2001 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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 "INTERFERENCE" VALVE-TRAIN ENGINE, THE ENGINE WILL ESSENTIALLY BE IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. *TR

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 WAS A RECALL ON THE RIALTA, WHICH USES THE SAME FAN AS THE EUROVAN. *TR

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. *TR

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