AI Damage1997 Volkswagen Eurovan: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Volkswagen Eurovan filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 21% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 14% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 14% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Equipment: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (14% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl contact owns a 1997 volkswagen eurovan. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the connecting ends of the fuel line. The vehicle is currently in the repair shop. The vin and purchase date were unknown. The current mileage is 62,000 and failure mileage was 61,000.
The plastic piece on the right front seat belt that latches and unlatches the belt buckle broke and the spring popped out. The seat belt cannot be used.
My 1997 vw eurovan camper caught fire on december 8, 2002 as it was being driven on interstate 10 near redlands, ca. It was totally lost. Apparently the fire started under the dash on the passenger side. Vw, after inspection, denies responsibility because an after market radio was installed.
Problem is an intermittent, unnescessary, sudden downshift of transmission when ascending a steep, long grade. After downshifting, the transmission will not upshift even when rpm's approach 5000, forcing me to slow down. This creates a dangerous situation in highway traffic.
Premature wear of the brake rotors. Consumer was advised that front and rear brakes needed to be repalced consumer was complaing of brakes being noisy when braking.
Door release lever broke due to poor construction, this means the door cannot be opened from the inside, the drivers side door release no longer operates "cleanly" as when the vehicle was new. Nlm
Goodyear no longer makes a tire that will handle the maximum load capacity that is needed for this van. The gvw is approximately 5000. Once water, propane, passengers, luggage, camping equipment is added, any current brand of tire is not sufficient to sustain weight.
The rear tires wear out before the mileage is exceeded. The dealer and manufacturer have been notified.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Eurovan has 20 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 14, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Volkswagen Eurovan?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel system, equipment. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (14%), windows, sunroof (14%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Volkswagen Eurovan?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Volkswagen Eurovan from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.