2000 Volkswagen Golf
The Verdict
The 2000 Volkswagen Golf has 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (34 complaints) and electrical (26 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 73/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Golf, consider the 2020 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2020 has 94% fewer complaints
View the 2020 Volkswagen Golf dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 5
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF TWO BRACKETS USED TO BOLT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY STRUCTURE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WELDED SUFFICIENTLY.
Risk
THE CONTROL ARM COULD GRADUALLY LOOSEN AND ULTIMATELY SEPARATE FROM ITS BRACKET IN NORMAL DRIVING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. AS THE BRAC...
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRACKET AND IF THE WELDING IS INSUFFICIENT, WILL REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM.
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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 ...
Risk
THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
Remedy
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.
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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.
Remedy
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. VEHI...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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.
Remedy
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 RECA...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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 ...
Risk
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 A...
Reported Dec 9, 2002
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
I HAD JUST GOT ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT 5MINS. ON THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND THEN THERE WAS A BACK FIRE THEN I SEEN A SYMBOL OF A CAR WITH A KEY UNDER IT LIT IN THE DASHBOARD, THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP I HAD IT TOWED TO THE HOUSE AND THEN THE CAR STARTED BUT NOW IT HAS A PUTTER NOISE I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS THE WIRES AND O2 SENSORS AND IT STILL HAS THE PUTTERING NOISE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM PUMP NEEDED REPLACING.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V154000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED TO INSULATE THE VEHICLE RELEASED A TOXIC ODOR THAT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE HEADACHES, AND A RASH. THE MANUFACTURER FILED COMPLAINT 110328029 AND ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,909 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,236.
2000 GOLF GLS. REPLACED CLUTCH IN MARCH 2008 AT 135K MILES. REPLACED CLUTCH FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2009 AFTER 15K MILES ON HIGHWAY! CAR TOWED TO NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. CLUTCH REPLACED. VW REFUSED TO PAY FOR COST OF REPLACING CLUTCH SAYING NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH FAILURE ONLY AFTER 15K. *TR
2000 VW GOLF 2.0L ENGINE; DRIVING TO WORK ON FREEWAY (65-70MPH). HEARD "POP" AND A HISSING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER, SAW COOLANT LEAKING. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, FOUND INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE TO VALVES AND PISTONS. CAUSE WAS A FAULTY WATER PUMP: VW USES A PLASTIC IMPELLER ON THE WATER PUMPS WHICH FREQUENTLY BREAK AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT VERY QUICKLY. AFTER THE DAMAGE, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH ON VW FORUMS REVEALED NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. THE END RESULT WAS THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, RADIATOR, TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP ($6000 REPAIR BILL). SADLY, VW PUT IN THE SAME TYPE OF WATER PUMP WITH THE PLASTIC IMPELLER, SO I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL LAST LONGER THAN ANOTHER 60000 MILES. I WOULD HAVE CHANGED IT WITH THE TIMING BELT, BUT VW SAYS THE BELT IS NOT DUE TO BE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 105,000 MILES (JUST OUTSIDE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, CONVENIENTLY!) CAR HAD ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT, VW CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE. *TR
THE ABS PUMP & MODULE ARE DEFECTIVE. SUPPOSEDLY, A SHORT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSES THIS MALFUNCTION AND NOW ABS AND ASR ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. REGULAR BRAKES ARE STILL WORKING. THIS SYSTEM PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH VW AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
ERROR CODE P1128. MANY OF THE VW 2.0 ENGINES GET IT AND END UP CHANGING MANY PARTS. THEN AFTER THEY CHANGE THE WHOLE INTAKE DOES THE PROBLEM GO AWAY. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS ISN'T POOR DRIVING OR POOR CARE FOR A CAR ITS POOR QUALITY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND 1500 TO REPLACE SUCH A THING ON A VEHICLE THAT'S KNOWN TO LAST FOREVER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT HEARD A SINGLE KNOCKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE NOISE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V280000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,500.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACES FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE FLOWS BACK OUT. THE DEALER CLEANED THE OVERFLOW FUEL HOSE, BUT GASOLINE CONTINUES TO POUR OUT. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO PLACE LESS FUEL INTO THE TANK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,472. UPDATED 09/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE WAS WILLING TO RESEARCH WHY THE FUEL SHUT FAILED. UPDATED 09/29/08. *JB
WE OWN A VW GOLF . WE HAVE AN 18 MONTH OLD. WHEN MY WIFE STOPS DRIVING HER CAR AND GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND CLOSES THE DRIVER'S DOOR THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE TIME. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER HER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. IF HER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION AND SHE CLOSES HER DOOR OR IT HAPPENS TO CLOSE WITH HER KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND OUR SON IN THE CAR THIS CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HER CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AS IT DOES - IT IS SOME KIND OF AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. *TR
I OWN A 2000 VW GOLF WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM A VW DEALER. IN JANUARY OF 2007 I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG AND WIRING HARNESS FOR A COST A LITTLE OVER $600. ON 7/14/2008 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I NEED TO HAVE THE MAIN DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, YET THIS IS THE SECOND AIRBAG I'VE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP, IF I DO NOT REPLACE THE AIRBAG, IT MAY NOT DEPLOY IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT, OR IT COULD DEPLOY WHEN I AM JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I FEEL AS THOUGH AN AIRBAG SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE, OR ONLY NEED TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY DEPLOYED. *TR
CAR WAS HARD PULLING TO RIGHT SIDE DUE TO CRACKED TIRE ON RIGHT SIDE FRONT, THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE ON THIS SET OF TIRES THEY HAVE LESS THEN 4,000 MILES ON. ALL TIRES CRACKED ON SAME PLACE ON THE OUTER EDGE AIR LOSS IS FAST. 1ST CRACK WAS RIGHT REAR TIRE ( I DID THINK THAT I RUN OVER SOMETHING I GOT NEW TIRE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER AS THEY DID NOT HAVE SAME TIRE AND I DO NOT LIKE FIXED TIRES) 2ND CRACK WAS ON LEFT REAR TIRE ABOUT WEEK LATER I DID TRY TO HAVE IT FIX BUT WAS TOLD AND SHOWED THAT TIRE JUST KEPT ON CRACKING MORE 3RD CRANK HAPPEN MONTH LATER RIGHT FRONT TIRE. ALL CRACKS ARE ON SAME PLACE OUTER EDGE TIRES ARE ULTRA HP MADE BY REPUBLIC. *TR
MY 2000 VW PASSAT CAUGHT ON FIRE DEC 28, 2007. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. THE FINAL COST TO REPAIR (IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED) IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. I FIND IT VERY PERTURBING TO FIND OUT THAT VW KNEW OF THESE (COIL) DEFECTS YET DID NOTHING TO INFORM OWNERS. I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN AGES 2 AND 4 IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. FORTUNATELY, MY QUICK INSTINCTS PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH LIMITED ENGINE DAMAGE AND WITHOUT CASUALTIES. *TR
DRIVING ON THE HWY ,65 MPH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDE WALL. *TR
2000 VW GOLF GLS. AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH DIAGNOSED BY VW AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT - PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, NEVER CRASHED. VW WANTED $500 FOR REPAIRS. NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED BY VW OWNERS INVOLVING RANGE OF AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURES, SPURIOUS DEPLOYMENTS, ETC. VW CHARGED ME $45 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS.*AK
2000 VW GOLF. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STUCK ON. THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO KNOW IF THE BAG WILL DEPLOY OR NOT. IN ORDER FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK AT IT IT WOULD COST ME $100 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND BETWEEN $500 AND $700 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. SO AFTER I PAY $500 OR $600 THEY STILL WONT GUARANTEE THE BAGS ARE SAFE. HOW DO I GO ABOUT FIGURING THIS OUT. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF VOLKSWAGENS AND TO PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER IS UNACCEPTABLE. DO I PAY THE MONEY AND JUST HOPE IT IS FIXED? NO ACCIDENTS YET BUT WHAT IF. I NO LONGER TRUST THE ABILITY OF THE CARS SAFETY. THIS IS MY COMPLAINT. I FEEL I WAS SOLD A CAR AND NOW THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE CAR HAVE BECOME COMPROMISED. HELP! *NM
EVERYTIME IT RAINS, I GET AN INCH OR TWO OF WATER IN MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR FOOT WELL OF MY 2000 VW GOLF. IT BEGAN LAST RAINY SEASON WITH A LARGE RAIN EVENT. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAPPENED WITH EVERY RAIN EVENT. *JB
1. THIS FAILURE IS A RANDOM SHUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. 2. ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS IDLING AS WELL AS WHEN I AM TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN AS DRIVERS FOLLOWING ARE NOT EXPECTING SUCH A SHARP DECELERATION FROM MY VEHICLE. 3. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VW DEALER BUT THE WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT A SOLUTION. MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET LED ME TO A FAILURE OF AN ELECTRIC RELAY SWITCH. I WILL PROCEED TO CHANGE THE RELAY IN QUESTION (RELAY 109)*JB
THE FIRST TIME THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT WAS USED IT GOT JAMMED IN THE OUT POSITION AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THIS WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2005. PULLING HARD SEVERAL TIMES RELEASED IT SO THAT IT WOULD RETRACT BACK INTO THE SEAT. IN JULY OF 2006 THE SEAT BELT GOT STUCK AGAIN BUT THIS TIME AFTER THE REAR SEAT WAS LOWERED. THE JAMMED SEAT BELT IS PREVENTING THE RETURNING THE REAR SEAT BACK TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THESE ARE THE ONLY TIMES THAT THIS SEAT BELT HAS BEEN USED SINCE PURCHASE. VW REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE START. SINCE IT GOT JAMMED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO USE IT, I SAY IT WAS DEFECTIVE. NOW THE SAFETY BELT IS STILL JAMMED AND I CAN'T RAISE THE REAR SEAT. *NM
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. LUCKILY A KIND DRIVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AND IT FAILED AGAIN! GOING ON MY THIRD SWITCH! *NM
101 total