FaultScore

2000 Volkswagen Beetle acceleration problems

15 of the 373 complaints about the 2000 Volkswagen Beetle are about the throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 86,000 miles.

C

15

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 6 40.0%
Cruise Control 3 20.0%
Accelerator Pedal 3 20.0%
Cables 2 13.3%
Linkages 1 6.7%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Volkswagen Beetle year

1999 10 28.6%
2000 15 42.9%
2003 10 28.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Williamsburg, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE, AND MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO MORE THAN ONE LOCATION INCLUDING THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND EVERYONE IS TELLING ME THE CODE READ GEAR RATIO INCORRECT. MY CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TOO DRIVE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION I NEED IS 5000 AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT THEY COULD OFFER ME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR I DON'T HAVE 5000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND EVERYONE IS SAYING THE SAME EXACT THING IM COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW FAST BEETLES TRANSMISSION GO OUT AND HALF OF THEM TOOK THERE BEETLE TO VOLKSWAGEN JUST FOR THEM TO TELL THEM THEY NEED 5000 TO 7000 TRANSMISSION AND LATER FIND OUT THAT WAS JOT EVEN THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS STILL DRIVING VERY RECKLESS. I'M PUTTING MY LIFE N DANGER EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR I HAVE TWO JOBS AND I CANT AFFORD TO MISS ONE DAY. SO U TELL ME MISS DAYS FROM WORK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SAFE TRANSPORTATION OR DRIVE THE CAR I HAVE N REST MY LIFE EVERYDAY. I NEED SOMEONE TO HEAR ME OUT AND HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. I'M SORRY TO SAY I WILL KEEP COMPLAINING INTEL SOMEONE GETS TO BOTTOM OF THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10436818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 129,226 miles Fontana, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRANSMISSION FAILURE- VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED HARD AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF AND TURNING VEHICLE BACK ON IT PROCEEDED FOR ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE DOING THE SAME. CAR WAS TOWED AND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME. RECENTLY TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC THAT WAS AT A STAND STILL THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED HARD CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME.

NHTSA complaint #10428133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,126 miles Clatskanie, OR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2000 NEW BEETLE WITH ITS SECOND TRANSMISSION. I THOUGHT THESE WERE RELIABLE CARS THAT WOULD BE RELIABLE FOR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.. I LOOKS AT THE FORUMS AND FIND IM ONE OF THE THOUSANDS THAT HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?

NHTSA complaint #10347877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jamaica Plain, MA Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. IT DID NOT GO OFF. THEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO TENSION. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. I DROVE ALONG SOME GRASSY AREAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO SLOW THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO DECELERATING, AND HIT A TREE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO A JUNK YARD BECAUSE THE REPAIR COSTS WERE TOO HIGH AND BECAUSE THE REPAIR FACILITY SAID THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10193906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles BAY Village, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT 20 MPH, THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. WHILE IN NEUTRAL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TAPPED AND THE RPM'S RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #10167137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,600 miles Buffalo, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10108578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,100 miles Upper Arlington, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DURING CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION, CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, THEN REENGAGES WHEN VEHICLE STRIKES A RIDGE OR HOLE IN THE ROAD. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO REENGAGE WHEN PASSING THROUGH CASUAL WATER ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10066308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

CONSUMER STATED WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE IS A NOISE IN FRONT MIDDLE VENTS, DEALER REPOSITIONED THROTTLE CABLE.

NHTSA complaint #563672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alameda, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN WEARING WORKSHOES THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF STEPPING ON THE BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES BEYOND THE HEIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL. CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER INSTALL A KILL SWITCH ON ACCELERATOR TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8009391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Creek, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON BRAKE ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. VEHICLE HAS TO BE SLAMMED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP.

NHTSA complaint #8005066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

CONSUMER STATED WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE IS A NOISE IN FRONT MIDDLE VENTS, DEALER REPOSITIONED THROTTLE CABLE.

NHTSA complaint #563672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlton, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

PROBLEM WITH THE 'ENGINE CHECK LIGHT'. FIRST CAME ON AT ABOUT 3K MILES. DEALER SPENT FOUR HOURS AND MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE FAULT CODE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THE IDLE SPEED (YEAH RIGHT). THEY FOOLED WITH IT , RESET THE COMPUTER AND SENT ME AWAY. NOW IT'S BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT GOES OUT BUT THEN RE-APPEARS AGAIN. IT'S BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN. IF ANYONE HAS AN ABSOLUTE SOLUTION, I'D LOVE TO KNOW SO I CAN TELL THE DEALER WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

NHTSA complaint #735091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pembrooke Pines, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 20-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN REGARDLESS OF BRAKING BY THE DRIVER. OIL PAN FAILURE WAS FOUND OUT TO BE THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #869340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boca Rotan, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

WHEN ACCELERATING NOTHING HAPPENS AT AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER FEELS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #865112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ON SERVICE ROAD STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT, LIFTED FOOT OFF THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #864999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2000 Volkswagen Beetle problems

← Full 2000 Volkswagen Beetle report