2002 Volkswagen Eurovan

****NOTE - NEED MORE INFORMATION. CONTACTED CONSUMER - 8/6/20**** PROBLEM: RADIATOR FAN BLADES ARE BROKEN AND/OR MISSING. RADIATOR OVERHEATED. TOOK TO VW DEALER TODAY, AND WAS TOLD FAN BLADES WERE BROKEN AND/OR MISSING.

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. MY SEAT HEATER HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES WHEN MY PASSENGER AND I BEGAN TO SMELL A SWEET, SMOKEY ODOR. THE SMOKE WAS NOT VISIBLE AT THE TIME, BUT OVER THE NEXT 5-10 MINUTES THE SMELL BECAME MORE INTENSE AND THERE WAS SMOKE VISIBLE INSIDE THE CAR. MY PASSENGER NOTICED THICK SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE BACK OF MY SEAT, CAUSING ME TO JUMP FORWARD AND SWERVE THE CAR SLIGHTLY. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON EXAMINING THE SEAT, I FOUND THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE AT BASE OF THE LOWER BACK WHERE THE UPPER SEAT MEETS THE LOWER SEAT CUSION (AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO). I TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND HAVE NOT USED IT SINCE. I AM CONCERNED AROUND THE SAFETY OF THIS FEATURE AND UPON SPEAKING TO A VW REPRESENTATIVE, THEY STATED I WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW SEAT AND HAVE THEM REPLACE IT AT FULL COST.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, HER SON'S WINTER COAT, HIS SHIRT, AND HIS BACK WERE BURNED BY THE MALFUNCTIONING SEAT WARMER. THE CONTACT'S SON, WHO WAS AUTISTIC AND NON-VERBAL, WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO HER THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT SOUGHT. HERZOG-MEIER VOLKSWAGEN (LOCATED AT 4275 SW 139TH WAY, BEAVERTON OR, 97005, TEL: 503-644-9121) WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND CONFIRM THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT WARMER, BUT THE SEAT WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING.

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC. THE BURN-THROUGH LOCATION IS ON THE VERTICAL SURFACE OF THE SEAT, MID-LINE, AT ABOUT THE LUMBAR HEIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH. A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED SEAT WHEN THE BURN-THROUGH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE BURN-THROUGH, BUT THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED.

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD ,WAS ON MY WAY TO MY DOCTORS ,AS I CAME BACK, IT WAS AT REDUCE SPEED 3RD LANE AT 50MPH, FOR SAFETY PURPOSE SINCE I COULD NOT TRUST THE BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE, I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN I NEED TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKES, (THIS HAPPENS EVERY 10.000 MILES).WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER , I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT VW. OF AMERICA, WHICH I DID IMMEDIATELY, AS I SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. I WAS TOLD THAT VW. USES THE SAME BRAKE PADS FOR ALL VEHICLES FROM THE BEETLE TO THE SUV'S AND CAMPERS. THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AND AS I WENT FURTHER INTO THE DISCUSSION, WAS DIRECTED TO THE ENGINEERS FOR MORE CLARIFICATION SINCE THEY WOULD BE MORE INDICATED . AS I SPOKE WITH AN ENGINEER, THEY TOLD ME YES THAT VW. USES THE SAME BRAKE FOR A VEHICLE OF 2000PDS. AS WELL 6000PDS. AS I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT USING THE SAME BRAKES ON HEAVIER VEHICLES VW. WAS PUTTING THE LIFE OF THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN DANGER, SINCE THE VEHICLE OF 6000PDS. WILL BRAKE DIFFERENTLY THAT ONE THAT WEIGHTS 2000PDS. RUDELY AND SARCASTICLY REPLY THAT I AM NOT QUALIFY TO ARGUE THE CASE WITH THEM AND HANG UP. THIS LETS ME TO BELIEVE THAT VW. CARES LESS ABOUT CUSTOMERS AND ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY THAT THEY MAKE EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO REPLACE, PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THIS SITUATION AS TO END AND VW. HAS TO CORRECT THIS MATTER AS CONTINUOUSLY THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE IN DIRE DANGER, IF THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS SITUATION, PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SPOKE HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE AND HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. PLEASE HELP THANKS YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

230 DAYS IN VW DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP ! I PURCHASED A 2002 VW EUROVAN WEEKENDER CAMPER WITH 142,276 MILES ON 2/25/12 BECAUSE OF ITS EXCELLENT SPACE UTILIZATION AND BECAUSE IT HAD A REPLACEMENT ENGINE STILL UNDER VW WARRANTY. I WAS VERY WRONG ABOUT THE VW WARRANTY. I PAID $21,780.63 FOR WARRANTY AND/OR FAULTY REPAIRS ALL PERFORMED BY VW DEALERS WITH VW PARTS! IT COST ME $1.02 FOR EACH OF THE 21,360 MILES I DROVE MY VW. THE FAULTY REPAIRS INVOLVED 3 REPLACEMENT ENGINES (COOLANT HOSE CLAMPS POPPED OFF), 2 REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS, AND 2 DRIVE DISC REPLACEMENTS (NO GUIDE SLEEVES INSTALLED). ONE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AFTER FEWER THAN 1800 MILES! NEITHER VW IN GERMANY OR AMERICA WOULD HONOR THEIR 12 MONTH/12,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR VW DEALERS. OWNER DATE DAYS MILEAGE <---- ADVERTISED VW 12 MONTHS/12,000 MILE WARRANTY----> PAID PAID W/O VAN OUT ACTUAL MONTHS/MILES <------- DESCRIPTION OF REPAIR -------> _________ ________ _____ _______ _________________ ____________________________ 09/12/07 6 82,311 1ST REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION 04/08/11 18 134,638 1ST REPLACEMENT ENGINE INSTALLED $ 8,077.00 04/19/12 50 143,054 10.7MOS / 8,416MILES 2ND REPLACEMENT ENGINE INSTALLED $10,588.62 12/05/12 131 144,925 3.3MOS / 1,871MILES 3RD REPL. ENGINE&2ND REPL. TRANS. $ 115.01 03/03/14 1 160,732 15.0MOS/15807MILES REPLACED NEW VW BATTERY $ 3,000.00 03/24/14 5 163,636 15.7MOS/18711MILES REPLACED 1ST BROKEN DRIVE DISC $ 01/09/15 19 170,638 9.0MOS / 7,002MILES REPLACED 2ND BROKEN DRIVE DISC. *JS

2002 WINNEBAGO MOUNTED ON A VOLKSWAGEN EURO VAN CHASSIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOOSING ONE OF THE FASTENERS TO A WHEEL RIM *TGW THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER PROVIDED THE CONSUMER A REPLACEMENT WHEEL BOLT THAT WAS 25% SHORTED THAN THE FACTORY BOLT (30MM LONG VERSUS THE ORIGINAL 40 MM LONG). WHEN QUESTIONED. THE PARTS EMPLOYEE INDICATED THE SHORTED BOLT WAS SPECIFIED FOR THE 2002 EUROVAN. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED WINNEBAGO TO SEE IF THE EUROVAN WAS MODIFIED TO HANDLE THE EXTRA WEIGHTS OF THE MOTOR HOME, AND THUS LONGER WHEEL BOLTS WERE NECESSARY TO KEEP THE WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE. WINNEBAGO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT CHASSIS QUESTIONS NEEDED TO BE REFERRED TO VOLKSWAGEN.

I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL TODAY AND WE HAD PUT THE HEATED SEATS ON IN MY 2002 VW EUROVAN. AS WE APPROACHED THE SCHOOL MY DAUGHTER YELLED OUCH AND GRABBED HER BACK. WE DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC AND BURNED A HOLE IN HER NORTH FACE JACKET. IT HAD STARTED TO HEAT UP HER SHIRT BUT LUCKILY SHE FELT IT BEFORE IT GOT EVEN HOTTER. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE BURN TO HER BACK. SHE HAD A LARGE RED PATCH ON HER LOWER BACK BUT NOTHING MORE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD TO THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER - AS BOTH SEATS ARE HEATED AND COULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT ANY TIME. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND THERE ARE SOME AS RECENT AS THIS YEAR ALREADY. IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT VW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR SUCH A PROBLEM AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT EITHER. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON MY VOLKSWAGEN VANAGON (WINNEBAGO RIALTA CONVERSION) HAS FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. THE FAN BLADE SHATTERED BOTH TIMES LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE VAN BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER. I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THAT INVESTIGATION AS A CO-COMPLAINANT. IN BOTH CASES THIS HAPPENED ON ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE YEAR. IN ALABAMA, THIS TIME , THE HEAT INDEX WAS OVER 110 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS TIME WAS IN TENNESSEE WHEN THE HEAT INDEX WAS ALSO OVER 100 DEGREES, AND 3 OF MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. IN BOTH CASES I WAS STRANDED WITH PASSENGERS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS A BRAKE FAILURE, IT CLEARLY REPRESENTS A MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. VOLKSWAGEN IS OF COURSE THE SOLE SUPPLIER OF THE NECESSARY PARTS AND REFUSES TO DISCUSS ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS OTHER THAN TO SAY " NO ONE CAN PREDICT THE LIFE OF A PART ", WHICH IS NEITHER TRUE NOR RELEVANT. A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE INTERNET TURNED UP A HOST OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS - ALL OF WHICH VW REFUSED TO AMELIORATE IN ANY WAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM ON BEHALF OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS. THANK YOU. *TR

FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2002 EUROVAN WHEN DRIVING UP A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE FRONT END FELT AS IF IT WAS BUCKING/BOUNCING, SO WE PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, BUT WHEN WE TRIED DRIVING OFF, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS SO BADLY THAT THE FRONT END RATTLED LOUDLY AND VIOLENTLY. LUCKILY FOR US, WE WERE ONLY A BLOCK AWAY FROM HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, I DROVE THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE SLIPPING HAD CEASED SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO OUR VW DEALERSHIP AND AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (IN MORNING TRAFFIC), THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS STUCK UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION COOLED DOWN ENOUGH TO PULL OFF THE SIDE. ALL TRANSMISSION SERVICES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AS PER SCHEDULE AND NOW HAVE TO PAY AROUND $5,500 TO REPLACE IT. NO INDEPENDENT WILL TOUCH THIS THING AND THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON A NEW TRANSMISSION IS ONLY GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS/12K MILES. NICE TO SEE THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL STICK BY ITS PRODUCT! NOT!!!! SO NOW THE EUROVAN SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY, UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION OR GET SOMEONE TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE WITH A BUSTED TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EURO VAN. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE FAN BLADES BROKE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73300.

OUR 2002 VW EUROVAN WAS PURCHASED USED AT THE END OF JULY, 2009 FROM PACIFIC VW IN HAWTHORNE, CA. I WAS TOLD THE VAN WENT THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE TEST AND REPAIR PROCESS AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A USED VEHICLE. I DID PURCHASE A 'SILVER' 2 YEAR/24,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR $1,800. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN SOLD TO ME, WHICH SEEMED TO BE BRAND NEW, DO NOT MEET THE MANUFACTURERS STANDARDS OF 225/60R16/RF 102H AND WERE INSTEAD 225/60R16/RF 97T. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE LITERALLY NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. COSTCO AND OTHER TIRE FACILITIES WILL NOT SERVICE THESE TIRES AS THEY ARE NOT THE RIGHT ONES FOR THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE SINCE PURCHASED THE APPROPRIATE LOAD RATED TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE, BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT A DEALER LIKE PACIFIC VW IS SELLING VEHICLES WITH TIRES THAT MIGHT CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATH TO THOSE THAT PURCHASE FROM THEM. VW CLEARLY MARKS THE REQUIRED LOAD RATING ON THE VEHICLE AND THE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AS WELL. MY FAMILY AND I ARE LUCKY WE FIGURED OUT THE ERROR BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR THANK YOU, -TODD WARDEN

I WAS DRIVING ON I-94 NORTH OF DETROIT WHEN I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND AS I HIT THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE THE SHAKING DECREASED. IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE BUT AFTER THE INITIAL SHOCK I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. HAD THE TIRE BLOWN OUT THE OUTCOME MIGHT HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR RIGHT TIRE HAD A MAJOR DISTORTION. IN ONE AREA OF THE TREAD, ONE SIDE OF THE TREAD PROTRUDED BY ABOUT ONE INCH. A TIRE DEALER LATER DIAGNOSED IT AS A 'BROKEN BELT'. THE TIRE WHICH IS RATED AT 70# PSI FOR MAXIMUM LOAD WAS INFLATED TO 65# (THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 60#). A PHOTO OF THE TIRE IS AT: HTTP://WWW.REESPHOTOS.COM/TEMP/091003TIRE04WEB.JPG THE TIRE DEALER MEASURED 8/32" TREAD AND SAID IT WAS 25% WORN. *TR

I TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 VW EUROVAN BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT A PIECE OF ONE OF THE OF THE TWO RADIATOR FANS WAS MISSING. THE MISSING PIECE DID NOT GO THROUGH THE RADIATOR. *TR

HEATED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SMOLDERING. NO FIRE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT. OUT OF WARRANTY. PASSENGER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY. HEATING ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH CLOTH FABRIC. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT DOES PRESENT A FIRE DANGER AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF THE DEALER'S LOT, THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR FAILED. THE DEALER CHARGED $1,512 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,965.

THIS CAR IS THE THIRD OF FOUR CARS, IN A TWO-DRIVER FAMILY. IT IS NOT DRIVEN FREQUENTLY. ONE DAY, WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO REVERSE GEAR: IT DID NOT LIKE ANY THROTTLE WHEN IN REVERSE, BUT SEEMED TO DRIVE O.K. WHEN IN DRIVE GEAR. THE NEXT TIME THAT WE DROVE IT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, BUT THIS TIME, IT DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO FORWARD DRIVE GEAR EITHER. I BACKED IT OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY SLOWLY, AND BEGAN TO DRIVE IT DOWN THE STREET. VERY QUICKLY I REALIZED THAT IT WAS NOT RESPONDING AND PARKED THE CAR ON THE STREET AND CALLED THE TOW-COMPANY TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPORTED THAT THE CAR HAD A BROKEN TRANSMISSION (ONLY 60,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT), AND THE REPAIR COST WAS $5700. WHILE THIS DID NOT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH, IT DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE, HAD I IGNORED THE MATTER AND GOTTEN ON THE FREEWAY. I CONTACTED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY ALL SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WAS TOO COMPLICATED. ONE VW SPECIALIST EVEN SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS EXACT PROBLEM (LOW MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE) ON OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. HE INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THIS LARGE VAN WAS THE SAME AS THAT USED IN THE VW JETTA (SMALL SEDAN). I THEN RESEARCHED TO SEE OF OTHER SIMILAR CARS HAD FAILED TRANSMISSION AND SAW ONE ON EBAY WITH EXACT SAME YEAR/MODEL WITH A FAILED TRANSMISSION. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A POTENTIAL DANGER FOR ANYONE WHO CONTINUES TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAYS. I BELIEVE IF ANYONE HAD ACCESS TO THE VW STATISTICS ON TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THIS CAR, THEY WOULD SEE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FAILURES AT LOW MILES. PERHAPS THIS IS THE REASON WHY VW STOPPED BUILDING THIS CAR AFTER 2002! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 VW EUROVAN OVER A CAUSEWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. A WARNING LIGHT FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES THEN WENT OFF. I BELIEVE IT WAS A COOLANT LIGHT. THEN A STRANGE THUMP, THUMP, THUMP NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER AND SOUNDED LIKE A BELT BREAKING. I PULLED OFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (ANOTHER MINUTE OR 2) AND CAR DIED AS I COASTED OFF THE RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, BUT COULDN'T SEE PAST THE BLACK PLASTIC ENGINE COVER AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REMOVE IT. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER, SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING FROM UNDER HOOD. MY CHILDREN AND I DASHED AWAY FROM VEHICLE AND STOOD BY AND WATCHED IT BURN. CAR WAS IN GOOD REPAIR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. BUT IT IS TOASTED LIKE A MARSHMALLOW. *TR

WE JUST EXPERIENCED A EXPENSIVE ($4500) PROBLEM WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN/WINNEBAGO RIALTA. ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WAS RELATIVELY MINOR BUT BECAME MAJOR BECAUSE OF THE VW ENGINEERING. A SPROCKET THAT PART OF THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY WAS WORN TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROUNDED. THIS CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP. THE WARRANTY IS 50,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT 52, 000 MILES. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT 55,000 MILES. A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE WEB SHOWS IT TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE SPROCKET APPARENTLY WAS NOT PROPERLY HARDENED ON A FEW OF THE VR-6 ENGINES. THE ABNORMAL WEAR STARTED FROM THE DAY THE ENGINE WAS ASSEMBLED BUT TOOK 52,000 MILES TO SHOW-UP. A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM WITH PHOTOS CAN BE VIEWED ON MY WEB PAGE AT: HTTP://WWW.REESPHOTOS.COM/VW/VW.HTM *JB