2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
****NOTE - NEED MORE INFORMATION. CONTACTED CONSUMER - 8/6/20**** PROBLEM: RADIATOR FAN BLADES ARE BROKEN AND/OR MISSING. RADIATOR OVERHEATED. TOOK TO VW DEALER TODAY, AND WAS TOLD FAN BLADES WERE BROKEN AND/OR MISSING.
Mileage: 57,400
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. MY SEAT HEATER HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES WHEN MY PASSENGER AND I BEGAN TO SMELL A SWEET, SMOKEY ODOR. THE SMOKE WAS NOT VISIBLE AT THE TIME, BUT OVER THE NEXT 5-10 MINUTES THE SMELL BECAME MORE INTENSE AND THERE WAS SMOKE V...
Mileage: 107,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, HER SON'S WINTER COAT, HIS SHIRT, AND HIS BAC...
Mileage: 140,000
SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING.
Mileage: 50,000
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 VEHIC...
Mileage: 125,000
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 VEHIC...
Mileage: 125,000
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD ,WAS ON MY WAY TO MY DOCTORS ,AS I CAME BACK, IT WAS AT REDUCE SPEED 3RD LANE AT 50MPH, FOR SAFETY PURPOSE SINCE I COULD NOT TRUST THE BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE, I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN I NEED TO REPLACE FRONT BR...
Mileage: 130,730
230 DAYS IN VW DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP ! I PURCHASED A 2002 VW EUROVAN WEEKENDER CAMPER WITH 142,276 MILES ON 2/25/12 BECAUSE OF ITS EXCELLENT SPACE UTILIZATION AND BECAUSE IT HAD A REPLACEMENT ENGINE STILL UNDER VW WARRANTY. I WAS VERY WRONG ABOUT THE VW WARRANTY. I PAID $21,780.63 FOR WARRANTY ...
Mileage: 143,054
2002 WINNEBAGO MOUNTED ON A VOLKSWAGEN EURO VAN CHASSIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOOSING ONE OF THE FASTENERS TO A WHEEL RIM *TGW THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER PROVIDED THE CONSUMER A REPLACEMENT WHEEL BOLT THAT WAS 25% SHORTED THAN THE FACTORY BOLT (30MM LONG VERSUS THE ORIGINAL 40 MM LONG). WHEN QU...
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 HA...
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 HA...
FOR THE SECOND TIME THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON MY VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON (WINNEBAGO RIALTA CONVERSION) HAS FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. THE FAN BLADE SHATTERED BOTH TIMES LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE VAN BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVE...
Mileage: 70,000
FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2002 EUROVAN WHEN DRIVING UP A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE FRONT END FELT AS IF IT WAS BUCKING/BOUNCING, SO WE PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, BUT WHEN WE TRIED DRIVING OFF, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN 1ST AND ...
Mileage: 126,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EURO VAN. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE FAN BLADES BROKE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73300.
Mileage: 73,300
OUR 2002 VW EUROVAN WAS PURCHASED USED AT THE END OF JULY, 2009 FROM PACIFIC VW IN HAWTHORNE, CA. I WAS TOLD THE VAN WENT THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE TEST AND REPAIR PROCESS AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A USED VEHICLE. I DID PURCHASE A 'SILVER' 2 YEAR/24,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR $1,800. I AM CONCERNED ...
I WAS DRIVING ON I-94 NORTH OF DETROIT WHEN I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND AS I HIT THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE THE SHAKING DECREASED. IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE BUT AFTER THE INITIAL SHOCK I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. HAD THE TIRE BLOWN OUT THE OUTCOME...
Mileage: 69,000
I TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 VW EUROVAN BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT A PIECE OF ONE OF THE OF THE TWO RADIATOR FANS WAS MISSING. THE MISSING PIECE DID NOT GO THROUGH THE RADIATOR. *TR
Mileage: 61,000
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 D...
Mileage: 100,000
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 D...
Mileage: 100,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF THE DEALER'S LOT, THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR FAILED. THE DEALER CHARGED $1,512 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,965.
Mileage: 56,965
THIS CAR IS THE THIRD OF FOUR CARS, IN A TWO-DRIVER FAMILY. IT IS NOT DRIVEN FREQUENTLY. ONE DAY, WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO REVERSE GEAR: IT DID NOT LIKE ANY THROTTLE WHEN IN REVERSE, BUT SEEMED TO DRIVE O.K. WHEN IN DRIVE GEAR. THE NEXT TIME THAT WE DROVE IT, THE SAM...
Mileage: 60,886
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 VW EUROVAN OVER A CAUSEWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. A WARNING LIGHT FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES THEN WENT OFF. I BELIEVE IT WAS A COOLANT LIGHT. THEN A STRANGE THUMP, THUMP, THUMP NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER AND SOUNDED LIKE A ...
WE JUST EXPERIENCED A EXPENSIVE ($4500) PROBLEM WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN/WINNEBAGO RIALTA. ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WAS RELATIVELY MINOR BUT BECAME MAJOR BECAUSE OF THE VW ENGINEERING. A SPROCKET THAT PART OF THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY WAS WORN TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY ...
Mileage: 52,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURES WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE COOLING FAN FAILED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT OVERHEAT. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. TH...
Mileage: 112,000
WHILE TRAVELING ON A UPHILL PAVED ROAD GRADE AROUND 11 AM GOING AT A SLOW SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND THE BLADE ON THE COOLING FAN ON THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN BROKE OFF. FAN WAS UNBALANCED AND BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE FAN STILL CONTINUED TO RUN VIOLENTLY SHA...
Mileage: 21,000
RADIATOR FAN BLADE EXPLODED/PARTIALLY DISINTEGRATED WITHOUT WARNING. VIN [XXX] HAD ONLY 16000 MILES ON IT, AND NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO THE ENGINE TO DISTURB THE FAN BLADE. *TR UPDATED 07/10/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Mileage: 15,500
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,...
Mileage: 15,000
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,...
Mileage: 15,000
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,...
Mileage: 15,000
HEATED SEATS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE UPPER PORTION OF THE PASSENGER SEAT.*AK
Mileage: 82,000
RADIATOR COOLING FAN DISINTEGRATED AND DESTROYED RADIATOR. *JB
Mileage: 45,000
RADIATOR FANS DISINTEGRATED WHILE DRIVING AND MADE A HOLE IN RADIATOR. THIS IS A VW EUROVAN 2002, AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS FOR MODEL YEARS 1998-2000. VW HAS REFUSED TO INCLUDE MINE IN THE RECALL. THE REPAIR COST $2060. *NM
Mileage: 64,300
BOUGHT A USED 2002 EUROVAN WITH SEAT WARMER IN JAN 2006. SEAT WARMERS WORKED INITIALLY, BUT ON PASSENGER SIDE IT OVERHEATED AND MELTED THROUGH THE FACTORY SYNTHETIC CLOTH SEAT COVER CAUSING ABOUT A 1 INCH CHARRED BLACK SPOT AS WELL AS OTHER DISCOLORATION NEARBY. WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND ...
Mileage: 102,500
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. *SC
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, APP...
Mileage: 31,570
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, APP...
Mileage: 31,570
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, APP...
Mileage: 31,570
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT ON A RECALL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH VEHICLE COVER TO THE PROPANE TANK FLEW OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SEAT BELT IN THE CENTER OF THIRD ROW SEAT WILL NOT STAY CLOSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
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 ELECTRICA...
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 ELECTRICA...
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 ELECTRICA...
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 ELECTRICA...
THIS VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND OTHER DEFECTS, THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST, THE MOST SCARY THING THAT HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR, AND THE THINK THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, POTENTIALLY INJURING OR KILLING OURSELVES OR OTHERS. FORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED AT A D...