR FANS WAS BROKEN IN MULTIPLE PIECES. SINCE SHE WAS AWAY FROM HOME I TOLD HER TO GO TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY DECIDED THE ENTIRE FAN ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE PARTS ALONE WERE ABOUT $2300 TOTAL REPAIR FOR THIS ABOUT $2900. WHEN THEY RETURNED THE CAR SHE FOUND THAT THE AC WAS NO LONGER WORKING. SO BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THE AC COMPRESSOR WAS BAD (BTW THE AC WORKED WELL PRIOR TO THE RADIATOR EVENT) SO THE COMPRESSOR AND EVAPORATOR/DRYER WERE REPLACED ANOTHER $1200 APPROX. THEN UPON RETURNING HOME TO NO. CAL. THE AC STILL DIDN'T WORK. NOW WE WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THE HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE HOSES TO THE AC WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, PARTS ALONE $750 THE DEALER IN LONG BEACH DID KICK IN $300 FOR THE LABOR AND $150 FOR THE FREON RECHARGE. THE STORY CONTINUES... THEN THE AC FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME I NOTED THAT THE RIGHT FAN WAS REWIRED IMPROPERLY AND RUNNING BACKWARDS. THIS WAS REWIRED BY THE OAKLAND DEALER AND THUS FAR THE AC SEEMS TO BE WORKING THOUGH SOMETIMES IT IS LOUD. THE INITIAL FAN DISINTEGRATION IS A DEFECT AND THIS HAS LEAD TO A CONSTELLATION OF PROBLEMS REQUIRING NEW FAN, NEW RADIATOR, NEW AC. A RADIATOR FAN SHOULD NOT SPONTANEOUSLY DISINTEGRATE AT 60.000 MILES. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED MULTIPLE TIME ON YOUR WEBSITE AND THIS SHOULD BE A COVERED DEFECT IN THESE VEHICLES. *JB

Mileage: 61,000

2000 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN ENGINE COOLING FAN BROKE APART.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE COOLING FANS HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH ABOUT FOUND OUT THAT 1998-2000 EUROVANS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM

Mileage: 28,718

THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS (2003-2005) I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE COOLING FANS ON A 2000 VW EUROVAN, TWICE BECAUSE THEY EXPLODED. IN EACH CASE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS INCURRED DUE TO THE FLYING PIECES OF FAN. THE VW DEALERS (IN NJ, VA/FL, AND PA) ASSERTED THAT THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF THIS OCCURRING, DESPITE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN VW AND NHTSA IN 2003. *NM

Mileage: 50,000

I AM AN OWNER OF 2000 VOLKSWAGON CAMPER OWNER. MY ENGINE COOLING FANS CAME APART. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT IS NOT RECALLED. IN MAY 2004, I RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN A STICKER TO PUT AT THE SIDE OF THE HOOD FOR WARNING THE ENGINE COOLING FANS MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. IT WAS NOT A RECALL NOTICE. ON JULY 4 WEEKEND, I PLANNED WITH THE FAMILY FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA SHAVER LAKE FOR A RETREAT. WE DRIVE UP ON ROUTE 168. SUDDENLY WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM OUR 2000 VW CAMPER. WE ASK EACH OTHER WHAT IT WAS. WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE HIT UNDERNEATH THE CAMPER. WE STILL CONTINUED ON OUR WAY. WITHIN FEW MINUTES, ANOTHER LOUD NOISES AGAIN. WE KNOW THAT MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAMPER. WE PULL TO THE SIDE AND I COULD HEAR A HUM SOUND THAT I NEVER HEARD BEFORE. I OPEN THE HOOD AND FOUND SOME HARD-PLASTIC PARTS NEAR THE HOOD. THERE WERE TWO FANS AND THE NOISE WAS COME FROM THE FANS. BOTH FANS WERE INCINERATED EXCEPT THE CENTER HUB STILL SPINNING WE HAVE CAREFULLY WATCHED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND DROVE TO FRESNO, I BROUGHT TO VW DEAL FOR REPAIR IN THE MORNING BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART. WE DROVE THE CAMPER BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT STOPPING AND WATCH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. I RAN THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VW COOLING FAN. IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED IN APRIL 2004 ON VW WINNEBAGO RIALTA, WHICH IS SIMILAR WITH MY CAMPER WITH EUROVAN CHASSIS EXCEPT WITH WIDER BODY. THE FANS IS ENCLOSED WITH HOOD ON TOP, RADIATOR AT THE FRONT, ENGINE AT THE REAR, PLASTIC PAN AT THE BOTTOM AND BODY CHASSIS ON BOTH SIDE. THERE IS NOT WAY SOMETHING WILL HIT IT AND CAUSE THE DAMAGE TO THE FANS. I GLAD THAT I DID NOT STOP AND OPEN THE HOOD AFTER THE FIRST NOISE. THE SECOND FAN MAY BREAK RIGHT THEN AND THE FRACTURE PARTS MIGHT FLY OUT AND CAUSE ME SERIOUS INJURY. *AK

Mileage: 47,003

COOLING FAN BLADE BROKE INTO PIECES, CAUSING A PIECE TO WEDGE BETWEEN THE SERPENTINE BELT, CAUSING LACK OF POWER INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK PIECES OF THE COOLING FAN BLADE ALSO CUT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND VACUUM LINES. *PH *NLM

Mileage: 39,000

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING COOLING FAN DISINTEGRATED AND BROKE INTO A THOUSAND PIECES, AND A PIECE GOT LODGED IN THE POWER STEERING FAN BELT. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE POWER STEERING. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT COULD NOT GET HELP. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE HIM AT THE TUNE OF $1000.00 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.*AK

OUR RIALTA 2000 HD HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAN FAILURE ON JUNE 6, 2003. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN LATE AFTERNOON WHILE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ABOVE 100 DEGREES. THE A/C WAS RUNNING FULL SPEED AND WE WERE ASCENDING THE SISKIYOU SUMMIT SOUTH OF ASHLAND, OR. THE FIRST SYMPTOM WAS A THUD AS IF WE HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING, BUT THERE HAD BEEN NOTHING IN THE ROAD. I SAW WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PIECE OF ONE OF THE FANS BOUNCING IN THE ROAD BEHIND US. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOT A VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND US. ANY SUCH CLOSE FOLLOWING VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THIS PIECE OF ENGINE DEBRIS. WITHIN SECONDS WE NOTICED THE A/C FAILING AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE CLIMBING. WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. HOT STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE STEAM WAS FROM THE COOLANT OVERFLOWING IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND CONTACTING THE HOT ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE FANS HAD FLOWN APART. BOTH FANS HAD LOST ALL BLADES. PIECES OF THE FAN WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND ON TOP OF THE PROTECTIVE PAN. THE FLYING DEBRIS HAD DAMAGED THE RADIATOR AND FAN BRACKET (FAN SHROUD). VW CUSTOMER CARE SAID THERE WERE NO RECORDS OF OTHER RIALTAS OR EURO-VANS EXPERIENCING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. WE HAVE ALL OUR REPAIR RECEIPTS. WE TOOK PICTURES OF ALL THE DAMAGED PARTS. WE KEPT THE RADIATOR, FAN SHROUD, THE TWO FANS, AND ALL PIECES OF FAN BLADES WE COULD FIND. AT LEAST ONE OF THE PIECES OF FAN BLADE HAS A FRACTURE LINE WHERE IT HAS NOT YET BROKEN. *JB

Mileage: 23,420

DRIVING UP THE MOUNTAIN DURING AFTERNOON AND PRIMARY COOLING FAN SELF DISINTEGRATED INTO PIECES WHICH KNOCK OFF SECONDARY A/C FAN AND CAUSED OVERHEAT. AFTER LETTING ENGINE COOL OFF, RECONNECTED SECONDARY FAN AND CONTINUE ON TRIP FOR ANOTHER 30 MILES, THEN AAIR CONDITIONING FAN ALSO SELF DISINTEGRATED. VEHICLE IS A 2000 VW EUROVAN CONVERSION TO WINNEBAGO RIALTA 2001 WITH 15,000 MILES. IF REPLACEMENT ARE DONE BY DEALERSHIP, THE SAME PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN UNLESS THIS FAN PROBLEM ARE INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA AND MANDATORY RECALL ISSUED AND REPLACEMENT WITH BETTER FANS DONE BY DEALERSHIPS. DUE TO MOST OF THIS DISINTEGRATION HAPPENS DURING CLIMBING UPHILL, OVERHEATING, CUTTING OF HOSES AND CUTTING OF WIRING AND LOSS OF VEHICLE ARE POSSIBLE, THUS POSSESS REAL DANGER FOR ANYONE WHICH HAS THESE VEHICLES. SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF SAME TYPE OF FANS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD. *AK

Mileage: 14,700

ON JUNE 13, 2003 BOTH OF OUR RIALTAS ELECTRIC COOLING FANS SELF DESTRUCTED AFTER STARING THE DESCEND DOWN EAGLE RIDGE MOUNTAIN IN TN. AFTER A FEW SCARY MINUTES MY WIFE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THE RV TO SAFETY WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND SISTER ABOARD. BECAUSE OF THE MISSING BLADES THE UNIT CONTINUED TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY FOR FIVE MINUTES UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN. TWENTY MINUTES LATER MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE WORKING IN IDLE UNTIL THE COOLING FAN ATTEMPTED TO START ITS COOLING FUNCTION AGAIN. MY WIFE CALLED A TENNESSEE HIGHWAY HELPER WHO STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE UNIT AND IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE MISSING FAN BLADES AND CALLED FOR A TOW. THE RIG WAS TOWED TO VW OF CHATTANOOGA TENNESSEE WHO UPON INSPECTION DETERMINED IT NEEDED NEW FAN BLADES WHICH THEY DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK. TO HELP EXPEDITE THE PARTS I ALSO CALLED DEALERS LOOKING FOR PARTS. AFTER CONTACTING 5 VW DEALERS AND SALLY EBERLE AT VW; PER YOUR WINNEBAGO'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT NEITHER COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED A HISTORICAL PROBLEM WITH THAT ENGINES DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM. MRS. EBERLE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN DURING A COOLING FAN FAILURE. LUCKILY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE DURING OUR DESCEND DOWN MT EAGLE. AFTER CONTACTING MANY VW PARTS DEPARTMENTS I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THEY NORMALLY STOCK A REPLACEMENT FAN ASSEMBLY FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER. OFF THE WEB I HAVE ALSO MADE CONTACT TO DATE WITH TWO OTHER RIALTA OWNERS OUT OF SIX WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. TWO OF THEM HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR REPAIRED RIALTA. 1.) IS MY UNIT SAFE? 2.) MOST IMPORTANT - HAS THE PROBLEM BEEN FIXED??? *JB

Mileage: 19,440

THE VEHICILE WAS BEING DRIVEN UP A HILL ON A TYPICAL AUGUST DAY HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHEN THE RIGHT COOLANT FAN BLADES DISINTEGRATED. THE FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THEN 97 MILES LATER THE LEFT COLLANT FAN BLADES DISINTERGRATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. THE SECOND FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT COOLANT FAN WAS RUNNING COUNTER TO ITS CORRECT OPERATING DIRECTION. THE MOTOR DIRECTION WAS CORRECTED BY REVERSING THE ELECTICAL CONNECTOR ON THE RIGHT COOLANT FAN, THUS CORRECTING THE POLARITY OF THE MOTOR, BUT ONLY AFTER HOURS AND MILES OF DRIVING TO FIND THE SOLUTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE COOLANT FANS ARE DEFECTIVE AS TO DESIGN, MANUFACTURE, AND MATERIALS AND HERE IS WHY: 1. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DESIGN THE ELECTRICAL PLUG SO THAT IT WOULD JOIN ITS RECEPTOR IN ONLY THE CORRECT POLARITY DIRECTION, BUT THE PRESENT DESIGN IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE PLUG CAN BE FORCED TO CONNECT WITH THE INCORRECT POLARITY. SEVERAL DESIGN CHANGES WOULD INDIVIULALLY OR COLLECTIVELY MAKE AN INCORRECT CONNECTION IMPOSSIBLE. 2. THERE IS NO SEPARATON BARRIER BETWEEN THE TWO COOLANT FANS SUCH THAT DEBRIS FROM ONE FAN BLADE FAILURE CAN IMPACT THE ADJACENT FAN BLADE PROBABLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SECOND FAN BALDE. THE LACK OF SUCH A BARRIER IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN. 3. THE FAN DESIGN OF SEVEN BLADES WITH AN INTEGRAL MOLDED PERIMETER SHROUD, THE SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THE FAN BLADES AND SHROUD TO-WIT, PLASTIC, AND THE MANUFACTURE OF THE FAN PART ARE ALL DEFECTIVE FOR COOLANT FANS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE SO LONG AS THERE IS NO PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE BLADES. THERE WAS NONE IN THIS CASE. THESE COOLANT FANS DISINTEGRATED IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATIONS AND UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. DT

THERE ARE (2) ELECTRIC MOTOR FANS WHICH WENT INTO AN OVERSPEED CONDITION WHEN VAN WAS DRIVEN THROUGH HIGH ALTITUDES. FANS DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK