VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN · model year

1998 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN

2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998VOLKSWAGENEUROVAN carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 EUROVAN is steering: steering wheel/handle bar with 1 filings, followed by visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:windshield:electrical heating element (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1998 EUROVAN, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

2 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT1

Recent Complaints

20020806VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING FAN SPEED CONTROL RESISTOR TWICE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPLACED IT TWICE ALSO. THIS TIME THE MECHANIC STATED HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE RESISTOR HEATED UP DUE TO A MALFUNCTION, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *JG

20000703STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

CONSUMER WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY BACKING OUT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND HE REPAIRED THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN CHASSIS WINNERBAGO SOLD IT AS A NEW 1999 RIALTA MOTORHOME.

Compare 1998VOLKSWAGENEUROVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN have?
The 1998 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN?
The most-complained component for the 1998 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN is STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT.
Is the 1998 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.