Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 477 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 89 | 19% |
| Visibility | 61 | 13% |
| Air bags | 36 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 33 | 7% |
| Power train | 27 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 5% |
| Seats | 13 | 3% |
| Structure | 13 | 3% |
| Equipment | 11 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 t
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
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..
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 DEA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
WENT TO BUCKLE UP AND HEARD A NOISE. LOSS AT TENSION ON SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
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 STATE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. 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.
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/s
Risk: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
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 NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED I
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 MANUA
Risk: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Fix: 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 ANCH
| Reliability raw | 64 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 66 | good |
| Maintenance | 77 | good |
| Depreciation | 69 | good |
| Performance | 51 | average |
| Efficiency | 58 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 477 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 89 of them (19%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (average) 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 66/100, 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: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. 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.