Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Owners filed 451 complaints about the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA between Sep 1999 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (122).

Complaints
451
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
27
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
35
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling122
  2. Visibility77
  3. Electrical system64
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic42
  5. Air bags42
  6. Power train38
  7. Exterior lighting32
  8. Equipment25
  9. Structure20
  10. Vehicle speed control17
  11. Seats16
  12. Fuel system, gasoline13
  13. Seat belts10
  14. Suspension10

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19993
200034
200173
200283
200360
200469
200541
200618
200713
200814
200912
20107
20114
20124
20132
20143
20152
20163
20171
20182
20191
20201
20210
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

122 reports7 fires1 related recall
“CAR WILL NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN FAR ENOUGH TO WARM-UP THE ENGINE. MUST WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES--UP TO AN HOUR--BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. THE PROCESS OF TRYING A RESTART RESULTS IN MUCH UNBURNED FUEL VAPOR IN THE EXHAUST STREAM. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING DOES NOT TURN ON OR OFF WITH THE OPENING OF A DOOR. HORN DOES NOT SOUND WHEN LOCKING THE CAR, AUTO-DRIVERS SEAT POSITIONING DOES NOT WORK. ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR PERFORMS QUITE WELL--GOOD ENGINE POWER, STEERING, ETC. HOWEVER, THE NON-STARTING AFTER BEING DRIVEN A DISTANCE COULD RESULT IN BEING STRANDED AND PLACED IN DANGER. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10446012

Visibility

77 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRAINING SYSTEM FOR THE SUNROOF WOULD BECOME CLOGGED AND ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2011VisibilityODI 10386065

Electrical system

64 reports1 crash3 fires
“The contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving with the front driver’s side seat heater activated, the seat became extremely hot. The contact started smelling a burning odor coming from the seat. The contact felt a hole in the seat, which burned the contact's middle finger. The contact immediately pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact’s back started burning due to the extreme heat of the seat back. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a hole in his jacket and approximately four holes that had formed in the front driver seat due to the seat heater failure. The contact was not treated for the burns to his back. The contact stated that two dealers were notified of the failure but neither provided immediate assistance. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 489,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 3, 2024Electrical system, SeatsODI 11617892

Service brakes, hydraulic

42 reports2 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING AND LIGHTLY BRUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BEGIN SLOWING, THE BRAKE PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGES FULLY, SLAMMING ON BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SOUND OF AIR PRESSURE BEING RELEASED. IF YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THE AIR IS RELEASED, THE PEDAL WILL RETURN TO REST AND THE BRAKES WILL FREE UP. NO EXISTING DEALER RECALLS AND VW (AND VW SERVICE DEPARTMENTS) HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM. MY LOCAL VW SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP SAYS THIS IS COMMON ON 2000 JETTA TDI'S. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR ISSUE, PLEASE REPORT IT! THERE ARE THREE OTHER ISSUES POSTED THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED: 10116640, 10139585, 10052281.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10407781

Air bags

42 reports23 crashes
“2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA I REARENDED A CAR AT 40 MPH MY FRONT BUMPER IS HANGING OFF AND SEATBELTS DID NOT WORK. VOLKSWAGEN WAS NOTIFIED AND IS HAVING A VW MEMBER LOOK AT THE CAR IN BELLIVILL AUTO SALVAGE 310 OAKHILL RD EXETER RI. DUE TO FAULTY AIR BAGS MY HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD AND CHEST HIT WHEEL DUE TO SEATBELTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2009Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10262751

Power train

38 reports
“I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE RECENTLY AND HAVE NOTICED A DISTINCT DIESEL SMELL WHEN IDLING OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. SMELLS STRONG LIKE LEAKING DIESEL FUEL. THE CAR IDLES VERY ROUGH AND SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THERE IS A VERY BAD ODOR WHENEVER I ENTER THE VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL STALL AND I MIGHT BE IN AN UNSAFE POSITION DURING TRAFFIC. I THINK THE CLUTCH MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. IT SOUNDS VERY LOUD. THE VEHICLE HAS 260,000 MILES. DIESLS ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN FOREVER BUT I FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT A LEMON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2020Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11337826
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.