Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Volkswagen GTI, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 17 | 38% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 13% |
| Air bags | 4 | 9% |
| Power train | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH CATCHING FIRE FROM EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL DRAW OVER THE MAIN POWER LEAD. OVER AMP DRAW IS CAUSING MAIN WIRING TO MELT AND ALSO MELT THE FUSE BOX OVER THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON WITH NO ACCIDENT. THE READINGS ARE THREE MAJOR INTERMITTENT ISSUES. IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR MANY OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THE VW DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO GUARANTEE ANY OF THE FIXES TO T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FAULTY COMPONENT: GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP DEFECT SUMMARY: ON MY 2000 GTI GLX, THE FUEL PUMP NIPPLES THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL LINES ARE CRACKED, THIS TENSION ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINES ARE CAUSING A SEVERE LEAK INSID
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
ABS SYSTEM. THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF AT TIMES AND STAYS OFF FOR A WHILE. THE COMPUTER SCAN DEDUCED THAT ONE OF THE ABS SENSORS WAS FAULTY. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST. NOW COMPUTER SCAN DEDU
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
AFTER HAVING MY AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON DUE TO A FAILED DRIVER AIRBAG SWITCH UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT, & FIXING IT MYSELF, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER VW GOLF MKIV OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. AL
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WAS ON THE WAY HOME DRIVING DURING RAIN AND SNOW. TYPICAL MINNESOTA WINTER. IT WAS ROUGHLY 25-30 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I LOWERED WINDOW TO REMOVE RAIN AND SNOW BEFORE I STARTED DRIVING. WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING AND TH
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY RIGHT CV JOINTS, ON MY 2000 GTI, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE REPLACED IT 4 TIMES AND IM ABOUT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF ITS THE PART OR IF ITS THE LABOR WHO PUT IT IN,
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I HAVE OWNED THE 2000 GTI SINCE 10/2001. PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 13,000 MILES ON IT FROM THE ORGINAL OWNER. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS 80,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM CAMPBEL
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2000 Volkswagen GTI. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND DOUBLE-LAYER FUEL TANKS, TENSION ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE TO CRACK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LEAK.
Risk: LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FOR TENSION, AND INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE FOR CRACKING. IF NECESSARY THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLE
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 64 | average |
| Depreciation | 78 | good |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility is the most reported area with 17 of them (38%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.