Model year record

2003 Volkswagen EuroVan recalls & problems

The 2003 Volkswagen EuroVan has 1 safety recall and 15 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints15filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsJun 13, 2018

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 18V4060002,564 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and EuroVan Chassis vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X3.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2003 Volkswagon EuroVan

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Eurovan Camper

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

Eurovan

16mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	3	0	0	58,000 mi
Seat beltsRear/other › Buckle assembly	3	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkages	2	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door	2	0	0	—
Electrical system	2	2	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Seat heater/cooler	2	2	1	—
Unknown or other	2	1	0	—
EquipmentOther › Labels	1	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	1	0	0	—
Engine	1	0	0	—
Suspension	1	1	0	—
Wheels	1	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

SuspensionFire
HIT A POT HOLE ON HI-WAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH CAUSING RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY DAMAGE. THE WHEEL BEARING OVERHEATED AND STARTED FIRE ALONG SIDE OF ROAD. THE REAR HUB ASSY. AND WHEEL WHERE NEVER RECOVERED. CLARE FIRE DEPT. AT 207 W. FIFTH ST., CLARE, MICHIGAN 48617 INCIDENT REPORT #19-000168 WAS FILED ABOUT AUGUST 22 2019
Aug 17, 2019 · 62,500 miles
Electrical systemFire
THE HEATING ELEMENTS IN THE SEAT WHICH HEAT THE SEAT WHEN TURNED ON (SEAT HEATERS) CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT, ALMOST BURNING MY BACKSIDE. CAR WAS STATIONARY. WARMING UP THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 8 MINUTES IN THE MORNING BEFORE DRIVING TO WORK.
Apr 20, 2017 · 100,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR IDLING, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAK IN THE MANIFOLD, WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE. THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 08/22/17 *BF *TR
Aug 8, 2016 · 92,000 miles
Engine
DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, STRAIGHT AND LEVEL DOWN MAIN STREET IN WOODLAND PARK , CO AND EXPERIENCED A LOUD POP, NOISE AND VIBRATION. ENGINE LURCHED TO A STOP. HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. WE THOUGHT WE HAD HIT SOMETHING. TURNED OUT THE COOLING SYSTEM FAN BLADES DISINTEGRATED. PIECES (SCHRAPNEL) PUNCTURED RADIATOR, HOSES AND BELTS. FIRE AND POLICE HAD TO RESPOND DUE TO POSSIBLE FIRE AND FLUID LEAKING. VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE. SAME PROBLEM AS EARLIER RECALLS 1998-2000 AND 2013 (?). VW REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIR.
Jun 9, 2016 · 65,000 miles
Unknown or other
THE COVER OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. IT LANDED RIGHT ON TOP OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL. AT FIRST I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED, I JUST BECAME AWARE THAT SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING MY FOOT FROM REACHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, THANKS TO A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WHO WAS ABLE TO LOOK DOWN AT MY FEET TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND PULL THE COVER AWAY. BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT A TIME WHEN I NEEDED IMMEDIATE BRAKE ACCESS, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. PLEASE SEE PHOTO OF THE COVER. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN AFTER I WAS ABLE TO STOP. THE COVER IS SITTING ON A SEAT; IT IS NOT IN ITS NORMAL…
Dec 19, 2015 · 145,000 miles
SeatsFire1 injury
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET, THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER CAUGHT THE SEAT ON FIRE BURNING SEAT COVER, AND PASSENGER'S COAT, FLEECE VEST AND SCALDING BACK OF PASSENGER. THERE WAS NOT A CRASH, BUT THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE IF IT HAD BEEN THE DRIVER OR IF MORE SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO PASSENGER. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS EVENT BECAUSE OF SAFETY AND LOSS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AND INJURY. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OUR LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP WHO TOOK PHOTOS AND COMMENTED THAT "THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF AGE OF OUR VEHICLE AND WE WILL ADDRESS THIS RIGHT AWAY". WE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN'S ONLINE CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE VIA EMAIL AS ADVISED BY OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. AFTER A…
Oct 28, 2013 · 128,321 miles
Structure › Body › Door
THE SIDE DOOR LATCH WON'T LATCH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. SO THE DOOR, WHICH IS ON SLIDERS, WILL JUST SWING OPEN WHILE DRIVING UNLESS YOU HAVE IT BUNGEE-CORDED. IT WILL ONLY LATCH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES OR AFTER YOU PARK IT IN A HEATED GARAGE. THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN OWNERS - AT LEAST THAT SEEMS APPARENT AFTER READING BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. NO ONE AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS I TALK TO SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM THOUGH THEY SEEM FAMILIAR WITH IT. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND LAME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ONLY IN THE PAST TWO WINTERS - BEFORE THAT, WE ONLY DROVE THE CAR IN THE…
Dec 1, 2011
Engine and engine cooling
I HAVE A 2003 RIALTA QD. TWO DAYS AGO IN A VERY REMOTE AREA MY RADIATOR FAN EXPLODED AND TORE UP THE SHROUD, RADIATOR, HOSES AND BELT. I UNDERSTAND THESE FANS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM AND ARE ON BACKORDER AROUND THE COUNTRY. I GUESS THIS IS A VW PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON PRIOR YEARS BUT WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER MODEL YEARS AS IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM? IF I HAD OPENED THE HOOD IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED, BLINDED OR WORSE.
Aug 4, 2011 · 58,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FRACTUREClosed
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 RESULT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN RESPONSE TO RQ 07-002, THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) 08-002.THE SCOPE OF THE EA INVESTIGATION WAS ALSO EXPANDED TO COVER MODEL YEARS 2001 THROUGH 2004 RIALTA AND VISTA, 2002 THROUGH 2004 SUNSTAR, AND 2001 THROUGH 2003 EUROVAN.ALL OF THESE VEHICLES UTILIZE THE SAME ENGINE COOLING FAN.HOWEVER, THE WINNEBAGO VEHICLES ARE LARGER AND HEAVIER THAN THE EUROVAN.AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE COOLING FAN WOULD OPERATE MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE WINNEBAGO VEHICLES COMPARED TO THE EUROVAN FOR THE SAME ON-ROAD…
EA08002 · opened Jan 4, 2008 · closed Mar 14, 2008
ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FRACTUREClosed
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 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING AND OVERHEATING.WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, IT WAS NOTED THAT PIECES OF THE FAN WERE MISSING.ALL FOUR VEHICLES WERE CLASS C MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS.TWO OF THE VEHICLES ARE RIALTA MODELS AND TWO ARE VISTA MODELS.BASED ONADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TOENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA 08-002 FOR FURTHER STUDY.
RQ07002 · opened Sep 5, 2007 · closed Jan 4, 2008