RoadVitals

2000 Volkswagen Volkswagen

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
12
Latest Dec 31, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Volkswagen Volkswagen, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and brakes categories. 13 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine320.0%
  • Electrical320.0%
  • Brakes213.3%
  • Other / unspecified16.7%
  • Suspension16.7%
  • Transmission16.7%
  • Airbags16.7%
  • Visibility16.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Electrical
Filed Dec 31, 2007
Fire reported

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10213327
Incident
Dec 28, 2007
Mileage
97,400 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 8, 2006

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.. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164879
Incident
Nov 20, 2004
Mileage
58,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 9, 2005

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 ID
10128168
Incident
Jul 7, 2005
Mileage
35,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 9, 2005

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 ID
10120308
Incident
May 5, 2005
Mileage
62,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 12, 2005

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
10114006
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
63,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 1, 2005

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10112374
Incident
Feb 28, 2004
Mileage
93,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2005

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10110032
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Mileage
82,081 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 7, 2004

RADIATOR FAILURE. CRACKED RADIATOR ON PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM. RADIATOR FAN FAILURE. BEARINGS IN MOTOR SQUEALING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10102299
Incident
Dec 2, 2004
Mileage
52,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

2015831

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

VOLKSWAGEN: EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD, REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES. HEAT SHIELDS ARE TO BE INSPECTED AFTER COMPLETION O ANY TYPE OF REPAIR TO THE UNDERBODY (EXHAUST SYSTEM TRANSMISSION, ETC.), AND IF DAMAGED, REPLACED. *PE

0301

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ALL MODELS WITH 2.8L VR6 AND AG4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT

0103

AIR BAGS

SOME VEHICLES, ALL 2000 WITH MULTI FUNCTION STEERING WHEELS, MAY EXPERIENCE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 00588. *SLC

170102

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL LEAK AFTER CHANGING ENGINE OIL. MAY BE CAUSED BY CONTAMINATES ON THREADS OF OIL DRAIN PLUG OR OIL PAN (IF BOTH ARE NOT CLEANED PRIOR TO INSTALLING AND TIGHTENING THE OIL DRAIN PLUG TO THE PROPER TORQUE). *TT

0002

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

SUBJECT REGARING DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD). *TT

9919

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

THIS BULLETIN MENTIONS THAT THE CANADIAN AND THE US FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208 REQUIRES PERMANENT AIR BAG WARNING LABELS ON THE VEHICLE SUN VISOR OF ALL CANADIAN VEHICLES. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Volkswagen by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2016000—
2015000—
2014000—
2003400—
2002700—
2001900—
2000Viewing120033.4
1999500—
1998200—
1997600—
1996900—
1995300—
1994300—
1993000—
1992200—
1991100—
1990100—
1989000—
1988000—
1987200—
1986000—
1985000—
1984000—
1983000—
1982000—
1981010—
1980000—
1979000—
1978100—
1977000—
1976000—
1971100—
1969010—
1968010—
1967010—
1966010—
1965210—
1964010—
1963010—
1962010—
1961010—
1960010—
1959110—
1958010—
1957010—
1956010—
1955010—
1954010—
1953010—
1952010—
1951010—
1950010—
1949310—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.