Problems · by component

2000 Volkswagen Jetta engine and engine cooling problems

122 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta cite engine and engine cooling, 27% of all 451 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
122
27% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE MASS FLOW AIR SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A VOLUNTARY MANUFACTURERS RECALL IN REGARDS TO PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. LESS THAN FOUR YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED YET THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR THE MASS AIR FLOW REPLACED TWICE IN DECEMBER 2007 AND AGAIN IN JUNE 2011. UPDATED 07/25/11”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10404303
“I PURCHASED A 2000 VW JETTA ON 6/16/10. TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS & SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE, IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: 2 FANS, ABS SENSOR WOULD COME ON & LOCK UP THE WHEELS, SO THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE UNPLUGGED, COOLANT SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, A TRANSMISSION REPLACED & A CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST FOUND IT HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT PRIOR & 4 CYL PARTS WERE USED IN A 6 CYL VEHICLE, & THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF REPAIRS TO DATE ARE APPROX. $5,200 & I ONLY PAID $4,995 FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE CONDITION IT WAS IN. THE SELLER FAILED TO DISCLOSE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD UNDERLYING PROBLEMS AFTER I INQUIRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BUSINESS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES THE BUSINESS HAS SOLD LIKE THIS. I HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS MORE THAN I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT & WHEN I PURCHASED IT, THE SELLER WAS AWARE I NEEDED A RELIABLE VEHICLE TO GET TO THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT VERY QUICKLY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2010Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10362521
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ADVISED HAVING IT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10346895
“WHILE DRIVING OUR 2000 VW JETTA THE TIMING BELT THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SERVICED UNTIL 105K SNAPPED, DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND LEAVING THE CAR PARALYZED ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AT DEALER FOR THIS CAR. IT HAD 89K WHEN THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10298381
“MY 2000 JETTA GLS VR6 HAS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS LOST POWER WHEN DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY COIL PACK AND WIRES. EACH TIME I REPLACED PAYING OVER $1000 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET, FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART WITH THE VW COIL PACKS IN VR6 ENGINES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10295379

Showing 6 of 122 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 7, 2014NHTSA 14E007000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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