IllustrationMY 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
2001 Volkswagen Eurovan
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Eurovan years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 15 of 21 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
3 reportsI 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 C…
Read full complaint
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 THAT CAN BE PUT ON THIS VEHICLE, NOT ABSORB THE COSTS OF THE VERY EXPENSIVE AND UNIQUE TIRE THAT MUST BE PUT ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOAD BEARING OF THE CAMPER PORTION. NO BRAKES SHOULD COST THIS MUCH, NO VEHICLE SHOULD GO THROUGH 11 TIRES IN 31,000 MILES. PLEASE HELP.*AK
DEALER SAID BRAKES DID NOT FAIL - DESIGN PROBLEM - CAR MUST BE STARTED WITH BRAKE ON - I PULLED OUT DOWNHILL AND BRAKE PEDAL FLOORBOARDED - DEALER SAID TO EFFECT I HAVE TO PUMP BRAKES BEFORE USING THE FIRST TIME!. *AK
Official recalls
102V136000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
May 16, 2002
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGES (TETHER ANCHORAGES) FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD RESTRAINTS INSTALLED IN THE THREE REARMOST SEATING POSITIONS, THE "SAFETY FIRST" PORTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL DELIVERED WITH THESE VEHICLES INCORRECTLY INSTRUCTS OWNERS TO GUIDE THE TETHER STRAP UNDERNEATH THE SEAT'S HEAD RESTRAINT AND TO RAISE THE HEAD RESTRAINT SLIGHTLY, IF NECESSARY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE OWNER FOLLOWS THESE INSTRUCTIONS, THE HEAD RESTRAINT COULD ACCIDENTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE SEAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND CAUSE INJURY TO ANY CHILD OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE TETHERED CHILD SEAT.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A NEW "SAFETY FIRST" BOOKLET THAT WILL CONTAIN CORRECTED USE INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE BOOKLET WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.
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
2EA08002 · Engine Cooling Fan Blade Fracture
Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Mar 14, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE BUILT ON A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS AND ARE CLASS C MOTOR HOMES. ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2007, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AS RQ 07-002 AFTER RECEIVING FOUR CONSUMER REPORTS OF FAN BLADE FAILURE ON MODEL YEAR 2002 WINNEBAGO RIALTA AND VISTA VEHICLES.AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN RESPONSE TO RQ 07-002, THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) 08-002.THE SCOPE OF THE EA INVESTIGATION WAS ALSO EXPANDED TO COVER MODEL YEARS 2001 THROUGH 2004 RIALTA AND VISTA, 2002 THROUGH 2004 SUNSTAR, AND 2001 THROUGH 2003 EUROVAN.ALL OF THESE VEHICLES UTILIZE THE SAME ENGINE COOLING FAN.HOWEVER, THE WINNEBAGO VEHICLES ARE LARGER AND HEAVIER THAN THE EUROVAN.AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE COOLING FAN WOULD OPERATE MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE WINNEBAGO VEHICLES COMPARED TO THE EUROVAN FOR THE SAME ON-ROAD OPERATING CONDITIONS.ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE DATA CONCERNING THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT IT PREDOMINATELY AFFECTS THE MY 2002 WINNEBAGO MODELS.WINNEBAGO ACCOUNTS FOR 79% OF ALL THE REPORTS, BUT REPRESENTS ONLY 23% OF THE TOTAL SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.THE MAJORITY OF THE WINNEBAGO REPORTS ARE FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2002 (64%).THE DATA SHOW A DECLINING REPORT TREND, PARTICULARLY FOR THE 2002 WINNEBAGO.REPORTS ON THE 2002 WINNEBAGO REACHED A HIGH OF 11 REPORTS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2005, DROPPING TO THREE REPORTS IN 2006,TWO REPORTS IN 2007, AND ONE REPORT IN 2008.AN EXISTING SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
RQ07002 · Engine Cooling Fan Blade Fracture
Opened Sep 5, 2007 · Closed Jan 4, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON FOUR REPORTSALLEGING FAILURE OF AN ENGINE COOLING FAN IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THREE OF THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED THE FAN DISINTEGRATED AND TWO OF THE THREE ALLEGED THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT.THE FOURTH COMPLAINANT ALLEGED THAT HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING AND OVERHEATING.WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, IT WAS NOTED THAT PIECES OF THE FAN WERE MISSING.ALL FOUR VEHICLES WERE CLASS C MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS.TWO OF THE VEHICLES ARE RIALTA MODELS AND TWO ARE VISTA MODELS.BASED ONADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TOENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA 08-002 FOR FURTHER STUDY.