2000 Volkswagen Jetta — Known Issues & Recalls

I OWN A 2000 VW JETTA. MY SON AND I WERE HEADING HOME AFTER A COLLEGE VISIT, HE TURNED ON HIS SEAT HEATER AND BEGAN TO NAP. 20 MINUTES LATER, HE POPPED UP RUBBING HIS SHOULDER, THE SEAT HEATER CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH FIRE AND BURNED A PORTION OF THE SEAT, HIS SHIRT AND SHOULDER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT ISSUE AND THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL FOR SUCH AN ISSUE. I THEN DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND WHERE IT'S A VERY COMMON ISSUE. *TR

HEAT SEAT CONTROL AT 5 ONLY AVAILABLE. AFTER A NUMBER OF TIMES STARTED BURNING SEATS. LEATHER IS MELTED. NO LONGER USE. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT NO LONGER STAYS IN A LOCKED POSITION, AND THE SEAT MOVES FREELY, SLIDING FROM BACK TO FRONT, MAKING CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S PEDAL VERY DIFFICULT AND DRIVING HAZARDOUS. AFTER INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, A LARGE COILED PIECE OF METAL WAS FOUND LYING ON THE CARPET. THIS PIECE OF METAL MATCHES EXACTLY ANOTHER PIECE OF METAL THAT FELL OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SEAT OVER SIX YEARS AGO. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, (FRESNO MICHAEL AUDI VW) TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE PART BACK INTO THE SEAT SO THAT THE SEAT NO LONGER MOVED FREELY AND THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO CARRY OUT ANY SUCH WORK ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH TWO OTHER EMPLOYEES OF MICHAEL AUTOMOTIVE AND GETTING THE SAME REFUSALS EACH TIME, I ABANDONED THE ATTEMPT TO SOLICIT THEIR HELP IN REPAIRING MY VEHICLE. *TR

HAD THE CAR CLEANED AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT WOULD NO LONGER WORK. IT HASN'T WORKED SINCE. THE SEAT SLIDES FORWARD AND BACK AT WILL. *JS

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AROUND 35 MPH. SAW SMOKE IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR SO IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE CAR WASNT OVERHEATING, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL AFTER I BEGAN SLOWING DOWN TO PULL OVER. AS I STOPPED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, I REALIZED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE, I GRABBED MY PHONE AND CALLED 911 AS I GOT AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN MY JETTA LOST COMPLETE POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER OF THE ROAD, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AN TURNED THE KEY OFF, THEN SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD. RAISED THE HOOD TO ONLY SEE FLAMES! THANK GOD A GENTLEMAN STOPPED AN HAD GALLON OF WATER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE(3 MILES) AN THERE IT SITS! MOST THE DAMAGE IS CONTAINED TO THE TOP OF THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR WASN'T EVEN OVER HEATING!! THE ONLY ISSUE IV HAD IN THE YEAR IV OWNED IT IS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO NOT GO PAST THIRD GEAR, WHICH CAUSED THE RPM TO RISE, OF COURSE... HONESTLY ,JUST THANKFUL A STRANGER STOPPED...SIGNED, WITH OUT A CAR. *TR

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.

ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, TODAY WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT I'VE HAD REGARDING THE CLUTCH AND THE FUMES IT EMITS. SIX MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT INTO A REPAIR SHOP. ON TOP OF THE SLIPPING CLUTCH, THE COOLANT AND EMISSIONS WORKSHOP AND ELECTRICAL BECAME A PROBLEM. "STOP COOLANT LOW" WOULD ALWAYS APPEAR ON MY DASH, HOWEVER THE COOLANT WOULD BE FILLED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO STAYED ON. THE MECHANIC DID ALL HE COULD TO FIX IT. SIX MONTHS LATER, TODAY, I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. ONLY DIFFERENCE IS, I IMMEDIATELY BECAME ILL WHILE DRIVING AND BREATHING IN THE FUMES THE VEHICLE EMIT. I BECAME NAUSEA, DIZZY AND VOMITED. THIS ISSUE REGARDING THE CLUTCH IS AN ONGOING DIGRESSION TO THE VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. I HOPE VW WILL TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND INVESTIGATE THIS CASE, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO'VE ALSO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR INSTANCES WITH THEIR VW VEHICLES. I HOPE TO GET MINE AND ALL VEHICLES WHO HAVE DISPLAYED SIMILAR ISSUES REPAIRED PROPERLY BY THE CORRECT MECHANICS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE BECOMES SUDDENLY ILL LIKE I HAVE TODAY. *TR

BRAND NEW TIRE COMPLETELY FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS TIRE WAS 7 DAYS OLD AND THERE WAS A TOTAL SIDEWALL FAILURE. LOOKING ONLINE AFTER THE INCIDENT, THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

FOUR NEW CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON MY 2000 VW JETTA. AFTER APPROX. 2 DAYS, ONE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. TIRE SENT TO SELLER, AND THEY PRONOUNCED IT WAS AN INSTALLATION ISSUE. THIS TIRE WAS SENT TO SELLER, AFTER PURCHASING A NEW ONE. AFTER 4 TO 5 WEEKS OF DRIVING, A SECOND TIRE (DIFFERENT WHEEL) FROM THE SAME ORIGINAL SET OF 4, FAILED SUDDENLY. THIS TIRE "SUDDENLY" FAILED WITH A "GUN SHOT" LIKE NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. REVIEW AT THE SERVICE SHOP SHOWED NOTHING UNUSUAL IN THE INSTALLATION. PICTURES OF THE SECOND TIRE WERE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS AN INSTALL ISSUE. I WORK FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING COMPANY, AND HAD ONE OF OUR EXPERT TECHNICIANS REVIEW THE SECOND TIRE. HE HAS 30 YEARS OF SERVICE EXPERIENCE WITHIN CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS. HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS A TIRE DEFECT, HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A FAILURE, AND STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WOULD NOT HAPPEN DURING INSTALLATION. THIS WAS BASED ON THE LOOSE CONDITION OF THE STEEL RING ON THE INNER TIRE, AND THE FACT THAT THEIR WERE NO WITNESS TOOL MARKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE ORIGINAL INSTALLER OF THE TIRES ALSO STATED THAT THE RUBBER ON THE INNER BEAD OF THE TIRE WAS "TOO THIN" AND OF POOR CONSTRUCTION. I HAVE THE SECOND TIRE IN MY POSSESSION, AND HAVE REQUESTED THE ORIGINAL FIRST TIRE BACK FROM THE SELLER. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THIS, NOR HAVE I RECEIVED ANY FORMAL CONCLUSIVE REPORT WITH MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSIS TO PROVE THEIR CONCLUSION. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE ONLY STATING THEIR PERSONAL OPINION, WITHOUT THOROUGH ANALYSIS. I AM STILL DRIVING ON THE REMAINING TIRES WITH AN "UNEASY" FEELING THAT I AM AT RISK OF ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I AM ONLY AFTER THE TRUTH IN THIS MATTER, AND UP TO NOW HAVE FELT AS THOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN PRESENTED. I DIDN'T CREATE THIS FAILURE, AND I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING HOW THE INSTALLER, WHO DOES THIS FOR A LIVING, COULD HAVE DONE IT TO 2 TIRES. *TR

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.

VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS SPORADICALLY WHENEVER THE FUEL GUAGE READS 3/8 OR LESS. BOTH MY VW CAR DO THE EXACT SAME THING. IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THIS OCCURS WITH MOST VW CARS. EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

MY VEHICLE KEPT OVER HEATING URNS OUT IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AND RADIATOR..

2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE AND WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS, ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE PARTS. THE CONSUMER DECLINED. *JS

WENT TO BUCKLE UP AND HEARD A NOISE. LOSS AT TENSION ON SEAT BELT.

WATER PUMP AND BACK HOUSING THE COOLANT SYSTEM

I OWN A 2000 VW JETTA 2.0 GLS AUTOMATIC. I WAS COASTING DOWN A HILL AND COMING TO A STOP. I STARTED USING MY BRAKES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH OUT ANY WARNINGS CHIMES OR INDICATION MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL FELT LOCKED UP AND I ALMOST CRASHED IF NOT FOR MY FRIEND HELPING ME MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS A SIDE STREET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPEN. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. ONLY AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK DID MY CAR START BUT WAS DIFFERENT. THIS HAPPENED TO ME 4 MORE TIMES. LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM NEW JOB AT AROUND 2 AM EST I GOT LOST AND CAR STALLS OUT ON ME WITH NO INDICATION AND IT DOES NOT JUST STALL AND STOP IT STALLS AND CONTINUES TO ROLL UNTIL YOU LOOSE MOMENTUM THIS IS NOT SAFE. THANKFULLY THIS PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME WHILE ON A HIGH WAY THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH IF ONES CAR STALLS AND THEY CAN NOT CONTROL IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND CONFIRMED BAD COIL PACK AND CRANK POSITION SENSORS. *TR

BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T FUNCTION DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. SUBJECT OF TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS. *TR

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