Visibility. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

192 reports

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001

Electrical System

TOTAL FAILURE OF LIGHTS AND DOOR BUZER.

NHTSA ODI #9002207

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001

Steering

SYSTEM THAT WARNS CONSUMER WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT STAYS ON SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884138

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2001

Electrical SystemSteering

BATTERY FAILED TO HAVE AN ACID RELEASE HOSE. ACID HAD DRIPPED ONTO POWER STEERING RESERVOIR & ATE THROUGH IT. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING FLUID, POWER STEERING, AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #884022

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2001

Power TrainUnknown Or Other

Read full complaint

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY LIGHTS UP ON DASH. THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE TACHOMETER EXHIBITS VERY HIGH RPMS. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS FINALLY REPLACED LATE FALL OF 2000 (REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW ONE). THIS TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED IN JAN. 2001 AND WAS AGAIN REPLACED WITH A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW IN MARCH OF 2001 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS AGAIN LIGHTING UP AND THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT. VW WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHILE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. WE OFFERED TO TAKE BLUE BOOK VALUE AS TRADE IN ON A NEW JETTA. MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS?

NHTSA ODI #742531

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001

Power Train

ERRATIC, DELAYED SHIFTING BETWEN ALL GEARS. AFTER 2ND DIAGNOSIS REVEALED PROBLEM, A RESISTOR WIRE($8.50) WAS INSTALLED . PROBLEM FIXED, BUT AT A COST OF $128.00 TO ME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742376

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001

Vehicle Speed Control

PLEASE CHECK INTO OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR POSSIBLE RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741599

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001

Fuel System, Gasoline

CLEAR FUEL LINE WAS RUBBING ON CORNER OF AIR CLEANER. THE RUBBING CAUSED A HOLE TO WEAR THROUGH THE FUEL LINE. DIESEL FUEL WAS SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE (NO FIRE). THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC, IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND BROAD-SIDED, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740915

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING HEARD POPPING SOUND AND STEERING WHEEL MOVED UP, LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT CONTROL ARMS WERE BACK ORDERED NATION WIDE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #879499

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2000

Electrical SystemVisibility

THE BATTERY EXPLODED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #557361

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2000

Fuel System, OtherTires

THE ORIGINAL GOODYEAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE CONSTANTLY LOSING AIR, TWO TIRES EVENTUALLY WENT FLAT, ONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT AND THE FOURTH TIRE EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATION. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #556623

Official recalls

03V156000 · Equipment:other:labels

Apr 23, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L VR6 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE PUBLISHED ON THE LABEL FOR TIRES OF THE SIZE 205/50 R15 86H IS 0.1 BAR (1.45 PSI) TOO LOW. IT SHOULD BE 2.5 BAR (36.3 PSI). THE LABEL RECOMMENDS 2.4 BAR (34.8 PSI = 35 PSI).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNDER INFLATED TIRES CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING, AND DRIVING WITH SUBSTANTIALY UNDER INFLATED TIRES PUTS THE CONSUMER AT A RISK FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS, OR A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL IF THE OWNER WISHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VW AT 1-800-893-5298.

02V026000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Jan 25, 2002

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAN SUFFER ABRASION DAMAGE IF THE REAR TIRE GOES FLAT AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TIRE DISINTEGRATES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL FIT PASSAT VEHICLES WITH A NEW WHEEL HOUSE LINER THAT WILL BETTER PROTECT THE CAR'S FILLER NECK. JETTA VEHICLES WILL BE FITTED WITH A DIFFERENT METAL SHIELD DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ABRASION PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF TIRE DISINTEGRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

No summary supplied.

PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.