NHTSA Complaint #10080538 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN

I AM AN OWNER OF 2000 VOLKSWAGON CAMPER OWNER. MY ENGINE COOLING FANS CAME APART. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT IS NOT RECALLED. IN MAY 2004, I RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN A STICKER TO PUT AT THE SIDE OF THE HOOD FOR WARNING THE ENGINE COOLING FANS MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. IT WAS NOT A RECALL NOTICE. ON JULY 4 WEEKEND, I PLANNED WITH THE FAMILY FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA SHAVER LAKE FOR A RETREAT. WE DRIVE UP ON ROUTE 168. SUDDENLY WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM OUR 2000 VW CAMPER. WE ASK EACH OTHER WHAT IT WAS. WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE HIT UNDERNEATH THE CAMPER. WE STILL CONTINUED ON OUR WAY. WITHIN FEW MINUTES, ANOTHER LOUD NOISES AGAIN. WE KNOW THAT MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAMPER. WE PULL TO THE SIDE AND I COULD HEAR A HUM SOUND THAT I NEVER HEARD BEFORE. I OPEN THE HOOD AND FOUND SOME HARD-PLASTIC PARTS NEAR THE HOOD. THERE WERE TWO FANS AND THE NOISE WAS COME FROM THE FANS. BOTH FANS WERE INCINERATED EXCEPT THE CENTER HUB STILL SPINNING WE HAVE CAREFULLY WATCHED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND DROVE TO FRESNO, I BROUGHT TO VW DEAL FOR REPAIR IN THE MORNING BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART. WE DROVE THE CAMPER BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT STOPPING AND WATCH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. I RAN THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VW COOLING FAN. IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED IN APRIL 2004 ON VW WINNEBAGO RIALTA, WHICH IS SIMILAR WITH MY CAMPER WITH EUROVAN CHASSIS EXCEPT WITH WIDER BODY. THE FANS IS ENCLOSED WITH HOOD ON TOP, RADIATOR AT THE FRONT, ENGINE AT THE REAR, PLASTIC PAN AT THE BOTTOM AND BODY CHASSIS ON BOTH SIDE. THERE IS NOT WAY SOMETHING WILL HIT IT AND CAUSE THE DAMAGE TO THE FANS. I GLAD THAT I DID NOT STOP AND OPEN THE HOOD AFTER THE FIRST NOISE. THE SECOND FAN MAY BREAK RIGHT THEN AND THE FRACTURE PARTS MIGHT FLY OUT AND CAUSE ME SERIOUS INJURY. *AK