BRAKE LIGHT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 11324922
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2016
- Mileage
- 19,000 mi
Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Volkswagen Beetle submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
BRAKE LIGHT. *TR
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO FULLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY GRANDSON TO DRIVE TO WORK..THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM SWORE IT WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, THAT HIS DAUGHTER DROVE IT TO SCHOOL ETC......WHEN WE GOT IT, I TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE FOR MY GRANDSON TO DRIVE, THEY BEGAN TO FIND THINGS WRONG AND THE COST WAS MOUNTING UP AND UP AND THEY EVEN HAD US TAKE IT HOME ONLY TO TAKE IT RIGHT BACK BECAUSE IT HAD NO HEAT (AND ITS VERY COLD HERE) SO THEY WORKED ON IT SOME MORE...BOTTOM LINE IS SO FAR THEY HAVE CHARGED ME 3 TIMES WHAT I PAID FOR IT AND WHEN I LOOKED IT UP ON LINE, EVERY THING THEY DID WAS A RECALL....MY QUESTION TO YOU IS..HOW LONG ARE THE RECALLS GOOD FOR AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THE GUY WAS APPRAISED OF THEM OR HE WOULDN'T HAVE LET HIS DAUGHTER DRIVE IT LIKE THAT ....I HAVE THE PAPERWORK RIGHT HERE WHERE IT SHOWS 9 RECALLS AND 62 SERVICE BULLETINS...PLEASE ADVISE ME OF MY OPTION AS I COULD HAVE BOUGHT HIM A MUCH NICER CAR FOR WHAT I HAVE IN THIS!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE DRIVER FORCED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NO BRAKES PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN GOT HARD COULD NOT PUSH IT WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT HIT 2 TRUCKS. *TR
ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED, AS INDICATED BY ITS DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT, WHICH IS ON. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY ABS CONTROLLER/PUMP MODULE, $825 TO REPAIR. VW HAS AN ABS RECALL, #02V031000, WHICH COVERS 2000-2002 NEW BEETLE, GOLF/GTI, JETTA. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. *TR
2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS COME ON. BRAKES FILL LIKE THEY'RE APPLYING LEFT THEN RIGHT. BEEPER GOING OFF. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF VW AND AUDI'S ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND WIND UP HAVING TO PAY $1300 TO $1900.00 FOR A NEW ABS CONTROLLER UNIT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MY WIFE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND VW SHOULD BE LIABLE TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE UNITS FROM THESE MANY CARS THAT THEY MADE. *TR
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.
2000 BEETLE CUSTOMER CAN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT TO FIXING A SAFETY RECALL N-4**CC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. RECALL# 06V183000. *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD ALREADY HAD THE REPAIR DONE WHEN THE RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. THE CONTACT WENT THROUGH THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $67.59. THE CONTACT PAID A TOTAL OF $224.46. THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO SEE WHY HE RECEIVED THIS AMOUNT, AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY.*AK
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 2003 THAT MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON INDEFINITELY. I TOOK THE CAR TO BILL JACOBS VOLKSWAGEN NAPERVILLE, IL AND HAD IT INSPECTED. IN JUNE 2005 MY BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO BILL JACOBS AND AFTER SOME DISAGREEMENT OVER THE RECALL BEING CLOSED THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FOR FREE. IN JUNE 2006, JUST UNDER A YEAR, MY BRAKE LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ONCE AGAIN. VOLKSWAGEN IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE THE INVOICE TO DATE SINCE THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS NOT QUITE A YEAR OLD. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THIS BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION RAISES. MY LIGHTS COULD STOP WORKING OR STAY ON WITH NO NOTICE AND I DRIVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA. I NOTICED ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 9 OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED SINCE THE RECALL THAT IDENTIFY THIS PROBLEM. *NM
I OWN A 2000 VW NEW BEETLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH, 2 INSTRUMENT LIGHTS COME AFTER THE CAR HAS STARTED AND REACHES A SPEED OF 15 MPH. THE 2 LIGHTS THAT COME ON HAVE TO DO WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VW REPAIR SHOP, THEY HOOKED UP A TESTER TO THE VEHICLES COMPUTER, THE COMPUTER FAULT SAID THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS OUT OF TOLERANCE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE FAULT, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE APPROX. $1000.00 TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE PUMP. $300.00 LABOR, $700.00 FOR THE PART. WHILE TALKING TO THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER, HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM QUITE OFTEN, NOT ONLY THE BEETLE, BUT ON OTHER VW MODELS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THAT VW OF AMERICA SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF IT. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIR DONE. I AM HOPING THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET VW TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND RESOLVE IT. *JB
RECENTLY I BROUGHT MY NIECE'S VW 2000 NEW BEETLE TO THE VW DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. IT WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AND THE RECALL NOTICE BELOW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE DEALER INDICATED THE VIN FOR MY NIECE'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY VW. WE HAD IT FIXED ANYWAY AT OUR COST AND IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT IS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. LATER I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE US AND THEY DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH THE DEALER AND CONFIRMED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE SERVICE COST FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SWITCH. SURPRISINGLY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT VW KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE RECALL AND COULD NOT ACCESS READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE WEB TO UNDERSTAND IT. THE VIN FOR OUR VEHICLE IS [XXX]... VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO ALL VEHICLES, SINCE IT IS CLEAR THE PROBLEM EXIST WTH MANY OTHER VEHICLES BEYOND THOSE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. * MAKE : VOLKSWAGEN MODEL : NEW BEETLE YEAR : 2000 MANUFACTURER : VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V265000 MFG'S REPORT DATE : JUL 25, 2003 COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 295136 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION. CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987. NOTES: VW RECALL NO. WT. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIONS AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING A BEEPING WHILE CAR STILL HAD MORE THAN 50% OF ORIGINAL BRAKES LEFT. NO ACT OR EVENT SEEMS TO HAVE PRECIPITATED THE PROBLEM. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT THE ABS PUMP IS MALFUNCTIONING. REGULAR APPLICATION OF BRAKES IS UNAFFECTED. UNKNOWN WHETHER APPLICATION OF ABS SYSTEM WOULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE.
2000 SUPER BEETLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** .*MR ON 6/26/02 THE VEHICLE'S REAR PADS BECAME SEIZED IN THE HOLDERS ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR ROTORS AND PADS AT 13524 MILES. ON 4/15/05 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES AND BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY WHEN PRESSED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SLIDERS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WERE STUCK DUE TO A BUILD UP OF SALT/ROAD DEBRIS WHICH CAUSE THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PADS AND ROTORS ON BOTH REAR WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 29277 MILES. ALL THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE FIRST BRAKE REPAIR AND NOW REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MOST RECENT REPAIR. *NM
03V265000/EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE WORK DONE. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR THE BRAKE LIGHT. NOW, CONSUMER HAS DIFFICULTY CHANGING GEARS WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE CONSUMER STRANDED. THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE HIM THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DURING THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE WAS 27 DAYS PAST THE 12 MONTH 12,000 MILES REPLACEMENT PARTS WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR WOULD COME ON, AND CONSUMER WOULD NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN. *JB
THE VEHICLES ABS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE POLICE REPORT (FULL COPY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) "DRIVER AND ONLY OCCUPANT BUTLER STATED HE ENTERED THE PARKING LOT AND PUT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OF THE VEH. INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, BUT THEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES OF THE VEH. THEY DIDN'T WORK, CAUSING FRONT OF VEH. TO JUMP OVER THE APPROX. 6" HIGH CURB AND COME TO REST HANGING OVER EDGE OF THE RIVER WALL. BUTLER REPORTED HE HAS HAD THE LEASE VEH. FOR APPROX. 3 YEARS AND HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT, BUT NEVER ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES" "AN UNIDENTIFIED MALE WAS SITTING ON THE BACK OF THE VEH. TO KEEP IT FROM TIPPING INTO THE WATER" "BUTLER WAS NOT INJURED BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO EXIT THE VEH. AS HE REPORTED IT WAS TEETERING BACK AND FORTH BEFORE THE MALE SAT ON THE BACK END" ON REPORTING THE ABOVE TO VOLKSWAGEN, THEIR OFFICIAL RESPONCE THAT I FOUND INSULTING WAS THAT IT WAS "OPERATOR ERROR". I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK SHIFT VEHICLE FOR 12 YEARS AND NEVER MISTAKEN THE CLUTCH WITH THE BRAKE, AND AFTER RELUCTANTLY TAKING BACK THE BEETLE I WENT TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT TO SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH BY MISTAKE AND FOUND THAT MY RIGHT FOOT WOULD NOT EASILY REACH THE PEDAL AND THEREFORE BEYOND ANY DOUBT DISMISS THE CLAIM OF "OPERATOR ERROR". SINCE THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY AND MINIMAL VEHICLE DAMAGE IT IS NOT FINANCIALLY VIABLE FOR ME TO TAKE LEGAL PROCEEDING, ALTHOUGH 4 MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT I STILL HAVE FLASHBACKS AND BAD DREAMS OF THE NEAR FATAL EVENT. NLM
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE EPC INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER STATED THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND A NEW BRAKE SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, SHE NOTICED THAT IT FELT DIFFERENT, IT FELT TIGHT, CONSUMER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES HAD FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE NEW BRAKE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED HAD CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*JB
CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED, ALSO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS LOCATED IN PLACE THAT IS HARD TO GET TO, THE DEALER STATED IT TOOK 45 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE INSIDE PANELLING AND 2 SECONDS TO CHANGE THE BULB.*JB
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. *TT
WHILE APPLYING BRAKE AT 40 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUE DTHOUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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