2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

373 complaints filed with NHTSA.

373
Complaints
12
Crashes
24
Fires
21
Injuries
1
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS43
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING17
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE12
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS8
STRUCTURE:BODY8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM8
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH6
POWER TRAIN6

Recalls (7)

06E06000029/06/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIA

06E04900024/05/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.

06V18300024/05/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

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.

06E02600023/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D

08E05000011/08/2008

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A

09E01200007/04/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES

14E00700007/03/2014

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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/s

Recent Complaints

20180613FireSERVICE BRAKES

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 ACCELERATE

Mileage: 100,000

20171102CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WALKED A FEW YARDS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTU

Mileage: 170,000

20171102CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WALKED A FEW YARDS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTU

Mileage: 170,000

20160228FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND JUST STALLED ON AN INTERSECTION AND SMOKE JUST CAME OUT UNDER THE HOOD AND I SMELLED IT TOO, OPENED THE HOOD AND FUSE BOX HAD MELTED WHICH IS LOCATED ON TOP OF BATTERY AND FIRE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, UNDER THE BATTERY HAS BEEN BURNING AND ALSO MELTED THE WIRES.

Mileage: 146,000

20150521FireENGINE

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED WHITE SMOKE BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THEN ALL ELECTRONICS FAILED BUT CAR REMAINED RUNNING, PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS QUICKLY ON FIRE FROM THE DASH FORWARD. TRIED CALLING VW COSTUMER CARE AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO FIRE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOUND DOZENS OF SIMILAR IF NOT EXACT INCIDENTS. THIS WAS MY DAUGHTERS CAR (17) AND CARRIED ONLY LIABILITY. ONLY REASON FOR WRITING IS TO EDUCATE SO THAT

Mileage: 85,000

20150502FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY DAUGHTER'S CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY NIECE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE LIGHT WENT ON SIGNALING IT WAS OVER HEATING SO SHE PULLED OVER TO A CALL BOX AND WHILE SHE WAS MAKING THE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE SHE HEARD A POP POP AND THE FRONT HOOD WAS ON FIRE AND A MAN PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH HIS EXTINGUISHER WHICH DIDN'T WORK AND THE WHOLE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES. IT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP WHICH ALSO BURNED DOWN THE CALL BOX ON THE FREEWAY. SHE HAD JUST SPENT AP

Mileage: 118,000

20140524FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE FUSE BOX ATOP THE BATTERY MELTED ON 2/18/2009 CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. REPAIRS INCLUDING NEW FUSE BOX AND OTHER DAMAGED PARTS COST ME $1500.00. ON 7/15/2011 THE FUSE BOX MELTED CAUSING A/C TO STOP WORKING. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS IN THE HIGH 90'S DURING A PROLONGED HEAT WAVE IN THE NORTH EAST. COST TO REPAIR $400.00. ON 5/18/2014 ONCE AGAIN THE FUSE BOX MELTED, COST TO REPAIR AND REPLACE $700. TWO DAYS LATER THE REPAIR (5/20/2014) THE CAR WENT DEAD IN TRAFF

Mileage: 40,000

20140524FireENGINE

THE FUSE BOX ATOP THE BATTERY MELTED ON 2/18/2009 CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. REPAIRS INCLUDING NEW FUSE BOX AND OTHER DAMAGED PARTS COST ME $1500.00. ON 7/15/2011 THE FUSE BOX MELTED CAUSING A/C TO STOP WORKING. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS IN THE HIGH 90'S DURING A PROLONGED HEAT WAVE IN THE NORTH EAST. COST TO REPAIR $400.00. ON 5/18/2014 ONCE AGAIN THE FUSE BOX MELTED, COST TO REPAIR AND REPLACE $700. TWO DAYS LATER THE REPAIR (5/20/2014) THE CAR WENT DEAD IN TRAFF

Mileage: 40,000

20120126CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

NO BRAKES PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN GOT HARD COULD NOT PUSH IT WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT HIT 2 TRUCKS. *TR

20111114FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TRAVELING ON THE CROSSTOWN FREEWAY @ THE POSTED SPEED, I STARTED TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE'S HEATER AND THE POWER CONTROL SWITCH STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I TURNED THE POWER CONTROL KNOB CLOCKWISE AND NOTICED SLIPPAGE OF THE CONTROL KNOB. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHOLE HEATER CONTROL ASSEMBLY AND THEN AN ARCH, THEN A SMALLFLAME. *TR

20111114FireVISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TRAVELING ON THE CROSSTOWN FREEWAY @ THE POSTED SPEED, I STARTED TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE'S HEATER AND THE POWER CONTROL SWITCH STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I TURNED THE POWER CONTROL KNOB CLOCKWISE AND NOTICED SLIPPAGE OF THE CONTROL KNOB. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHOLE HEATER CONTROL ASSEMBLY AND THEN AN ARCH, THEN A SMALLFLAME. *TR

20101231FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

Mileage: 78,350

20100901FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2000 VW BEETLE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST WEEK IT BEGAN ACTING CRAZY AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD "SOLD AS IS". I HAVE SPENT $3000 ON THIS CAR FIXING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! IT JUMPS AND JERKS AT WEIRD TIMES AND ALMOST CAUSES SOMEONE TO REAR END ME. I'VE ALREADY INVESTED A GRAND TRYING TO RESOLVE THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT THE CAR W

Mileage: 110,000

20100901FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 2000 VW BEETLE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST WEEK IT BEGAN ACTING CRAZY AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD "SOLD AS IS". I HAVE SPENT $3000 ON THIS CAR FIXING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! IT JUMPS AND JERKS AT WEIRD TIMES AND ALMOST CAUSES SOMEONE TO REAR END ME. I'VE ALREADY INVESTED A GRAND TRYING TO RESOLVE THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT THE CAR W

Mileage: 110,000

20100726FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2000 VW BEETLE SATURDAY WHEN SHE SMELLED "SOMETHING HORRIBLE." SHE ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN AND THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. SHE PULLED OVER AND A GENTLEMAN BEHIND HER PUT THE FIRE OUT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. SHE HAD HAD PROBLEMS A FEW DAYS EARLIER WITH THE AC NOT COMING ON PROPERLY. SHE WAS PLANNING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP ON MONDAY. *TR

Mileage: 116,999

20100718FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 VW BEETLE ON THE WESTBANK EXPRESSWAY IN NEW ORLEANS, HE HEARD A LOUD POP, AND THE CAR STARTED TO FILL WITH "WHITE SMOKE", HE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WITHIN MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS CAME WITHOUT WARNING, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO YESTERDAY, 7-17-10. *TR

20091209VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TURNING ON HEATER IN WINDOW MODE WILL CAUSE WINDOWS TO FOG UP IN ANY WEATHER ANY OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS I AM NOT THE ONLY 1 WITH MY TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. A SMELL COMES INTO THE CAR THAT CAN'T BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH. *TR

Mileage: 99,100

20080420FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ON APRIL 4, 2008, OUR 2000VW GLS BEETLE CAUGHT FIRE AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. CAR HAD BEEN HESITATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, SO WE HAD IT SERVICED AT OUR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 28. DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE WENT AHEAD AS ASKED FOR FUEL FILTER AND THE COOLANT SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. FOR THE NEXT WEEK, THE CAR CONTINUED TO HESITATE, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR MORE THAT 20 MINUTES. WE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DE

Mileage: 72,500

20070621CrashSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC

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 B

20070621CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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 B