2000 Volkswagen Jetta Brakes Problems

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 DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE PARTS. THE CONSUMER DECLINED. *JS

BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T FUNCTION DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. SUBJECT OF TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AND LIGHTLY BRUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BEGIN SLOWING, THE BRAKE PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGES FULLY, SLAMMING ON BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SOUND OF AIR PRESSURE BEING RELEASED. IF YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THE AIR IS RELEASED, THE PEDAL WILL RETURN TO REST AND THE BRAKES WILL FREE UP. NO EXISTING DEALER RECALLS AND VW (AND VW SERVICE DEPARTMENTS) HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM. MY LOCAL VW SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP SAYS THIS IS COMMON ON 2000 JETTA TDI'S. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR ISSUE, PLEASE REPORT IT! THERE ARE THREE OTHER ISSUES POSTED THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED: 10116640, 10139585, 10052281.

I PURCHASED A 2000 VW JETTA ON 6/16/10. TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS & SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE, IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: 2 FANS, ABS SENSOR WOULD COME ON & LOCK UP THE WHEELS, SO THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE UNPLUGGED, COOLANT SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, A TRANSMISSION REPLACED & A CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST FOUND IT HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT PRIOR & 4 CYL PARTS WERE USED IN A 6 CYL VEHICLE, & THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF REPAIRS TO DATE ARE APPROX. $5,200 & I ONLY PAID $4,995 FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE CONDITION IT WAS IN. THE SELLER FAILED TO DISCLOSE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD UNDERLYING PROBLEMS AFTER I INQUIRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BUSINESS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES THE BUSINESS HAS SOLD LIKE THIS. I HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS MORE THAN I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT & WHEN I PURCHASED IT, THE SELLER WAS AWARE I NEEDED A RELIABLE VEHICLE TO GET TO THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT VERY QUICKLY. *TR

SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MOST TROUBLESOME AND EXPENSIVE IS THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS LOOK AT IT AND "FIX IT" ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR DO THE SAME THING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE CAR IS OVERHEATING, HOWEVER, IT MUST BE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES (ALMOST EVERYDAY IN MY COMMUTE TO FROM WORK AND SCHOOL), AFTER I SIT IN TRAFFIC OVER 20 MINUTES, OUT OF NOWHERE THE RADIATOR CAP BLOWS OFF THE COOLING RESERVOIR SPILLING THE LIQUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND CAUSING THE CAR TO SMOKE. I HAVE EVEN BURNED HAD A SECOND DEGREE BURN FROM HAVING TO PULL OVER AND OPENING THE TRUNK SO I CAN REFILL AFTER IT COOLS. SOMEONE HAS YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS, AGAIN ONLY TO HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE LOOK AT IT, AND NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM SOLVED. I WILL CRANK THE ENGINE BUT THE CAR WILL DIE OUT. BUT IF I HIT THE SPEED CONTROL TO SET THE SPEED IT WILL STAY ON. THE CAR WILL HESITATE AND I WILL START OFF SLOW THEN IT WILL GO AT NORMAL SPEED. LAST BUT NOT LEAST I HAVE GOTTEN PULLED OVER 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THESE BRAKE LIGHTS ALL RECENTLY BUT THEY WILL BURN OUT WITHIN DAYS WITH OUT ME KNOWING. IT IS HORRIBLE VEHICLE, I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED. EVERYTIME IT GOES IN THE SHOP IS FOR DAYS I HAVE TO GET A RENTAL CAR EVERYTIME. ENOUGH TO SAY THAT THE CAR RENTAL PEOPLE KNOW ME BY NAME! MY JOB AND SCHOOL ARE AFFECTED BY THIS EACH AND EVERYTIME. I SUFFER FROM ANXIETY EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT! IT IS STRESSFUL AND RIDICULOUS HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

I AM REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON THE MODEL YEAR 2000, VOLKSWAGEN, JETTA. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AND CAR NOT STARTING UP AFTER UP OR BEING PARKED AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION PLUS MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GL. AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING AND NOT STARTING WHEN IGNITION IS ACCELERATED, I HAVE ALSO I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BREAKING EFFORTS WHEN I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES OR LONGER - I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT A REDUCED POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT START UP FOR NO REASON AT ALL. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND NERVOUS WHEN DRIVING - AND HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AND HAVE PAID FOR COSTLY REPAIRS. STILL TO NO AVAIL, IT KEEPS HAPPENING. TIRED OF THE VEHICLE - WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE A VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION MODULE ON VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS - YEAR 2000 PLEASE ASAP !!! I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE WORST PLACES WITH THE VEHICLE - WITH NO HELP TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *TR

FIRST WE WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING WE LOVE THIS CAR, WE ARE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE LOYAL VW CUSTOMERS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TENSIONER ON THE REAR BRAKE PADS. WE HAD THE TENSIONER FALL OFF CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TO CLUNK AND THE BRAKES TO BE TOUCHY TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS SCARY. WE DISCOVERED THIS WHEN WE DECIDED TO PUT NEW PADS ON BECAUSE THE LOCATION OF THE NOISE WERE BOTH PADS ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. JUST WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE POSSIBLE DANGERS. THANKS. *NM

THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 200 VW JETTA SEDAN WORE DOWN TO DAMAGE THE ROTOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. AT 42,000 MILES, THE FRONT HAD LESS THAN 10% WEAR. THE REARS HAD WORN COMPLETELY DOWN. THIS GENERATED EXCESSIVE HEAT AND SMELL OF BURNT METAL. THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY HAD RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM VW RELATED TO THE POOR QUALITY OF REAR BRAKE PAD MATERIAL CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE AND UNEVEN BRAKE WEAR. HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PAD MATERIAL WAS DEFECTIVE, I COULD HAVE REPLACED THEM PRIOR TO FAILURE AND DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS AND RISK OF FIRE.

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON MY 2000 VW JETTA TDI. THE ABS "ACTIVATES" WHEN GOING VERY SLOWLY (LESS THAN 10 MPH) AND WHEN APPLYING MINIMAL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND SOMETIMES WHEN NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKES AT ALL. IT FIRST HAPPENED OVER A YEAR AGO, AND THE DEALER CHANGED AN ABS HARNESS CONNECTOR, AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR UNTIL ABOUT 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR THEM, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, EVEN AFTER CALLING VW TECHNICIANS. THEY REPLACED A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AT MY EXPENSE, BUT SAID IF THAT DIDN'T FIX IT, THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, BUT THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, AND I NOTED ON AN INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD THAT A NUMBER OF OTHERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM (LINK: .HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWFLAT.PHP?CAT=0&NUMBER=1063831&AN=0&PAGE=0#1063831 ). I CONTACTED VW (REF.# 804028386), BUT THEY WERE NO HELP AND DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING. *NM

I AM THE PRIMARY REPAIR PERSON FOR THIS VEHICLE. OVER ITS HISTORY, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPONENT FAILURES THAT IN MY OPINION ARE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE AND AGE. I PERSONALLY KNOW THE OWNER, AND KNOW THAT IT IS NOT OPERATED UNDER UNUSUALLY HARSH CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COSMETIC CRASH EARLY ON, OTHERWISE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO UNUSUAL OUTSIDE FACTORS. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. PRIMARY USE IS ON LONG TRIPS. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND STORED FOR ABOUT 3-6 MONTHS EACH YEAR. FIRST PROBLEM: AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM LEAK: THE EXPANSION VALVE FAILED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. CHECK ENGINE/ MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT: HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES, EACH TIME WITH THE SAME DTC, A MANUFACTURER SPECIFIC CODE RELATED TO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN FREE REPAIR OF THE WINDOWS WITH A REVISED RETAINING CLIP, AS THIS PROBLEM OCCURS FAR TOO OFTEN, AND FINALLY, THE REAR BRAKE PADS HAVE WORN COMPLETELY WITH THE FRONT PADS IN VIRTUALLY NEW CONDITION. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY ALL FOUR ROTORS BEING EXCESSIVELY PITTED, WITH LARGE AREAS OF THE ROTOR FACE ACTUALLY FLAKING OFF. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT I MAY END UP NEEDING TO REPLACE THE REAR CALIPERS, AS WELL, DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *JB

SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. ANNOYING!!WE HAVE A 2000 PASSAT W/AN ABS WARNING LIGHT & CHIMES THAT HAVE BEEN COMING ON SINCE NOV. 2004 WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROX 50-65,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD QUOTES OF$900 & 1300 FOR REPAIRS. BUT THEY ALWAYS SAY IT"S A SHORT IN THE MODULE. NO PROBLEM, I HOPE NOT. BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COMPLAINING. GETTING IT REPAIRED. WE ARE SICK & TIRED OF THIS POORLY MADE MONEY PIT CAR IT MAY BE THE FIRST CAR WE TRADE IN. . WHY CAN'T THERE BE DARN RECALL WITH ALL OF US. VW HAS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE MANNER. WE LIKE SOME OTHERS RESEARCHED CARS BEFORE BUYING. THIS CAR CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. BY VEHICLE PUBLICATIONS.& WEBSITES, NOT BY US. I AM TOTALLY AFRAID OF DRIVING IT EXCEPT TO WORK & HOME,.WE HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN CARS THAT HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS, I CAN SEE BY THIS E-MAIL POSTER THAT IS NOT TRUE.. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CLUTCH BECAME STUCK AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO JIGGLE THE GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF AC COMPRESSOR FAILED. NEW BATTERY WENT DEAD. FOUR WINDOW FAILURE DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TC

NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. PERIODICALLY THE BRAKING PRESSURE WAS RELEASED AND A PEDAL PULSE WAS FELT WHILE STOPPING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM TO THE ABS PUMP LEAKED INTO THE ABS MODULE. *JB THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN A PARKING LOT AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKES RELEASING CAUSING HER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PERSON IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SOUGHT MEDICAL TREATMENT. *SC

MY VOLKSWAGEN 2000 PASSAT HAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE ABS ELECTRONIC UNIT. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN REPORTED FREQUENTLY AMONG AUDI AND VW CUSTOMERS. THE EARLY MALFUNCTION OF THIS VITAL VEHICLE SAFETY COMPONENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. *AK

2000 JETTA GL, CANNOT MOVE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. VEHICLE IS LOCKED. I HEARD THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE 2000 JETTA FROM MANY PEOPLE, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS.*AK

REAR BRAKES ON VW JETTA -- CALIPERS SEIZED, ROTORS RUINED, PADS METAL-TO-METAL. FRONT BRAKES VIRTUALLY IN FACTORY CONDITION. *AK

2000 JETTA - VIN [XXX] WHEN REPLACING MY BRAKE DISC PADS I NOTED THAT THE FRONT DISCS PADS ARE IN SHOW ROOM QUANTITY. IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE REAR BRAKES ARE WORKING. TO HAVE 40000 MILES ON A CAR AND HAVE VIRTUALLY NO WEAR ON THE FRONT DISC PADS GIVES ME CAUSE FOR CONCERN. WHAT IS THE BRAKE DESIGN BASIS FOR THE 2000 JETTA? IS THE OPERATION OF ONLY THE REAR BRAKES A SAFETY CONCERN? CAN THE 2000 JETTA MEET THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) STANDARDS FOR ALLOWABLE STOPPING DISTANCE WITH ONLY REAR DISC BRAKE OPERATION? VW INTERNATIONAL RESPONDED BY PHONE CALL NOTING THAT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED IF THE FRONT WHEEL BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. OUR FAMILY PURCHASED TWO 2000 JETTA'S AT THE SAME TIME. THE SECOND JETTA HAD THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED AT 30000 MILES AT DEALER COST. THEY CALLED IT PREMATURE WEAR. ALSO AT 40000 MILES THE SECOND JETTA FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CALLED THIS NORMAL WEAR. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL BASED ON WHAT VW SAYS. I DO KNOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

MY VEHICLE IS A TDI DIESEL -COMPUTER/ENGINE - ENGINE DIAGNOSIS LIGHT HAS COME ON - DIAGNOSIS ($85.00) GATE ON TURBO CHARGER DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. WAS TOLD COULD DRIVE VEHICLE BUT PERFORMANCE MAY DETERIORATE. ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON OCAAISIONALY. REAR BRAKES SEIZED AND WORE COMPLETELY OUT - DEALER REFUSED ANY WARRANTY - WROTE V/W CUSTOMER SERVICE - THEY REFUNDED ABOUT 90% OF MY COST

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK