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2000 Volkswagen New Beetle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 25.

About this comparison →
40Owner complaints

Model-year median: 25

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
30
199834
199940
200039
200115
200220
2003
Compare all New Beetle years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
14Engine And Engine Cooling
9Air Bags
5Power Train
4Exterior Lighting
2
All reported categories
Fuel System, Other
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Diesel
1Seat Belts
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 15 of 40 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

ON 12/27/01 WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 VW BEETLE TO WORK ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH AND MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. I THEN SMELLED WIRES BURNING. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR , CALLED MY HUSBAND AS I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. WITHIN MINUTES I NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES COMING FROM BENEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH.…

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ON 12/27/01 WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 VW BEETLE TO WORK ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH AND MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. I THEN SMELLED WIRES BURNING. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR , CALLED MY HUSBAND AS I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. WITHIN MINUTES I NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES COMING FROM BENEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH. I THEN CALLED 911 BUT THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES BY THE TIME THE F.D. GOT THERE. THE FIRE STATION IS APROX. 1 MILE FROM THE INCIDENT. VW HAS BEEN DEAF TO MY COMPLAINT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756407

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE BUT DID NOT STALL. ALL PANEL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH, ALSO A ''CLICKING'' SOUND. THERE ALSO WAS A SMELL OF BURNING WIRES. THE CAR BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAME IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. THE FIRE BEGAN ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756095

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2001
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE COMING TO AN INTERSECTION AND DOWNSHIFTING, INSTEAD OF THE CAR SLOWING DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ITSELF ON AND PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE. BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONE TIME. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS ELEC…

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WHILE COMING TO AN INTERSECTION AND DOWNSHIFTING, INSTEAD OF THE CAR SLOWING DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ITSELF ON AND PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE. BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONE TIME. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND VW OF AMERICA DOESN'T SEEM TOO INTERESTED ON SOLVING THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #755652

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or Other

ENGINE WOULD NOT START, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT STARTED BUT CHECK ENGINE & AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER 23 MILES, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON UNTIL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745087

Official recalls

2

03V265000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Jul 25, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

02V244000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Sep 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.