2000 Volkswagen Beetle

BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPPED MY 1998-1999 AND ALL MY 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE REVISIONS.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA INDICATES HIGH REPLACEMENT RATES OCCURRED IN VEHICLES BUILT WITH BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBERS 1J0 945 511A AND 1J0 945 511B, THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REVISION LEVELS, RESPECTIVELY.THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 03V-265, VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON ALL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001.ANY AFFECTED SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PART NUMBER 1J0 945 511D.

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN NEW BEETLE IS ALSO SPECIFIED IN GOLF AND JETTA MODELS.ONE TYPE OF SWITCH IS USED ON CRUISE EQUIPPED MODELS, A SECOND TYPE IS USED ON NON-CRUISE MODELS.VW REPORTS 86 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 2575 WARRANTY CLAIMS OF INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH.TWO OF THE VW COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FAILURES THAT WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI.ADDITIONALLY, OVER 100,000 BRAKE SWITCH SERVICE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD UNDER 4 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.

Terminal Box above battery has a black wire that get extremely hot and melts in its receptacle in the terminal box. Have replaced the terminal box and that one was also melted within a few days after installation of the new box.

NHTSA ID

11673213

Incident

Jul 4, 2025

BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324922

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

Mileage

19,000 mi

I BOUGHT A BEETLE (136K M) FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE FOR $1600 CASH THERE WERE SOME ISSUES I.E. THE FAULTY TRUNK RELEASE DIDNT WORK, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD NO POWER, (TURNS OUT THE DOOR MOTOR IS A COMMON ISSUE BEETLE HAS) SUNROOF WAS STUCK PART OPEN, AND THE KEY FOB TO THE BEETLE HAD BEEN WORN/BROKEN. (FUN FACT: WITHOUT THE KEY FOB, ACCESS TO THE TRUNK, AND NO POWER TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE STOCK ALARM IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DISABLE.) WE DROVE THE BEETLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHEN THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST QUOTED US $400 FOR THE HYDRAULIC LINE, AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION THE ENTIRE CLUTCH WAS OUT (HE CHARGED ME $1100) THE VERY NEXT DAY THE OIL LIGHT WAS BLINKING, WE CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS FULL. WE CONTINUED ON OUR BUSINESS THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER, STALLING AND MAKING A HORRIBLE TAPPING/KNOCKING SOUND. THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. WE WERENT ABLE TO PULL CODES BECAUSE THE ODB WAS DISCONNECTED DURING THE EXPENSIVE CLUTCH REPAIR. AT THIS POINT WE HAVE INVESTED A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY INTO THIS USED VEHICLE, WE ARE HESITANT TO TO TAKE IT TO THE CRUSHER. WE BOUGHT A HAYNES REPAIR MANUAL AND AFTER SOME LUCK, COMMON SENSE, AND TROUBLE SHOOTING WE WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR WITH A FAULTY CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN TENSION GUIDE. THE REPAIR SEEMED EASY ENOUGH SO WE ENLISTED A OUR FAMILY MECHANIC TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. AFTER ANOTHER $575 WE DISCOVERED THAT THE TENSION GUIDE WAS IN FACT THE PROBLEM. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE ALL PUT BACK TOGETHER WITH SEVERAL NEW VITAL PARTS. IT WILL NOT TURN OVER. THE MANUAL INDICATES IT MAY STILL BE OUT OF TIME OR WE MAY HAVE A BLOWN FUSE. AFTER I REPLACE THE FUSES AND REATTEMPT INSTALLING THE TIMING CHAIN, I WILL HAVE PUT 3 X AS MUCH MONEY INTO THIS CAR THAN ITS WORTH. I FEEL LIKE VOLKWAGEN IS PRODUCING LEMONS AND RIPPING OFF AMERICANS!!!

NHTSA ID

11155433

Incident

Aug 25, 2018

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AREA BY THE TIRE ALONG WITH AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR SMELLED LIKE COOLANT. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11101595

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

ELECTRICAL SURGES...BLOWS FUSE BLOCK...MELTS DOWN FUSE BLOCK. REPLACED FUSE BLOCK ABOVE THE BATTERY THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR. CAR WAS BEING USED IN THE CITY.

NHTSA ID

11085131

Incident

Apr 14, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WALKED A FEW YARDS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11042541

Incident

Oct 29, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE FRONT LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I CHANGE OUT THE BULBS AND THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING OVER COLIMA ROAD TOWARD WHITTIER, CA ON THE WAY HOME, ONE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN THE OTHER. COLIMA RD IS AN UNLIT ROAD. I DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT. I HAVE SPENT OVER 150.00 ON MECHANICS TRYING TO GET IT FIXED. I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AND IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA ID

11010895

Incident

Jul 3, 2017

Mileage

55,000 mi

HIS COMPLAINT CONSISTS OF A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, IN WHICH IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ANY WARRANTY WHATS SO EVER. WHETHER IT'S A NEW VEHICLE OR NOT. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SWITCHBLADE PROGRAMMABLE TYPE KEY WITH REMOTE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TYPE KEYS FOR SOMETIME BUT HAS FAILED THE CONSUMERS AND THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THEY INSTEAD TAKE THE APPROACH, WHICH PROFIT OUTWEIGHS THE CONSUMERS, THEY PUT PROFIT BEFORE CONSUMERS, AND SAFETY. THESE KEYS PRODUCE A ''DANGER'' TO NOT ONLY THE CONSUMERS BUT EVERYONE ON THE HIGHWAYS AROUND THEM THE SAFETY AND MARKSMANSHIP OF THE KEY CAN BREAK OFF DURING USE, SO IF THIS HAPPENS DURING A CRASH, THE CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH AGAIN PRODUCES AN IMMEDIATE ''DANGER''. THE REMOTE SWITCHBLADE KEY IS ONLY SECURED BY A VERY CHEAP MADE PLASTIC. IT'S VERY POORLY DESIGNED AND MADE. IF THE ENCASING THAT HOLDS THE KEY WAS MADE OUT OF METAL OR ALUMINUM THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE KEY, IS THAT VOLKSWAGEN MADE THE KEY PROGRAMMABLE WITH A CHIP, SO THE KEY HAS TO BE CUT DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND PROGRAMMED, WHICH MEANS THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND USUALLY TAKES ABOUT ONE HOUR AT A COST OF $245.00. IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE MANUFACTURE DOES THIS FOR PURE PROFIT, AND TO DETER THE CONSUMER FROM GOING ELSEWHERE TO HAVE SUCH KEY MADE. I URGE NHTSA TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ELIMINATE ANYONE FROM BEING INJURED OR KILLED. THESE EMAILS WILL BE KEPT AS PROOF AND FOR THE RECORD THAT THIS VERY ''IMPORTANT AND SAFETY ISSUE'' HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU AS EVIDENCE, FOR FUTURE LAWSUITS ETC CONCERNING THIS MATTER. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10943730

Incident

Dec 25, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

Airbag / Pyrotechnic Safety Belt Deployment Inquiries, update to contact information due to retirement.

Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

Update model year applicability to include 2023.

Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.