Owners have filed 17 complaints
about the 2000 Volkswagen Volkswagen with NHTSA between 2001 and 2007.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 67
Against the median year of the Volkswagen Volkswagen. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 30
5.9% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 28
17% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2000 compares with every other Volkswagen Volkswagen
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2000 Volkswagen Volkswagen
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
423.5%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 89,740 mi
Engine & Cooling
423.5%
Median failure at 52,000 miles
Suspension
211.8%
Median failure at 62,000 miles
Brakes
211.8%
Median failure at 60,500 miles
Equipment & Accessories
15.9%
Median failure at 35,000 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
15.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
15.9%
Airbags
15.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain
15.9%
Median failure at 47,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
325.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
650.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
325.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2001peak 3Dec 2007
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 97,400 milesManhattan Beach, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2000 VW PASSAT CAUGHT ON FIRE DEC 28, 2007. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. THE FINAL COST TO REPAIR (IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED) IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. I FIND IT VERY PERTURBING TO FIND OUT THAT VW KNEW OF THESE (COIL) DEFECTS YET DID NOTHING TO INFORM OWNERS. I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN AGES 2 AND 4 IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. FORTUNATELY, MY QUICK INSTINCTS PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH LIMITED ENGINE DAMAGE AND WITHOUT CASUALTIES.
NHTSA complaint #10213327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 97,400 milesManhattan Beach, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2000 VW PASSAT CAUGHT ON FIRE DEC 28, 2007. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. THE FINAL COST TO REPAIR (IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED) IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. I FIND IT VERY PERTURBING TO FIND OUT THAT VW KNEW OF THESE (COIL) DEFECTS YET DID NOTHING TO INFORM OWNERS. I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN AGES 2 AND 4 IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. FORTUNATELY, MY QUICK INSTINCTS PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH LIMITED ENGINE DAMAGE AND WITHOUT CASUALTIES.
NHTSA complaint #10213327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,000 milesLA Mesa, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. ANNOYING!!WE HAVE A 2000 PASSAT W/AN ABS WARNING LIGHT & CHIMES THAT HAVE BEEN COMING ON SINCE NOV. 2004 WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROX 50-65,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD QUOTES OF$900 & 1300 FOR REPAIRS. BUT THEY ALWAYS SAY IT"S A SHORT IN THE MODULE. NO PROBLEM, I HOPE NOT. BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COMPLAINING. GETTING IT REPAIRED. WE ARE SICK & TIRED OF THIS POORLY MADE MONEY PIT CAR IT MAY BE THE FIRST CAR WE TRADE IN. . WHY CAN'T THERE BE DARN RECALL WITH ALL OF US. VW HAS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE MANNER. WE LIKE SOME OTHERS RESEARCHED CARS BEFORE BUYING. THIS CAR CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. BY VEHICLE PUBLICATIONS.& WEBSITES, NOT BY US. I AM TOTALLY AFRAID OF DRIVING IT EXCEPT TO WORK & HOME,.WE HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN CARS THAT HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS, I CAN SEE BY THIS E-MAIL POSTER THAT IS NOT TRUE..
NHTSA complaint #10164879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesKailua, HI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
PURCHASE VW PASSAT 2000 1.8 TURBO AFTER ONE FROM PURCHASE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED TEMP SENSOR. AFTER COUPLE OF MONTH LATER AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT SAID THEY HAVE TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO FIND OUT AND THEY WOULD CHARGE FOR THAT SERVICE. VERY ANNOYING THAT LIGHTS GO ON SO FREQUENTLY. THEN WE DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL CHECKING ROD WHICH THE CAP IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC MATERIAL CRACKED. WITH MY JAPANESE CAR I NEVER HAD THAT KIND OF PROBLEM. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE VOLKSWAGEN WAS VERY TROUBLE FREE CAR. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WASN'T TRUE.
NHTSA complaint #10128168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesKailua, HI
EQUIPMENT
PURCHASE VW PASSAT 2000 1.8 TURBO AFTER ONE FROM PURCHASE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED TEMP SENSOR. AFTER COUPLE OF MONTH LATER AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT SAID THEY HAVE TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO FIND OUT AND THEY WOULD CHARGE FOR THAT SERVICE. VERY ANNOYING THAT LIGHTS GO ON SO FREQUENTLY. THEN WE DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL CHECKING ROD WHICH THE CAP IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC MATERIAL CRACKED. WITH MY JAPANESE CAR I NEVER HAD THAT KIND OF PROBLEM. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE VOLKSWAGEN WAS VERY TROUBLE FREE CAR. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WASN'T TRUE.
NHTSA complaint #10128168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesMountain View, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
NOTICE CLUNKING AND SCHREECHING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED OF LOWERCONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE. CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING, MECHANIC DIAGNOSED UPPER CONTROL (BALL JOINT) FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10120308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesMountain View, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
NOTICE CLUNKING AND SCHREECHING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED OF LOWERCONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE. CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING, MECHANIC DIAGNOSED UPPER CONTROL (BALL JOINT) FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10120308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,000 milesSunnyvale, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY VOLKSWAGEN 2000 PASSAT HAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE ABS ELECTRONIC UNIT. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN REPORTED FREQUENTLY AMONG AUDI AND VW CUSTOMERS. THE EARLY MALFUNCTION OF THIS VITAL VEHICLE SAFETY COMPONENT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10114006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,000 milesBoulder, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1) STOP ENGINE LIGHT 2) NO POWER, ENGINE FAILURE 3) POSSIBLE NEW ENGINE NEEDED 4) WARRANTY NO GOOD FROM VW BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE 2 RECEIPTS FROM OIL CHANGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT?!! ALL OTHER RECEIPTS ARE THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10112374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,081 milesSAN Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ABS MODULE HAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FAILURE. THE WARNING LIGHT AND BEEPER CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED. THE BRAKES ARE OK BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUE TO ACTIVATE SPORADICALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10110032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,000 milesMountain View, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR FAILURE. CRACKED RADIATOR ON PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM. RADIATOR FAN FAILURE. BEARINGS IN MOTOR SQUEALING.
NHTSA complaint #10102299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,000 milesMountain View, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
RADIATOR FAILURE. CRACKED RADIATOR ON PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM. RADIATOR FAN FAILURE. BEARINGS IN MOTOR SQUEALING.
NHTSA complaint #10102299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,000 milesHillsborough, NC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, WITH IGNITION ON, CAR RUNNING DESPITE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10025937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukie, OR
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT VOLKSWAGEN AGREED TO PAY FOR REPAIR PAID $73 OUT-OF-POCKET TO GET DIAGNOSTIC AIRBAG INDICATOR LITE ADMISSION OF PROBLEM ONLY PAID FOR REPAIR? LITE OFF WANT $73 REFUNDED. DT
NHTSA complaint #769393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Monrovia, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BRAKE ASSEMBLY SWITCH WAS FAULTY WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO BE SWITCHED OUT OF PARK. COST TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $150.00. CAR HAD 18,032 MILES AND WAS 28 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASED CAR NEW. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DID NOT COVER WORK UNDER WARRANTY. PER WWW.NEWBEETLE.ORG FORM, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER FAULTY SWITCHES. MR
NHTSA complaint #768420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ECU FAILURE: (5K MILES) ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, ENGINE COMPUTER LIGHT LIT, ATTEMPED TO START USING 3 DIFFERENT POWER SOURCES (DEALER, TOW, ANOTHER CAR) FAILED - BATTERY FINE. ENGINE COMPUTER WAS RESET AFTER TEST INDICATED FAULTY COMPUTER SETTINGS. ERROR 2: (14K MILES) ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIGHT LIT. DEALER REPORTED FAULTY ENGINE COMPUTER, REPLACED COMPUTER. ERROR 3: 20 MILES AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER, ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIT AGAIN. RETURNED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED ECU A SECOND TIME. DEALER ALSO REPLACES MAF (MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR). THIS SEEMS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE ECU PROBLEMS... FOR NOW? ERROR 3: (15K MILES) PASSENGER POWER WINDOW FAILED WITH LOUD "POP" DEALER REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR, STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT VW WAS WORKING ON A MORE ROBUST WINDOW DESIGN -- WILL FUTURE FAILURE BE REPLACED BY VW AFTER WARRENTEE PERIOD? ERROR 4: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED, REPLACED BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #741063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECU FAILURE: (5K MILES) ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, ENGINE COMPUTER LIGHT LIT, ATTEMPED TO START USING 3 DIFFERENT POWER SOURCES (DEALER, TOW, ANOTHER CAR) FAILED - BATTERY FINE. ENGINE COMPUTER WAS RESET AFTER TEST INDICATED FAULTY COMPUTER SETTINGS. ERROR 2: (14K MILES) ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIGHT LIT. DEALER REPORTED FAULTY ENGINE COMPUTER, REPLACED COMPUTER. ERROR 3: 20 MILES AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER, ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIT AGAIN. RETURNED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED ECU A SECOND TIME. DEALER ALSO REPLACES MAF (MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR). THIS SEEMS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE ECU PROBLEMS... FOR NOW? ERROR 3: (15K MILES) PASSENGER POWER WINDOW FAILED WITH LOUD "POP" DEALER REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR, STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT VW WAS WORKING ON A MORE ROBUST WINDOW DESIGN -- WILL FUTURE FAILURE BE REPLACED BY VW AFTER WARRENTEE PERIOD? ERROR 4: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED, REPLACED BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #741063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ECU FAILURE: (5K MILES) ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, ENGINE COMPUTER LIGHT LIT, ATTEMPED TO START USING 3 DIFFERENT POWER SOURCES (DEALER, TOW, ANOTHER CAR) FAILED - BATTERY FINE. ENGINE COMPUTER WAS RESET AFTER TEST INDICATED FAULTY COMPUTER SETTINGS. ERROR 2: (14K MILES) ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIGHT LIT. DEALER REPORTED FAULTY ENGINE COMPUTER, REPLACED COMPUTER. ERROR 3: 20 MILES AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER, ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIT AGAIN. RETURNED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED ECU A SECOND TIME. DEALER ALSO REPLACES MAF (MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR). THIS SEEMS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE ECU PROBLEMS... FOR NOW? ERROR 3: (15K MILES) PASSENGER POWER WINDOW FAILED WITH LOUD "POP" DEALER REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR, STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT VW WAS WORKING ON A MORE ROBUST WINDOW DESIGN -- WILL FUTURE FAILURE BE REPLACED BY VW AFTER WARRENTEE PERIOD? ERROR 4: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED, REPLACED BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #741063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.