I PURCHASED, NEW, A 2001 VW EUROVAN WINNEBAGO CAMPER. IN 31,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE IS NOW ON ITS' THIRD SET OF BRAKES. MY LAST VEHICLE, A 1992 MAZDA NAVAJO; I FINALLY REPLACED BRAKES AT APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES. MY DRIVING IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE VW. EACH SET OF CAMPER BRAKES COSTS, RIGHT AT $1,500.00. VW PICKED-UP THE COST OF BRAKE SET #2 AT 17,000 MILES. AN AWA, AS THEY ARE ONLY WARRANTEED FOR 12,000 MILES. RIDICULOUS, TO BE SURE. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THE BRAKES ARE "GOING OUT". ONCE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON - YOU MUST REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM, NOT JUST PADS. AT 3 SETS IN 31,000 MILES; BRAKES ALONE ARE COSTING $150.00 FOR EVERY 1,000 MILES DRIVEN. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH ELEVEN TIRES IN THIS SAME TIME FRAME, DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SHOCKS (NOT HEAVY DUTY), AND THE COLLAPSE OF A MAJOR SPRING WHICH SUPPORTS THE CAMPER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER VW CAMPER OWNERS WITH 2001 MODELS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS WITH BRAKES AND TIRES. VW AND WINNEBAGO DO NOT CARE AND WILL NOT LOWER THE PRICE OF THEIR BRAKE SYSTEMS, NOR EVEN PROVIDE THE PART NUMBERS FOR ANY HEAVY DUTY SHOCKS THAT CAN BE PUT ON THIS VEHICLE, NOT ABSORB THE COSTS OF THE VERY EXPENSIVE AND UNIQUE TIRE THAT MUST BE PUT ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOAD BEARING OF THE CAMPER PORTION. NO BRAKES SHOULD COST THIS MUCH, NO VEHICLE SHOULD GO THROUGH 11 TIRES IN 31,000 MILES. PLEASE HELP.*AK
2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING COOLING FAN DISINTEGRATED AND BROKE INTO A THOUSAND PIECES, AND A PIECE GOT LODGED IN THE POWER STEERING FAN BELT. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE POWER STEERING. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT COULD NOT GET HELP. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE HIM AT THE TUNE OF $1000.00 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.*AK