Electric Crafter Fan Failure Causing Dangerous Overheating

Had the exact same vehicle overheating issue on my 2015 e-Crafter. The electric fan barely spinning while the temperature rises is almost always related to the fan motor or its connections. In my case, the main cooling fan connector had corroded terminals, causing poor electrical contact. This made the fan run at reduced speed or not at all. The cooling system was technically fine, but without proper airflow through the radiator, the vehicle would overheat during low-speed driving when there is less natural air movement. The fix required cleaning the connector terminals and replacing the damaged pins. While not an expensive repair, leaving it unaddressed can lead to serious engine damage from constant overheating. Worth getting a second opinion from a shop that specializes in electrical diagnostics. Check if your fan works at full speed when directly connected to battery power, this helps isolate whether the issue is in the fan motor itself or the control circuit. Its a common problem that often gets misdiagnosed as a faulty radiator or water pump.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I had similar symptoms with my Crafter last summer. Had my radiator fan completely fail during rush hour traffic and the vehicle overheating got really bad. After diagnosis, turned out the fan motor needed replacement along with the wiring harness due to heat damage. The repair definitely saved me from more expensive problems down the line. Would you mind sharing what the fix ended up costing you? Also curious if youve had any cooling system issues since getting those connectors sorted out?

Since fixing the corroded terminals and replacing the damaged pins in the electric fan connector, my Crafter has been running perfectly fine. The repair was surprisingly affordable at 95€, mainly covering labor costs to clean and repair the electrical connections. The radiator fan now kicks in exactly when it should, and I havent experienced any vehicle overheating issues in the past 8 months. The original diagnosis focusing on the fan clutch and cooling system components would have cost significantly more, so getting that second opinion really paid off. Looking back, the intermittent fan operation was a clear sign of electrical issues rather than mechanical problems. The cooling system has been completely reliable since the fix, definitely worth addressing these electric fan problems early before they cause more extensive damage.

Thanks to everyone who replied. Just wanted to update on my overheating situation. Took the Crafter to a different mechanic who specializes in electrical systems. They found multiple issues with the fan motor wiring and control module. The repair involved replacing the fan motor assembly and installing a new wiring harness. Total cost came to 420€ including parts and labor. Been driving for about 3 weeks now and the cooling system works perfectly, no more overheating even in stop-and-go traffic. The radiator fan kicks in reliably now and the temperature stays firmly in the normal range. Wish I had tackled this sooner instead of driving around with vehicle overheating issues. Definitely learned my lesson about getting a second opinion when the first diagnosis doesnt feel right.