2000 Volkswagen Jetta
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 451 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.
Of the 2000 reports, 27 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 35 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 7, 2014
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
Campaign 14E007000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchMay 24, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 06V183000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, hazard flashing warning lights, switchDec 16, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.
THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 04V584000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 20, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD A REMEDY PERFORMED UNDER THIS RECALL SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR DEALER FOR THE REDESIGNED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 04V096000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, owners/service/other manualSep 12, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 02V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
64 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Nov 6, 2002
VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CAUSING THE VEHICLE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK,TURN SIGNALS AND FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE. WIRING IN THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER WAS SHORTED.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Visibility, Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2002
DATE OF FIRST KNOWN PROBLEM PROVIDED. HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH BBB AUTOLINE REGARDING MOST OF THE DEFECTS LISTED AND THOUGHT MANUFACTURER HAD FIXED THEM. NOW VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS PLUS MORE. ALL WORK BEING DONE AT DEALERSHIP IS AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE, HOWEVER, THIS CAR IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE DUE TO UNRELIABILITY. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AREN'T SOLVED WITH REPLACED WIRING HARNESSES, UNSAFE DOOR HINGES AND WINDOW REGULATORS MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, AIRBAG SENSOR PROBLEMS, AND QUICK TO WEAR OUT REAR BRAKES ARE ALL VERY DANGEROUS DEFECTS FOR A NEW CAR OWNER TO SUFFER WITH. DT
Electrical system, Oct 18, 2002
NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER UP HILL ALL OF A SUDDEN AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A CAR AND A SEMI IN BACK OF ME. I TOOK IT TO DICK HANNA IN VANC. WA AND THEY LOOKED AT IT. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE MASS AIR SENSOR . I CALLED VOLKSWAGON AND THEY ONLY WOULD OFFER TO PAY 50/50 ON THE JOB. BUT THIS IS AFTER I JUST PAID 1300.00 FOR TH E 40,000 MILE CHECK UP. THEN I REFUSED I SAID I WANTED TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. VOLKSWAGON THEN SAID THAT THEY MIGHT NOT PAY ANYTHING ON IT IF I DID GO TO ARMSTRONG,(WHERE I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE CAR) WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY 100% TO OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID THEY REVIEW THESE CASES (CASE BY CASE). WHEN ASKED WHY WOULD THEY NOT OFFER 50/50 IF I WENT TO ARMSTRONG THEY GOT REALLY NASTY ON THE PHONE. I THINK THAT VOLKSWAGON NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, THERE SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING ILLEGAL GOING ON. DT
Electrical system, Oct 14, 2002
BRAKE ASSEMBLY SWITCH WAS FAULTY WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO BE SWITCHED OUT OF PARK. COST TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $150.00. CAR HAD 18,032 MILES AND WAS 28 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASED CAR NEW. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DID NOT COVER WORK UNDER WARRANTY. PER WWW.NEWBEETLE.ORG FORM, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER FAULTY SWITCHES. MR
Electrical system, Jul 31, 2002
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO IMMOBILIZER BEING ACTIVATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Vehicle speed control, Jul 12, 2002
MY CAR IS NIGHTMARE OF FAILURES. CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT (DEALER CLAIMS THE CAR DOESNT HAVE ONE - BUT YOU CAN SEE IT IF YOU USE A FLASHLIGHT AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE) FAILURE, ABS MODULE SWITCH FAILURE (ACCORDING TO DEALER) CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO UNEXPECTEDLY DISENGAGE. I ALSO LEARNED FROM OTHER MOTORISTS THAT THE SAME SWITCH CONTROLS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATION (ALL BULBS AND OTHER SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK). FUEL INJECTION MODULE OVER INJECTED GAS CAUSING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE. RELIEF VALVE FAILED TO OPEN CAUSING TURBO OVERPRESSURE TO +120PSI. FAILURE CAUSED HOSES TO BLOW SENDING HOSE CLAMPS AS PROJECTILES. THIS WEEK, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED INTO THE DOOR. DEALER HAS LITERALLY TAPED THE WINDOW UP UNTIL A PART ARRIVES. DEALER ADMITS TO MFG DESIGN DEFECT - NO VOLUNTARY RECALL. NO DEALERS WILL VOLUNTARILY REPLACE CLIPS UNTIL THEY FAIL. VOLKSWAGEN POSITION IS THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT WONT REPLACE KNOWN BAD CLIPS UNTIL THERE IS A FAILURE. WINDOW FAILURE COULD CAUSE OBJECTS (STONES KICKED UP BY TIRES OF OTHER CARS) TO HIT PASSENGERS. INFANT / CHILD SAFETY RISK. WINDOW INTEGRITY QUESTIONABLE IN AN ACCIDENT IF IT FAILS WHEN DRIVING 15MPH. HELP!*AK
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2002
WHEN OPERATING DRIVER POWER WINDOW IT WENT DOWN 2 INCHES THEN FELL IN THE DOOR. THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW ON 16 APRIL 2002. DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR IN BOTH WINDOWS. NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Mar 1, 2002
FOR A NEWER CAR THIS VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN VERY PROBLEMATIC. ON THREE OCCASIONS AFTER STARTING THE CAR THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A NOTICEABLE SPUTTERING NOICE AND SHAKING LIKE IT WAS STRUGGLING TO KEEP RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON ACCOMPANIED BY A SULFUROUS SMELL AND BLUISH EXHAUST. UPON ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, AFTER IDLING FOR A WHILE, THE CAR WOULD STALL AND NOT RESTART. USUALLY WITHIN AN HOUR TO A DAY LATER IT WOULD START AGAIN ONLY AFTER REVING THE ENGINE TO HIGH RPMS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURED (TOO BUSY TO SEE MY CAR) THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MOISTURE IN THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER OR AROUND RAINY/SNOWY WEATHER. I HAD A TUNE UP RECENTLY AND THE CAR STILL FEELS LIKE IT MAY STALL WHEN IT IS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT OR IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS UNACCEPABLE FOR SUCH A NEW CAR. AMONG OTHER PROBLEMS I HAD THE INDASH CD PLAYER REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF DEFECT AND THE FUSES THAT ILLUMINATE THE TEMP/RADIO CONTROLS REPLACE TWICE ALL WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP DUE TO MALFUNCTION.*AK
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 16, 2001
MY FRUSTRATION AND FEAR AT THE FACT THAT MY BRAKE SWITCH HAS FAILED TWICE, MY BATTERY HAS DIED 3 TIMES WHILE WITH THE DEALER, AND MY BRAKES SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AND MY ALARM GOES OFF CONSTANTLY, IS ONLY COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT VW HAS NOT ONE EXPLAINATION FOR WHY ANY OF THIS IS HAPPENING. TO TELL ME EVERYTHING IS "TESTING" FINE CERTAINLY ADDS TO THIS FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN FIX WHEN NOTHING IS "WRONG." TO THAT I SAY, O.K. THEN, GIVE THIS CAR TO YOUR LOVED ONE TO DRIVE AND WE'LL SEE HOW SAFE YOU FEEL. ABSURD -- WILL IS TAKE DEATHS FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING?
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jul 18, 2001
DEALERS OPENLY ACKNOWLEGE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MAP SENSORS ON GAS AND DIESEL ENGINES, BUT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INTERNALLY REFUSES TO RECALL THIS ITEM. THE SAME COMPLAINTS ARE MADE ABOUT THE VERY COMMON RELAY 109 FUSE FAILURES, WHICH VOLKSWAGENW IS LIKEWISE PUTTING OFF. PLEASE FORCE THEM TO RECALL THESE TWO ITEMS THAT HAVE COST ME PLENTY OF OUT OF POCKET MONEY, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A RIP-OFF OF ALL CONSUMERS BY VW OF AMERICA AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR IGNORANCE OF THESE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS! *AK
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jul 2, 2001
NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL COMPNENTS HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED. THE MISFIRING ON ACCELERATION CAUSES CAR TO THRUST FORWARD AFTER APPLYING THE THROTTLE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD, AS I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ON-COMING TRAFIC IN AN INTERSECTION.
Electrical system, Visibility, Vehicle speed control, Feb 17, 2001
ECU FAILURE: (5K MILES) ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, ENGINE COMPUTER LIGHT LIT, ATTEMPED TO START USING 3 DIFFERENT POWER SOURCES (DEALER, TOW, ANOTHER CAR) FAILED - BATTERY FINE. ENGINE COMPUTER WAS RESET AFTER TEST INDICATED FAULTY COMPUTER SETTINGS. ERROR 2: (14K MILES) ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIGHT LIT. DEALER REPORTED FAULTY ENGINE COMPUTER, REPLACED COMPUTER. ERROR 3: 20 MILES AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER, ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIT AGAIN. RETURNED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED ECU A SECOND TIME. DEALER ALSO REPLACES MAF (MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR). THIS SEEMS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE ECU PROBLEMS... FOR NOW? ERROR 3: (15K MILES) PASSENGER POWER WINDOW FAILED WITH LOUD "POP" DEALER REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR, STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT VW WAS WORKING ON A MORE ROBUST WINDOW DESIGN -- WILL FUTURE FAILURE BE REPLACED BY VW AFTER WARRENTEE PERIOD? ERROR 4: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED, REPLACED BY DEALER.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Air bags, Equipment, Jan 29, 2001
AIR BAG WAS REPAIRED 5 TIMES AND SPIRAL SPRING REPLACED - LIGHT STILL INDICATES MALFUNCTIONING SYSTEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS WERE REPLACED, INSTALLED FRONT HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR, INSTALL 6 DISC CD CHANGER, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND WIRING HARNESS WAR REPLACED. OWNER IS NO LONGER IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE *YD
Electrical system, Aug 13, 2000
THE RED LIGHTING FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL KNOBS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL