RoadVitals

2000 Volkswagen Passat Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Jun 10, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 507 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jun 10, 2015

MY HUSBAND PICKUP WOULD NOT START, SO I LIFT MY HOOD OF MY PASSAT TO GIVE HIM A JUMP AND THE WHOLE SECTION ALL THE WAY ACROSS THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY HAVE AT LEAST 6 INCHES OF WATER JUST STANDING IN THERE. WE HAVE HAD SOME DOWN POURS OF RAIN,BUT RAIN WATER SHOULD NEVER BE STANDING ON THE INSIDE OF MY HOOD. THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY KILLED ME IF I NEVER HAD TO LIFT MY HOOD AND TRY TO DRIVE THIS WITH WATER STANDING AROUND ALL OF MY ELECTRICAL WIRES AND BATTERY. I HAVE TAKEN TWO PICTURES FOR VISIBILITY, BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO GET THAT WATER OUT WITHOUT ELECTROCUTING MYSELF. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA ID
10724634
Incident
Jun 10, 2015
Mileage
138,179 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Sep 19, 2012
Fire reported

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS 00 VW PASSAT . THIS CAR HAS BEEN A GREAT RUNNING AND DRIVING CAR. I BOUGHT IT IN FEB 10 2012 . ON SEPT 17 2012 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR TO MY SONS FOOTBALL GAME WITH MY MOTHER IN LAW. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT SHUTTERED AND SHUT OFF . SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED AND WHEN SHE OPENED THE CAR DOOR THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SHE WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR AND HELPED HER MOTHER OUT OF THE CAR. THE FLAMES WERE SPREADING SO FAST THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THE CAR. BY THE THE TIME THEY GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AWAY FROM THE CAR THE WHOLE CAR WAS ON FIRE. AND WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT SOME MELTED THINGS IN THE TRUNK. I AM JUST HAPPY THEY MADE IT OUT OK BUT WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT IT HAPPENED SO FAST AND THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR .I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH THIS 00 PASSAT. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES AND VIDEO OF THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME RESULTS. SO RIGHT NOW I AM AT A TOTAL LOSS THIS BEING A SECOND CAR I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ALL I CAN DO IS HOPE THAT SOMEONE CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE AND IT SHOULD BE VOLKSWAGEN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND WHO OWNS THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM..... *TR

NHTSA ID
10475910
Incident
Sep 17, 2012
Mileage
152,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 27, 2009

2000 VW PASSAT HAS A WATER LEAK ON DRIVERS SIDE FLOORS AND UNDER PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR. THIS HAS CAUSED WIRE DAMAGE DISABLING ELECTRIC WINDOWS, LOCKS, GAS COVER RELEASE AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. I MAY HAVE EVEN DAMAGED TO AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH THROUGH VW. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THE PROBLEM IT CAUSES ARE VERY SERIOUS. THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH ASAP. IT IS COSTING CONSUMERS A LOT OF MONEY AND HURTING THE REPUTATION OF VW. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE FROM BUYING ONE EITHER. I WILL GO OUT OF MY WAY TO SAY THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266834
Incident
Feb 14, 2009
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Sep 15, 2008

THE CONTROL ARMS IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. CONTROL ARMS SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER ONLY 116,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242285
Incident
Sep 10, 2008
Mileage
116,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 10, 2006

A 2000 PASSAT STATION WAGON HAD WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOT WELL TWICE AFTER HEAVY RAINS. ONCE THE LEAK WAS MORE THAN AN INCH. ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SECURELY CLOSED PRIOR TO THE RAINS. A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASHBOARD RESULTED ON THE TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, LEADING TO APPROXIMATELY $3,500 IN REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS WERE TO THE ENGINE TIMING SYSTEM AND TO A MOTOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10165103
Incident
Aug 9, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 21, 2005

BATTERY DRAIN WAS DESIGNED TOO SMALL, SO IT'S CLOGGED. THERE IS A WATER LEAK ENTERING FROM POLLEN FILTER THROUGH THE HOUSING DOWN TO TCM WHICH CAUSED A DAMAGE TO TCM(TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE). ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE SO IT DOESN'T COVER UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS DRIVING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND THE GEAR WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND. SO I RESTARTED THE CAR THEN EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. BUT SHORTLY AFTER IT WENT BACK TO THE SAME. AND WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON BRAKE. VERY DANGEROUS. NOTHING HAS DONE FROM DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY YET NOR THERE ISN'T ANY RECALL . I'M STILL WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM VOLKSWAGEN. BUT THE DEALER WANTS ME TO REPAIR IT AT MY COST FOR $2000 EVEN THOUGH IT IS POWER TRAIN COMPONENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10145850
Incident
Dec 10, 2005
Mileage
52,700 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 19, 2005

AFTER RECENT RAIN, A POOL OF WATER COLLECTED ON THE RIGHT REAR FLOOR. ELECTRONICS ARE STARTING TO MALFUNCTION. APPRENTLY IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT HASNT BEEN RESOLVED. HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-12789.HTML. *NM

NHTSA ID
10145571
Incident
Dec 18, 2005
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 6, 2004

MOLDING ON THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE!!! THE DEALER NOR THE WARRANTY WANTS TO HELP ME OUT. I WILL NOT PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE OF THE MOLDING AND I WAS HOPING THAT THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME!!!! AM I NOW NOT SUPPOSE TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR TO PREVENT THE MOLDING BEING RIPPED OFF AS THE DOOR OPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????? *AK

NHTSA ID
10056665
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Nov 11, 2003

THE FLOOR WELL OF MY VW PASSAT BECOMES WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS. ACCORDINGLY TO THE VW DEALER THERE IS A CRACK IN THE POLLEN FILTER HOUSING WHICH RESULTS IN THE LEAK. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURING IN OTHER PASSATS, ALONG WITH ELECTRICAL FAILURES. BESIDES BEING INCONVENIENCED, MY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND/OR OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHICH COULD RESULT IN HARM TO DRIVER, PASSANGER(S) OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I WOULD LIKE VOLKSWAGEN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DESIGN FAULT AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY BY RECTIFYING THE ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10045945
Incident
Sep 28, 2003
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+4 more
Filed May 23, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLAMP WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED.*JB

NHTSA ID
565861

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .