Engine Cooling System Problems of Volkswagen Eurovan

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 whatsoever. I notice that you have an open investigation on this issue. I would like to join that investigation as a CO-complainant. In both cases this happened on one of the hottest days of the year. In alabama, this time , the heat index was over 110 degrees. The previous time was in tennessee when the heat index was also over 100 degrees, and 3 of my grandchildren were in the car with me. In both cases I was stranded with passengers on the side of the road. While this is not the same as a brake failure, it clearly represents a manufacturing and/or design defect that could have serious consequences. Volkswagen is of course the sole supplier of the necessary parts and refuses to discuss any potential problems other than to say " no one can predict the life of a part ", which is neither true nor relevant. A cursory search of the internet turned up a host of similar complaints - all of which vw refused to ameliorate in any way. I appreciate your attention to this problem on behalf of american consumers. Thank you.

See all problems of the 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan 🔎.

Traveling with two other rialta motor homes visiting joshia tree np when I heard a banging sound like something hitting under my rialta. I immediately noted an increase in water temperature and then the red warning light came on the dash. I pulled to the side of the road, opened the hood, but could not see a busted hose, but there was antifreeze on the ground. I had a spare gallon with me and filled the reservoir to recommended level, drove about 3-4 miles and had to repeat procedure. Again I went about 3-4 miles and had to use water this time. A park ranger gave me the name of a repair shop in twentynine, palms which was about 3 miles away. I refilled the reservoir with water to get me to the shop. Upon inspection, a hole was found in the radiator. When the cooling system was dismantled, one cooling fan had completely disintegrated and there was a hole in the shroud apparently where part of the fan bracket that had broken off went through the shroud into the radiator. Parts have been ordered to replace the radiator, shroud, bracket and one new fan. The other fan has a chip out of one blade but is not broken. A friend told me of a recent recall from vw (assigned recall no. 04v-107) regarding failure of the engine cooling fans, which may fracture and break apart. I have also noted that the bracket parts number has changed from 7d0-121-206a to a 7d0-121-206d. One can definitely see the difference in the two, with the later being redesigned and reinforced. I purchased the rialta in April of 2001. The bracket, shroud and radiator are available, but I prefer not to carry the radiator with me due to space constraints and weight. I am traveling for at least two more months. Please note: this IA winnebago rialta on a Volkswagen engine. The repair shop may retain the radiator if necessary. Bailey's auto repair and towing. Twentynine palms, CA 92277. 760/367-7716. Ask for fred.

See all problems of the 2001 Volkswagen Eurovan 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2000 Volkswagen Eurovan 🔎.

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.