2000 Volkswagen Beetle problems
Owners have filed 373 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Volkswagen Beetle. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. Next are electrical system (17%) and engine (17%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 373 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 24
- Injuries and deaths
- 21 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 68,000 miles 157 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 26 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 27 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 26 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 25 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 23 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 10 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 157 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 68,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 39,000 miles (32 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 24 complaints mention a fire; 21 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2000 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Volkswagen Beetle with enough data (207 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While traveling at 5 MPH another vehicle ran into consumer's vehicle going at speed of 45 MPH. Upon impact, driver's side air bag did not deploy. Manufacturer has been contacted.
While driving on a highway at 65 miles per hour, I attempted to turn the cruise control off. It did not go off. Then I applied the brakes and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor with no tension. There was no braking action at all. I drove along some grassy areas on the side of the highway to slow the car, turned off the ignition because the car was no decelerating, and hit a tree at about 50 MPH. The airbags did not go off. The car was totalled.
Airbag system defective, requiring repairs and replacements, including airbag replacements, 11 different times. Since system does not work and airbags do not deploy when sensors are on, this is clearly a safety issue.
I got in my car one day and the air bag light was on for no apparent reason. No consequences other than it is probably the sensor rather than the air bag that is damaged. It has to be repaired or replaced. Not sure if that means the sensor or the air bag as well to be on the safe side. I am driving with the light on.