Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 50 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Visibility. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
50 reports
117,700 miles · Jun 13, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. PRIOR TO THIS VEHILCE HAD BEEN RUNNING HOT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A COOLANT FLUSH, AND HAD THE BELT REPLACED AROUND THE FAN. ALSO, HAD A NEW RADIATOR INSTALLED. CONSUMER WAS IN THE CAR 5-10 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. …
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DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. PRIOR TO THIS VEHILCE HAD BEEN RUNNING HOT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A COOLANT FLUSH, AND HAD THE BELT REPLACED AROUND THE FAN. ALSO, HAD A NEW RADIATOR INSTALLED. CONSUMER WAS IN THE CAR 5-10 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SMOKED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10125088
99,400 miles · Jun 22, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 98V295000. PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VR6 ENGINES. A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT SUCH AS THE THERMO SWITCH, RADIATOR FAN, OR WATER PUMP CAN MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. OVER TIME, EXCESSIVE PR…
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CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 98V295000. PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VR6 ENGINES. A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT SUCH AS THE THERMO SWITCH, RADIATOR FAN, OR WATER PUMP CAN MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. OVER TIME, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROM THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING LEAKAGE FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER. DEALER INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10079625
97,000 miles · Apr 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM AS STATED IN RECALL 98 V 295 000, BUT THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015535
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Visibility
THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLASHED. THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, AND AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE'S CABIN BECAME FILLED WITH STEAM AND HOT RADIATOR FLUID WAS ON THE FLOOR BOARD. IT WAS DETERMINED THE HEATER CORE FAILED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015354
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2002
Visibility
HEATER CORE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. 1 YEAR LATER IT BROKE, CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO LEAK AND FRONT WINDSHIELD TO STEAM UP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8018764
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
RECALL WORK PERFORMED AND FAILURE IMMEDIATELY OCCURRED. RUPTURED HEATER CORE REPAIRED, BUT CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO COOLANT FUMES. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX RECALL 98V295000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #765747
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2002
Visibility
MY HEATER CORE FAILED SPILLING RADIATOR FLUID INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND VAPOR THROUGH THE HVAC SYSTEM.. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A PART THAT CONSISTANTLY FAILED IN MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND AM HOPING THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE WILL BE RESPONSABLE AND REPLACE THE PART AS A RECALL ISSUE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763340
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2001
Exterior LightingVisibility
FOG LIGHTS OVERHEAT. VWOA HAS REFUSED HELLA OEM FOG LIGHT REPLACEMENT DESIGN. HEATED OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR DELAMINATES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #755589
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Visibility
HEATER CORE LOCATED BEHIND VENTILATION SYSTEM BLEW UP, HOT COOLANT HIT VENT AND WHITE SMOKE AND COOLANT ENTERED INTO VEHICLE, CHEMICALS WERE VERY STRONG. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY WILL REPLACE HEATER CORE, CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURIED, BECAUSE LIQUID WAS HOT,CONSUMER WAS TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY WHI…
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HEATER CORE LOCATED BEHIND VENTILATION SYSTEM BLEW UP, HOT COOLANT HIT VENT AND WHITE SMOKE AND COOLANT ENTERED INTO VEHICLE, CHEMICALS WERE VERY STRONG. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY WILL REPLACE HEATER CORE, CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURIED, BECAUSE LIQUID WAS HOT,CONSUMER WAS TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY WHITE SMOKE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS.*SLC
NHTSA ODI #895246
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2001
Electrical SystemVisibility
IGNITION SWITCH AND THE HEATER WERE REPAIR WITH USED PARTS AND STILL FAILED. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VR6 ENGINES. A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT SUCH AS THE THERMO SWITCH, RADIATOR FAN, OR WATER PUMP, CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. OVER TIME, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROMTHE SYSTEM, INCLUDING LEAKAGE FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LEAKAGE OF HOT COOLANT FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF THE DRIVER OR STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IN THE COOLANT INLET HOSE TO THE HEATER CORE, A PRESSURE REDUCER WITH A 5MM DIAMETER SECURED BY A SPRING TENSIONED HOSE CLAMP. ALSO A NEW RELAY THAT WILL CHANGE THE OPERATION OF THE SECONDARY ELECTRICAL COOLANT PUMP WILL BE INSTALLED. DEALERS WILL ALSO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS OPERATE PROPERLY.
AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO A SHEET METAL EDGE. THE WIRING CAN BECOME DAMAGED DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION DUE TO CHAFING, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SHORT OCCURS, EITHER THE ENGINE COULD STALL ORTHE RADIATOR FAN COULD STOP OPERATING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. EITHERCONDITION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REROUTE AND SECURE VARIOUS WIRING HARNESSES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA98012 · Heater Core Repture
Opened May 27, 1998 · Closed Nov 20, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
HEATER CORE ALLEGEDLY RUPTURES AND RELEASES HOT COOLANT INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, RESULTING IN IMPAIRED VISIBILITY AND POTENTIAL BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
PE98006 · Heater Core Rupture
Opened Feb 5, 1998 · Closed May 27, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
HEATER CORE ALLEGEDLY RUPTURES AND RELEASES HOT COOLANT INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, RESULTING IN IMPAIRED VISIBILITY AND POTENTIAL BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
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