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 354 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle, and it carries 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 60 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 57 | 16% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 51 | 14% |
| Visibility | 19 | 5% |
| Power train | 18 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 16 | 5% |
| Structure | 11 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2% |
| Equipment | 6 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Terminal Box above battery has a black wire that get extremely hot and melts in its receptacle in the terminal box. Have replaced the terminal box and that one was also melted within a few days after installation of the
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I BOUGHT A BEETLE (136K M) FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE FOR $1600 CASH THERE WERE SOME ISSUES I.E. THE FAULTY TRUNK RELEASE DIDNT WORK, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD NO POWER, (TURNS OUT THE DOOR MOTOR IS A COMMON ISSUE BEETLE HAS)
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CON
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
ELECTRICAL SURGES...BLOWS FUSE BLOCK...MELTS DOWN FUSE BLOCK. REPLACED FUSE BLOCK ABOVE THE BATTERY THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR. CAR WAS BEING USED IN THE CITY.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAL
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE FRONT LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I CHANGE OUT THE BULBS AND THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING OVER COLIMA ROAD TOWARD WHITTIER, CA ON THE WAY HOME, ONE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN THE OTHER. C
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
HIS COMPLAINT CONSISTS OF A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, IN WHICH IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ANY WARRANTY WHATS SO EVER. WHETHER IT'S A NEW VEHICLE OR NOT. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SWITCHBLADE PROGRAMMABLE TYPE KEY WITH REMOTE. VOL
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THE EMERGENCY BR
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle. 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, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
Fix: 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.
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 | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 77 | good |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 51 | average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 354 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 60 of them (17%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) 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 71/100, 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 67/100. 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.