1993 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN Complaints

STARTER RELAY WENT OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT START AT ALL. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *AK

PLASTIC FUEL LINES FROM TANK LEAKING AT FASTENING CLAMPS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONTO DISTRIBUTOR CAP. RAW FUEL SMELL NOTICED IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO ROADSIDE, SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. PASSENGERS WERE LEFT STRANDED. POSSIBILITY OF FIRE IS HIGH. INVESTIGATE FOR POTENTIAL RECALL.

SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED DRIPPING OF FUEL LINE AT START UP. LINE WOULD SEAL UP ONCE ENGINE WARMED UP. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO REMOVE CONNECTION AND ADDED HOSE CLAMP. LEAK IS BETWEEN RUBBER AND PLASTIC FUEL SUPPLY LINE FROM GAS TANK.

THE FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSES EXTENDING FROM THE HARD PLASTIC FUEL SUPPLY/RETURN LINES LEAK GASOLINE IN COLD WEATHER. LEAKS HAVE BEEN FOUND AT BOTH ENDS OF EACH HOSE. LEAK RATES VARY FROM "WICKING" AT HOSE ENDS TO SEVERAL DROPS PER SECOND. THESE LEAKS ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AS THEY OCCUR DIRECTLY ABOVE THE DISTRIBUTOR.S

FUEL LINE LEAK. GAS FUMES IN DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE UNIVERSITY VOLKSWAGEN REPAIRED. THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE. I FINALLY TOOK THEM A COPY OF A POSTING FROM A EUROVAN LIST ON THE WEB WHICH DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM IN DETAIL. UVW REPLACED THE BAD CLAMPS/HOSES IMMEDIATELY THEN. APPARENTLY ENGINE FIRES HAVE OCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUME NOTICED THICK BLACK SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN HOOD WAS LIFTED THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE, AND STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. FIRE WAS DUE BY A LEAKING FUEL LINE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE CLAMPS. THE LEAK WAS IN THE FUEL LINE FROM FUEL PUMP TO FUEL INJECTOR RAIL DIRECTLY ABOVE THE DISTRIBUTOR WHICH PROVIDED THE SPARK TO IGNITE THE GASOLINE. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS/LURCHES VIOLENTLY UPON UPSHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR - VERY SCARY WHEN ON EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE RAMP! DEALER INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT WAS FAULTY (THIS IS AN "ADAPTIVE" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM - LONG WAIT REQUIRED! CAR IS DRIVEABLE BUT WE ARE VERY CAUTIOUS. *AK

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, SAID NO AIRBAGS INSTALLED IN 1993 CAR. *AK *ML

TIRES FAILED. REPLACEMENT TIRES DO NOT FAIL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/70R15C )

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHICH DISCONNECTS THE STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN A WEEK. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK