The 2001 Volkswagen Eurovan has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 2,300 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT02V1360002002-05-162,300 affected
Defect
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…
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2
1crashes
WHEELS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
Total complaints29
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Reliable internet automotive sources have listed excessive wear of the intermediate (balance shaft) valve timing chain sprocket in early 2001 24-valve vr6 engines. The inadequately hardened sprocket teeth will veer excessively, such that chain "jumpeds" a tooth and since the vr6 is an…”
“Driver seat heater caught fire and melted hole in seat. This is a very dangerous and should be a recall item. *tr”
“Engine cooling fan blade failure. The larger of the 2 fan blade wheels has a large missing piece which has somehow disintegrated without any reasonable explanation. I understand there was an investigation of the eurovan engine cooling fan blade, however a recall has not been issued, while there…”
“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…”
“Tl*- the contact stated that while having the wheels on the 2001 volkswagen euro van with14000 failure mileage inspected due to constant air leakage the mechanic discovered stress cracks in the two rear wheels. The current mileage was 16100.*ak”
“Dt*: the contact stated while driving smoke was smelled. The smoke was discovered coming from the front passenger seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. They determined the seat heater burned the seat. The heater and seat were replaced. After picking up the vehicle from the…”
“Dt*: the contact stated while driving smoke was smelled. The smoke was discovered coming from the front passenger seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. They determined the seat heater burned the seat. The heater and seat were replaced. After picking up the vehicle from the…”
“Dt: contact states vehicle will not start. However, after wriggling the ignition switch the vehicle will start. The service dealer stated it would be an expensive repair, the wriggling of the ignition mightl resolve the problem.*ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA08002 Opened 2008-01-04 · closed 2008-03-14
ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FRACTURE
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…
InvestigationRQ07002 Opened 2007-09-05 · closed 2008-01-04
ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FRACTURE
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Volkswagen Eurovan as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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