VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN · model year

1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN

22 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999VOLKSWAGENEUROVAN carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 3 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 1999 EUROVAN is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan (3) and structure:body:door (2). 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 1999 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.

22
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

22 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SEAT BELTS1
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:SLIDE-IN CAMPER1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1

Recent Complaints

20201130UNKNOWN OR OTHER

RECALL FOR SAMSUNG MICROWAVE MODEL M5491G. KEY PAD DOESN'T WORK. RANDOMLY TURNS ON. COULD CATCH FIRE. CALLED SEVERAL TIMES, ON HOLD FOR OVER 8 HOURS, REFUND PROMISED BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT

Mileage: 70,000

20080808STRUCTURE

THE OEM CD CHANGER INSTALLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 99 EUROVAN USED SCREWS THAT PENETRATED THE GAS TANK. 8 YEARS LATER, THE SCREWS IN THE GAS TANK HAVE LOOSENED TO THE POINT THAT ONE CAN SMELL GAS ODOR AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOES ON DUE TO EVAP SYSTEM LEAK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD I EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE SCREWS TO RIP THE GAS TANK DURING IMPACT. VW WOULD NOT PICK UP THE REPAIR DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 91,823

20080808FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE OEM CD CHANGER INSTALLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 99 EUROVAN USED SCREWS THAT PENETRATED THE GAS TANK. 8 YEARS LATER, THE SCREWS IN THE GAS TANK HAVE LOOSENED TO THE POINT THAT ONE CAN SMELL GAS ODOR AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOES ON DUE TO EVAP SYSTEM LEAK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD I EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE SCREWS TO RIP THE GAS TANK DURING IMPACT. VW WOULD NOT PICK UP THE REPAIR DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 91,823

20080808EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

THE OEM CD CHANGER INSTALLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 99 EUROVAN USED SCREWS THAT PENETRATED THE GAS TANK. 8 YEARS LATER, THE SCREWS IN THE GAS TANK HAVE LOOSENED TO THE POINT THAT ONE CAN SMELL GAS ODOR AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOES ON DUE TO EVAP SYSTEM LEAK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD I EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE SCREWS TO RIP THE GAS TANK DURING IMPACT. VW WOULD NOT PICK UP THE REPAIR DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 91,823

20070723ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE COOLING FAN OVERHEATED AND SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAN WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SAW NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME FAILURE AND BELIEVED IT TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 08/07/07. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

20060803ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

THE AUXILIARY FAN BLADE ON MY EUROVAN CRACKED AND FLEW APART INTO SEVERAL PIECES. AFTER POSTING ON A VOLKSWAGEN WEBSITE, I LEARNED OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS HAZARD AS IT COULD INJURE ANYONE IN THE VICINITY WHEN THE BLADE BREAKS. ALSO, IT CLEARLY SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A FIVE-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. HOWEVER, VOLKSWAGEN HAS DECLARED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND WILL CHARGE $600 TO REPAIR IT. I RECENTLY SAW THAT JEEP HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, AND WAS WONDERING IF IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE VOLKSWAGEN TO CONSIDER A SIMILAR RECTIFICATION. *JB

Mileage: 51,000

20050630ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

VEHICLE: 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CAMPER WITH APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS 2 ELECTRIC RADIATOR FANS. BOTH PLASTIC FAN BLADE ASSEMBLIES FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERWAY, RESULTING IN SEVERE IMBALANCE. MULTIPLE PLASTIC FRAGMENTS WERE SHED, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOOD OPEN. BOTH FANS WERE REPLACED BY A VW DEALER AT A COST OF $962.69. VW SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INVESTIGATED A POSSIBLE RECALL BUT SAID IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. NHTSA PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE03015 SEEMS TO DESCRIBE THIS SAME PROBLEM.

Mileage: 34,020

20040729ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO INSPECT ENGINE, AND NOTICED FRAGMENTS OF ENGINE COOLING FAN UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *AK

20040304POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 VW EUROVAN CAMPER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS UP TO 5 SECONDS OR MORE DELAY ONCE IN DRIVE BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES & VERY HARD DOWNSHIFTS FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD (AUTOMATIC). OF NOTE WERE THE DELAYS & HOOPS THAT THE DEALER FORCED ME THROUGH. HAD TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE & A NUMBER OF TRIPS BEFORE THEY SAID THEY COULD PURSUE ANY WARRANTY. NOTE - HAD TAKEN CAR TO A VW TRANSMISSION COMPANY THAT REBUILDS TRANSMISSIONS FOR VW ACROSS THE NATION. HE DROVE THE CAR & WOULDN'T SERVICE IT BECAUSE HE SAID THERE WAS DEFINITELY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM INCLUDING 1ST TO 2ND UP-SHIFTING AS WELL. VW SERVICE DIDN'T HELP OR CARE ABOUT TRANSMISSION DEALER'S INPUT. I FORCED DEALER TO ESCALATE IT TO REGIONAL LEVEL THAT TOOK MORE THAN 3 MONTHS TO GET ANY ANSWER (WITH MY NAGGING & CHECKING A NUMBER OF TIME). HIS DECISION WAS THE LONG DELAY FROM PARK TO DRIVE WAS NORMAL. MANY MORE WEEKS LATER I HAD NO ANSWER TO MY ORIGINAL SERVICE COMPLAINT ON THE DOW

Mileage: 45,000

20020916SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020911CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

WHILE DRIVING AND PRESSING BRAKES SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, CAUSING INJURIES.*AK

20020514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, ALL THE ELECTICAL ITEMS SUCH AS THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER AND CLOCK IN THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND WHEN THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON IT SHORTED OUT.

20020514STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE UNLESS IT IS HELD SHUT AND LOCKED AT THE SAME TIME.*YH

20020426STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE UNLESS IT IS HELD SHUT AND LOCKED AT THE SAME TIME.*YH

20020426ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, ALL THE ELECTICAL ITEMS SUCH AS THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER AND CLOCK IN THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND WHEN THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON IT SHORTED OUT.

20010814VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

GAS FUMES COMING THROUGH HEATER/ AIR CONDITIONER, AND VENTILATION DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITION. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK *SLC

20000823SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE REAR SEAT FEMALE BUCKLE APPARATUS BREAKS WHEN A CAR SEAT IS INSTALLED. THE BASE PLATE OF THE BUCKLE BREAKS OFF, ALLOWING SPRINGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ASSEMBLY TO FALL OUT, AT WHICH POINT THE ASSEMBLY IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL.

20000818EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:SLIDE-IN CAMPER

WEEKENDER MODEL, THE "H" SHAPED WHICH IS USED TO PUSH UP/ POP VAN SO SOME ONE CAN SLEEP UP THERE. IF ANYONE HOLDS TO THE BAR ON THE "H" TOP CAMPER FALLS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. IT MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BRACKET TO HOLD THE CAMPER UP OR THE "H" BAR UP. *AK THE LIFT MECHANISM NEEDS A POSITIVE LOCK FEATURE. THE TOP ASSEMBLY WEIGHS CLOSE TO 100 POUND AND WOULD CRASH OR SUFOCATE THE CHILD. *YH

20000122VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

WINSHIELD WIPERS FROZE DURING VERY LIGHT SNOW,CAUSING THEM TO STOP WORKING. *AK

19991005SEAT BELTS

THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE THREE-POINT SEAT BELTS ARE DESIGNED TO HOLD A CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT IN PLACE. TO DO THIS, YOU EXTEND THE BELT FULLY UNTIL YOU HEAR A CLICK, BUCKLE THE BELT, THEN LET IT RETRACT. YOU SHOULD HEAR A RATCHETING NOISE. THE BELT SHOULD NOT EXTEND. THIS IS IN FACT WHAT HAPPENS. HOWEVER, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS DESIGN DOES NOT COMFORTABLY ACCOMODATE A CAR FULL OF ADULTS. I DO NOT HAVE ANY SMALL CHILDREN. WHEN ANY OF US, SITTING IN A PASSENGER SEAT, LEAN FORWARD TO PICK UP SOMETHING OFF THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, OR OFF THE DASHBOARD, THE CHILD SAFETY FEATURE ENGAGES, AND WHEN YOU LEAN BACK, YOU ARE LOCKED TO THE SEAT. THIS CHILD FEATURE IS DANGEROUS TO ADULTS, BECAUSE IT, BECAUSE THE MANUAL SAYS TO DO IT, MAKES YOU UNDO THE SEAT BELT TO RESET THE SAFETY FEATURE. ALSO, I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY AGENCY OR AUTO INDUSTRY ADVOCATING THE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD SAFETY BELT IN A FRONT SEAT, WHEN THERE ARE BACK SEATS AVAILABLE. I WOULD LIKE VW TO PUT A DRIVER SEAT TYP

Compare 1999VOLKSWAGENEUROVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN have?
The 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN has 22 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN?
The most-complained component for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1999 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.