1992 Volkswagen Eurovan

The 1992 Volkswagen Eurovan has 4 recalls, the most serious being a steering shaft bolt that can work loose over time and cause complete loss of steering, along with a fuel hose issue that can allow fuel to seep in the engine compartment and start a fire.

Both steering and fire risk carry equal severity here. The steering shaft universal joint is held by a locking bolt that may not have been tightened enough during assembly, and as the vehicle ages, that bolt can back out further until the steering column disconnects and the wheel no longer controls the front wheels. On the fuel side, the feed and return hoses in the engine compartment can shift and settle over time, allowing their clamps to loosen and let raw fuel weep out at the connection points where it can ignite from engine heat. On the brakes, the emergency brake handle uses a tension spring inside its locking mechanism that can be installed without enough preload, meaning the brake may release on its own after being set and allow the vehicle to roll away on any incline. There is also a label compliance issue: the manufacturer certification sticker shows a gross vehicle weight rating nearly double the correct figure, which could lead to the vehicle being loaded far beyond its actual structural and braking limits.