RoadVitals

2000 Volkswagen Golf Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
88
Latest Jun 25, 2014
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 24, 2000

What this page shows

Our database holds 88 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Volkswagen Golf. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 88 · page 1 of 4

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 25, 2014

I HAD JUST GOT ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT 5MINS. ON THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND THEN THERE WAS A BACK FIRE THEN I SEEN A SYMBOL OF A CAR WITH A KEY UNDER IT LIT IN THE DASHBOARD, THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP I HAD IT TOWED TO THE HOUSE AND THEN THE CAR STARTED BUT NOW IT HAS A PUTTER NOISE I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS THE WIRES AND O2 SENSORS AND IT STILL HAS THE PUTTERING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10606059
Incident
Jun 24, 2014
Fuel system
Filed May 29, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM PUMP NEEDED REPLACING.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V154000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10459952
Incident
Apr 13, 2011
Body & structure
Filed Jul 29, 2011
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED TO INSULATE THE VEHICLE RELEASED A TOXIC ODOR THAT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE HEADACHES, AND A RASH. THE MANUFACTURER FILED COMPLAINT 110328029 AND ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,909 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,236.

NHTSA ID
10416272
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
93,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 21, 2009

2000 GOLF GLS. REPLACED CLUTCH IN MARCH 2008 AT 135K MILES. REPLACED CLUTCH FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2009 AFTER 15K MILES ON HIGHWAY! CAR TOWED TO NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. CLUTCH REPLACED. VW REFUSED TO PAY FOR COST OF REPLACING CLUTCH SAYING NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH FAILURE ONLY AFTER 15K. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293090
Incident
Nov 9, 2009
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2009

2000 VW GOLF 2.0L ENGINE; DRIVING TO WORK ON FREEWAY (65-70MPH). HEARD "POP" AND A HISSING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER, SAW COOLANT LEAKING. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, FOUND INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE TO VALVES AND PISTONS. CAUSE WAS A FAULTY WATER PUMP: VW USES A PLASTIC IMPELLER ON THE WATER PUMPS WHICH FREQUENTLY BREAK AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT VERY QUICKLY. AFTER THE DAMAGE, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH ON VW FORUMS REVEALED NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. THE END RESULT WAS THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, RADIATOR, TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP ($6000 REPAIR BILL). SADLY, VW PUT IN THE SAME TYPE OF WATER PUMP WITH THE PLASTIC IMPELLER, SO I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL LAST LONGER THAN ANOTHER 60000 MILES. I WOULD HAVE CHANGED IT WITH THE TIMING BELT, BUT VW SAYS THE BELT IS NOT DUE TO BE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 105,000 MILES (JUST OUTSIDE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, CONVENIENTLY!) CAR HAD ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT, VW CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283481
Incident
Jul 8, 2009
Mileage
59,025 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 23, 2009

THE ABS PUMP & MODULE ARE DEFECTIVE. SUPPOSEDLY, A SHORT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSES THIS MALFUNCTION AND NOW ABS AND ASR ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. REGULAR BRAKES ARE STILL WORKING. THIS SYSTEM PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH VW AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278059
Incident
Jul 1, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 11, 2009

ERROR CODE P1128. MANY OF THE VW 2.0 ENGINES GET IT AND END UP CHANGING MANY PARTS. THEN AFTER THEY CHANGE THE WHOLE INTAKE DOES THE PROBLEM GO AWAY. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS ISN'T POOR DRIVING OR POOR CARE FOR A CAR ITS POOR QUALITY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND 1500 TO REPLACE SUCH A THING ON A VEHICLE THAT'S KNOWN TO LAST FOREVER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261520
Incident
Jan 5, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT HEARD A SINGLE KNOCKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE NOISE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V280000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,500.

NHTSA ID
10245694
Incident
Oct 6, 2008
Mileage
79,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 4, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACES FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE FLOWS BACK OUT. THE DEALER CLEANED THE OVERFLOW FUEL HOSE, BUT GASOLINE CONTINUES TO POUR OUT. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PLACE LESS FUEL INTO THE TANK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,472. UPDATED 09/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE WAS WILLING TO RESEARCH WHY THE FUEL SHUT FAILED. UPDATED 09/29/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10240958
Incident
Jun 1, 2008
Mileage
67,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 6, 2008

WE OWN A VW GOLF . WE HAVE AN 18 MONTH OLD. WHEN MY WIFE STOPS DRIVING HER CAR AND GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND CLOSES THE DRIVER'S DOOR THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE TIME. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER HER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. IF HER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION AND SHE CLOSES HER DOOR OR IT HAPPENS TO CLOSE WITH HER KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND OUR SON IN THE CAR THIS CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HER CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AS IT DOES - IT IS SOME KIND OF AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10237277
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 2008

I OWN A 2000 VW GOLF WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM A VW DEALER. IN JANUARY OF 2007 I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG AND WIRING HARNESS FOR A COST A LITTLE OVER $600. ON 7/14/2008 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I NEED TO HAVE THE MAIN DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, YET THIS IS THE SECOND AIRBAG I'VE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP, IF I DO NOT REPLACE THE AIRBAG, IT MAY NOT DEPLOY IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT, OR IT COULD DEPLOY WHEN I AM JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I FEEL AS THOUGH AN AIRBAG SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE, OR ONLY NEED TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234408
Incident
Jul 14, 2008
Mileage
100,900 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed May 20, 2008

CAR WAS HARD PULLING TO RIGHT SIDE DUE TO CRACKED TIRE ON RIGHT SIDE FRONT, THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE ON THIS SET OF TIRES THEY HAVE LESS THEN 4,000 MILES ON. ALL TIRES CRACKED ON SAME PLACE ON THE OUTER EDGE AIR LOSS IS FAST. 1ST CRACK WAS RIGHT REAR TIRE ( I DID THINK THAT I RUN OVER SOMETHING I GOT NEW TIRE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER AS THEY DID NOT HAVE SAME TIRE AND I DO NOT LIKE FIXED TIRES) 2ND CRACK WAS ON LEFT REAR TIRE ABOUT WEEK LATER I DID TRY TO HAVE IT FIX BUT WAS TOLD AND SHOWED THAT TIRE JUST KEPT ON CRACKING MORE 3RD CRANK HAPPEN MONTH LATER RIGHT FRONT TIRE. ALL CRACKS ARE ON SAME PLACE OUTER EDGE TIRES ARE ULTRA HP MADE BY REPUBLIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228339
Incident
May 18, 2008
Mileage
129,306 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 6, 2007

DRIVING ON THE HWY ,65 MPH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDE WALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208089
Incident
Nov 5, 2007
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2007

2000 VW GOLF GLS. AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH DIAGNOSED BY VW AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT - PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, NEVER CRASHED. VW WANTED $500 FOR REPAIRS. NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED BY VW OWNERS INVOLVING RANGE OF AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURES, SPURIOUS DEPLOYMENTS, ETC. VW CHARGED ME $45 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10186120
Incident
Apr 26, 2006
Mileage
61,654 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 23, 2007

2000 VW GOLF. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STUCK ON. THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO KNOW IF THE BAG WILL DEPLOY OR NOT. IN ORDER FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK AT IT IT WOULD COST ME $100 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND BETWEEN $500 AND $700 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. SO AFTER I PAY $500 OR $600 THEY STILL WONT GUARANTEE THE BAGS ARE SAFE. HOW DO I GO ABOUT FIGURING THIS OUT. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF VOLKSWAGENS AND TO PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER IS UNACCEPTABLE. DO I PAY THE MONEY AND JUST HOPE IT IS FIXED? NO ACCIDENTS YET BUT WHAT IF. I NO LONGER TRUST THE ABILITY OF THE CARS SAFETY. THIS IS MY COMPLAINT. I FEEL I WAS SOLD A CAR AND NOW THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE CAR HAVE BECOME COMPROMISED. HELP! *NM

NHTSA ID
10183346
Incident
Jan 26, 2007
Mileage
99,000 mi
Filed Feb 12, 2007

EVERYTIME IT RAINS, I GET AN INCH OR TWO OF WATER IN MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR FOOT WELL OF MY 2000 VW GOLF. IT BEGAN LAST RAINY SEASON WITH A LARGE RAIN EVENT. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAPPENED WITH EVERY RAIN EVENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182404
Incident
Apr 2, 2006
Mileage
55,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 20, 2006

1. THIS FAILURE IS A RANDOM SHUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. 2. ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS IDLING AS WELL AS WHEN I AM TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN AS DRIVERS FOLLOWING ARE NOT EXPECTING SUCH A SHARP DECELERATION FROM MY VEHICLE. 3. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VW DEALER BUT THE WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT A SOLUTION. MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET LED ME TO A FAILURE OF AN ELECTRIC RELAY SWITCH. I WILL PROCEED TO CHANGE THE RELAY IN QUESTION (RELAY 109)*JB

NHTSA ID
10173916
Incident
Nov 14, 2006
Mileage
81,500 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 26, 2006

THE FIRST TIME THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT WAS USED IT GOT JAMMED IN THE OUT POSITION AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THIS WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2005. PULLING HARD SEVERAL TIMES RELEASED IT SO THAT IT WOULD RETRACT BACK INTO THE SEAT. IN JULY OF 2006 THE SEAT BELT GOT STUCK AGAIN BUT THIS TIME AFTER THE REAR SEAT WAS LOWERED. THE JAMMED SEAT BELT IS PREVENTING THE RETURNING THE REAR SEAT BACK TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THESE ARE THE ONLY TIMES THAT THIS SEAT BELT HAS BEEN USED SINCE PURCHASE. VW REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE START. SINCE IT GOT JAMMED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO USE IT, I SAY IT WAS DEFECTIVE. NOW THE SAFETY BELT IS STILL JAMMED AND I CAN'T RAISE THE REAR SEAT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10169318
Incident
Jul 13, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 2006

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. LUCKILY A KIND DRIVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AND IT FAILED AGAIN! GOING ON MY THIRD SWITCH! *NM

NHTSA ID
10168962
Incident
Sep 18, 2006
Mileage
86,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 20, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE GRAB BAR SCREWS LOOSENED AND THE GRAB BAR FELL OFF IN THE PASSENGER'S HAND. THE GRAB BAR WAS ALWAYS USED TO POSITION THE PASSENGER GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE OR IN TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DETERMINED THE GRAB BAR SHOULD BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10168785
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Mileage
32,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2006

RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT REPEATEDLY BURNS OUT (APPROX 3 TIMES IN 1 YEAR). *NM

NHTSA ID
10168186
Incident
Sep 13, 2000
Airbags
Filed Aug 28, 2006

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT 38247 MILES. THE NOTES ON THE VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE INVOICE STATED: "TESTED MODULE RESPONSE AND WIRING. ALL OK PERFORMED GUIDED FAULT FINDING. DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVERS SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE $443.43". I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN WHY THE AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. RESPONSE: "A WIRE GOT TO HOT AND FRIED A COMPONENT IN THE AIR BAG." THEN I ASKED HOW A "HOT WIRE" WAS NOT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND WHY IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. RESPONSE: "IT JUST ISN'T COVERED AND IT'S NOT OUR FAULT". THE END RESULT WAS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH OUT CHARGING ME THE FULL PRICE, THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS CHARGE ME HALF PRICE ON THE LABOR TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10166687
Incident
Mar 24, 2004
Mileage
38,247 mi
Airbags
Filed May 8, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30MPH THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE OCCUPANTS OF BOTH VEHICLES. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TOTALED BY THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA ID
10157019
Incident
May 8, 2006
Mileage
101,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2006

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER STATED THAT CAR WAS OUT WARRANTY AND I MUST PAY $102.00 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND MAYBE MORE TO HAVE IT FIXED. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A NEW POLICY AGAINST FIXING EVEN SAFETY DEFECTS OUT OF WARRENTY UNLESS CUSTOMER PAYS. CAR HAS 36.000 MILES ON IT. NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WARNED IT MUST BE FIXED OR AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10156196
Incident
Apr 23, 2006
Mileage
36,675 mi
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats+3 more
Filed Jan 9, 2006

2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF CV JOINTS FAILED, RIGHT FRONT CALIPER FROZE, FAULTY STEERING HOSE. *TS THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE AND THE WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT AN UNUSUAL LOW MILEAGE. THE FRONT SEAT HAD A PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS MOLDED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10148614
Incident
Oct 13, 2003
Mileage
52,028 mi

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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