IllustrationCAR 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
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all New Beetle years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
40 reportsWHILE 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.
2.0 LITER ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH CAR. WORST WARRANTY AND SERVICE. DLR DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. POOR ATTITUDE OF SERVICE, AND POOR PUBLIC RELATIONS. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT IT WILL BE THE LAST VW I BUY, DUE TO THE ATTITUDE, SERVICE, RELIABILTY SO FAR,AND WARRANTY ISSUES. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
I AM REQUESTING ANY DEFECT INFORMATION ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD OF MY 2000 NEW BEETLE GLS. ON RETURNING TO MY LOCKED CAR ON LUNCH BREAK I FOUND THE WHOLE BACK WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED IN A PUFFED OUT DIRECTION (NO MAIN STRESS CRACK). SINCE IT IS SAFETY GLASS IT REMAINED INTACT (I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES). THE CAR HAD BEEN LEFT STILL…
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I AM REQUESTING ANY DEFECT INFORMATION ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD OF MY 2000 NEW BEETLE GLS. ON RETURNING TO MY LOCKED CAR ON LUNCH BREAK I FOUND THE WHOLE BACK WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED IN A PUFFED OUT DIRECTION (NO MAIN STRESS CRACK). SINCE IT IS SAFETY GLASS IT REMAINED INTACT (I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES). THE CAR HAD BEEN LEFT STILL FOR 3 HOURS.I CONTACTED BOTH DEALERSHIP AND "ZONE" CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR VOLKSWAGON TO REPORT THIS AND THEY SAY THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING EVER HAPPENING. I WORK FOR A FORKLIFT COMPANY WITH 20 PLUS MECHANICS ON SITE AND IT WAS SAID TO RESEMBLE HEAT EXPANDING IN THE CAR. THIS IS JANUARY THE TEMPERATURE ON THIS DAY WAS 40 DEGREES AND SUNNY. I WOULD LIKE ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE PERTAINING TO THIS. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO A $500.00 QUESTION. THIS IS VERY DEVASTATING.*AK
BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED SIGNIFICANTLY (1 INCH OR MORE) BEFORE ANY SENSATION OF THEM BEING APPLIED. YOU LOSE 1/4 TO 1/2 SECOND OF BREAKING TIME, COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING OR NOT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THE PEDAL DOESN'T FEEL SOLID BUT SPONGY.
LOST CONTROL IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG AND SEATBELT FAILURE, RESULTING IN DEATH
NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS POSSIBLE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF THE DRIVER ROBERT MCGARY. NLM
ABS CONTROL UNIT AND PUMP WERE REPLACED DURING AN EXTENDED STAY (OVER 30 DAYS) AT THE DEALER. BRAKES ARE CURRENTLY NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. CAR TO BE RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR(S).
Official recalls
203V265000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.