Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 29% |
| Power train | 5 | 12% |
| Seats | 4 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 7% |
| Engine | 2 | 5% |
| Tires | 2 | 5% |
| Equipment | 2 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 5% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
****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 MISSIN
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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, BU
NHTSA complaint: Seats
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 STA
NHTSA complaint: Seats
SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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 O
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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 WARRA
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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% S
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 52 | average |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 12 of them (29%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.