2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Exterior Lighting Problems

WATER PUMP AND BACK HOUSING THE COOLANT SYSTEM

CAR WILL NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN FAR ENOUGH TO WARM-UP THE ENGINE. MUST WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES--UP TO AN HOUR--BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. THE PROCESS OF TRYING A RESTART RESULTS IN MUCH UNBURNED FUEL VAPOR IN THE EXHAUST STREAM. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING DOES NOT TURN ON OR OFF WITH THE OPENING OF A DOOR. HORN DOES NOT SOUND WHEN LOCKING THE CAR, AUTO-DRIVERS SEAT POSITIONING DOES NOT WORK. ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR PERFORMS QUITE WELL--GOOD ENGINE POWER, STEERING, ETC. HOWEVER, THE NON-STARTING AFTER BEING DRIVEN A DISTANCE COULD RESULT IN BEING STRANDED AND PLACED IN DANGER. *TT

Mileage: 84,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION AND THE BULBS BLEW OUT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND PRESENT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V584000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING DEFECTS STILL ON WHEN ENGENEE IS OFF. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 VW JETTA ALREADY HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING EVENTS AS A RESULT OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COIL PLUGS MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 2000 VW JETTA AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE STALLING I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORTS WHEN I PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED ON THE SHOULDER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE OPERATED AT REDUCED POWER............................ALSO MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN STICKING ON AND NOT WORKING ALL THE TIME AS WELL.................NOT SURE HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE BUT HERE GOES RIGHT BY MY AC SWITCH ON MY CAR THERE IS A BUTTON THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CIRCULATE THE AIR THROUGH THE CAR BUT WHEN I PUSH IT IN A LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD COMES ON AND SAYS BRAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I HAVE A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER, ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING AND MY HAZARDS HAVE STOPPED AS WELL WAS HOPING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME AS THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 139,095

I AM 8 MONTHS PREGNANT DRIVING WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND WAS HIT IN THE REAR OF MY 2000 JETTA WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE WOMEN WHO HIT ME TOLD ME BRAKE LIGHTS WEREN'T ON. THANKFULLY BOTH THE BABY I AM PREGNANT WITH AND MY 1 YEAR OLD ARE OK BUT I HAD ALREADY BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2004. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY. VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY KILL ME OR MY BABIES!! *NM

Mileage: 78,000

NO EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF ANY RECALLS RELATING TO MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS RELIABLY ON '00 JETTA WITH 70,000+ MILES; CAR DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK UNTIL BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED REPEATEDLY AND THEN ONLY WORKS INCONSISTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE- THERE IS AN APPARENT MALFUNCTION WITH BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND RELATES TO DESCRIPTIONS OF RECALLS ON 99-02 JETTA / NEW BEETLES. I CALLED VW REGARDING OPEN RECALLS FOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH DEFECTS AND I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALLS. WILL FOLLOW UP WITH LOCAL DEALER WHO WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM- I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY NHTSA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO RETAIN MY RECEIPTS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR MATTERS RELATING TO THIS ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO RELATE TO RECALLS: 03V-265 OR 04V-096 AND VW RECALL NO. N4. *NM

Mileage: 70,750

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON AFTER VEHICLE PARKED AND NO KEYS IN IGNITION CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN. PURCHASE NEW BATTERY WITHIN 2 DAYS NEW BATTERY DEAD. NOTICED BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON WHEN CAR PARKED. THERE IS RECALL NHTSA ID #04V096000 FOR 2000 VW JETTA'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT I AM TOLD IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS COMES ON RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RUNNING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V096000 REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *NM

Mileage: 79,000

DT: THE CONTACT HAD RECALL 04V096000 REPAIRS ON BRAKE LIGHTS COMPLETED OVER A YEAR AGO, AND NOW THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

Mileage: 234,508

IN 2004, MY 2000 VW JETTA'S BREAK LIGHTS FAILED TO TURN OFF. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER REPLACED A SWITCH. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, VW WERE ISSUED A RECALL ON VEHICLE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH WOULD EITHER FAIL TO TURN OFF OR FAIL TO TURN THE BREAK LIGHTS ON. VW REFUNDED THE AMOUNT I HAD PAID TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2005, A DRIVER NOTIFIED ME AFTER A NEAR MISS AT AN INTERSECTION THAT MY BREAK LIGHTS WERE FAILING TO LIGHT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THE SWITCH HAD FAILED, BUT SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL BECAUSE THE SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DID NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS MADE. *JB

Mileage: 79,500

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY JETTA 2000 VEHICLE MALFUNCTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LOCK (ASL) LOCKS WHEN PARK OR NEUTRAL. CAUSE TRAFFIC JAM. AFTER 30 MINUTES THE SWITH STARTED WORKING TEMPORARILY. IT HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS

Mileage: 67,000

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT YET ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE SAFETY/SIGNALLING LIGHT SYSTEM ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. RECENTLY, MY REVERSE LIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, REDUCING VISIBILITY WHEN BACKING UP AT NIGHT AND FAILING TO SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS BACKING UP. I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM MYSELF BY CHECKING THE BULB AND FUSE. BOTH OF THESE "WEAR AND TEAR" ITEMS WERE FINE. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE "REVERSE LIGHT SWITCH" HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH FOR ABOUT $100 AND THE PROBLEM IS NOW CORRECTED. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN PART IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH ON THIS CAR, AND I STONGLY FEEL THAT THERE IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY/SIGNALING LIGHT ELECTRONIC SYSTEM ON THIS CAR.

Mileage: 80,000

MY CAR HAD RECALL #04V096000 PERFORMED APPROX 1.5 YEARS AGO (A SWITCH WAS REPLACED). THAT SAME SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. IT IS THE SWITCH THAT DETECTS WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE PRESSED THE BRAKE, ALLOWING ME TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. SOMETIMES IT ALSO AFFECTS MY BRAKE LIGHTS, CAUSING THEM TO NOT TURN ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. HOWEVER, ON MAY 14, 2005 I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER THE RECALL. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. THIS TIME IT DID AFFECT THE BRAKE LIGHTS - THEY WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO A FUSE, BUT DUE TO THAT SWITCH, AND THAT THE TWO ARE CONNECTED. WHEN THE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD MALFUNCTION AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SWITCH (AGAIN). THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES SUCH AS A SHORT TO THE GROUND WHICH REQUIRED A NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY, ESP LIGHT WHICH INDICATED A BAD BRAKE LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A BAD ABS PUMP AND RELAY. UPDATED 01/27/06. *JB

Mileage: 30,000

THE CONSUMER STATES THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Mileage: 93,000

HAZARD SIGNALS FAIL TO BLINK OR FLASH. ON OCCASION, THEY FLASH A FEW TIMES THEN STOP.*AK

Mileage: 63,500

THE VEHICLE WAS SLIGHTLY OVER A YEAR OLD WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED. *NM RECALL# 04V096000. *SC

THE TURN SIGNAL/CRUIS CONTROL HANDLE FELL OFF, PREVENTING THE OPERATOR FROM SIGNALING AN INTENT TO TURN. THE HANDLE WAS NOT DAMAGED IN ANY WAY TO CAUSE IT TO FALL OFF OTHER THAN NORMAL USE. THE HANDLE IS DANGLING BY ITS WIRES TO THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE OPERATOR IS UNABLE TO SIGNAL AN INTENT TO TURN.*AK

Mileage: 42,000

TURN SIGNAL ON MANY VOLKSWAGEN MODELS ACROSS MANY LATE 90'S AND EARLY MILLENNIUM MODELS (INCLUDING MY 2000 JETTA VR6) ARE FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE. IT SEEMS TO BE A SHARED RELAY/FLASHER WITH THE HAZARD SYSTEM OR THE HAZARD SWITCH (BUTTON) ITSELF. *LA

Mileage: 90,905

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS. *MR ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE WINDOW REGULATOR CLIPS WERE REPLACED. CURRENTLY THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. *SC

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSED CAR TO LOCK IN PARK, AND BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

Mileage: 45,000

IN REFERENCE TO THE FOLLOWING RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V096000 ONE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM SHOULD BE NOTED. I HAVE A 2000 VW JETTA WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILS, AS IT DID ON MY CAR AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE SHIFTER CANNOT BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THIS EFFECTIVELY LEAVES THE VEHICLE IMMOBILIZED AND THE OWNER NEEDING A TOW. I THINK THAT ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH REPLACED SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE SWITCH REPAIR AND TOWING IF APPLICABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. DAN ELIADES. *NM

Mileage: 95,300

WHEN TURN SIGNAL AND/OR HAZARD WARNING SIGNALS ARE USED AND LEFT IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE RATE AND WHICH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS BLINK GRADUALLY "SLOWS". AFTER THE SIGNALS ARE LEFT ON FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS CEASE TO "BLINK" AND EVENTUALLY "FREEZE" AND ARE CONSTANTLY LIT. IF CAR WERE TO BECOME DISABLED, THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WILL WORK FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES, AND THEREAFTER REMAIN CONSTANTLY LIT, THUS RENDERING THEM USELESS TO WARN APPROACHING MOTORISTS OF A DISABLED VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HAZAED SWITCH TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 82,781

VEHICLE SUFFERED A LOST OF POWER WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES.*MR ON MARCH 7 2002 UNIVERSITY VW DISCOVERED A DEFECTIVE AIRFLOW METER. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED FOR A CRACKED RAIN DRAIN. THE BRAKE SERVO WAS CHANGED FOR A PIN HOLE AIR LEAK. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE GLOW PLUG HARNESS MIGHT BE THE CAUSE AS TO WHY THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON. THE HAZARD SWITCH SWITCHED ON AND OFF DISTRESSING OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND. REPLACED THE HAZARD RELAY SWITCH (ON THE DASH) BY MYSELF. BACK BRAKE PAD WORE DOWN TO THE RIVETS. VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON 3 OCCASIONS HAD PRESSURE TEST AND THERMOSTAT CHANGED AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST.*TS *JB

Mileage: 45,000

HEADLIGHT SOCKETS HAVE MELTED 3 TIMES. TWICE ON THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND ONCE ON THE LEFT. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I USED NAPA AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I REPLACED THE RIGHT SOCKET AND HEADLIGHT WITH PARTS PROVIDED BY VW DEALER. IT STILL MELTED. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CONNECTORS IN THE SOCKET ARE NOT SIZED TO HANDLE THE CURRENT AND HEAT UP UNTIL THE PLASTIC AROUND THEM MELTS.

Mileage: 40,000

BOTH HEADLIGHT PLUGS MELTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VW JETTAS. COMMON PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THIS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. 2000 AND NEWER YEARS. YOU SHOULD MAKE THEM ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL.*AK

Mileage: 24,439

THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER HAS TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.*AK

MY FRUSTRATION AND FEAR AT THE FACT THAT MY BRAKE SWITCH HAS FAILED TWICE, MY BATTERY HAS DIED 3 TIMES WHILE WITH THE DEALER, AND MY BRAKES SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AND MY ALARM GOES OFF CONSTANTLY, IS ONLY COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT VW HAS NOT ONE EXPLAINATION FOR WHY ANY OF THIS IS HAPPENING. TO TELL ME EVERYTHING IS "TESTING" FINE CERTAINLY ADDS TO THIS FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN FIX WHEN NOTHING IS "WRONG." TO THAT I SAY, O.K. THEN, GIVE THIS CAR TO YOUR LOVED ONE TO DRIVE AND WE'LL SEE HOW SAFE YOU FEEL. ABSURD -- WILL IS TAKE DEATHS FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING?

EACH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS ANNOYING FOR A BRAND NEW CAR BUT THEY WERE FIXED. MY CONCERN IS THE OIL BURNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOOK ME SERIOUSLY UNTIL I THREATENED THEM WITH LEGAL ACTION BUT MY CAR IS STILL BURNING OIL. I CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE ANYONE UNDERSTAND THAT A CAR ONLY ONE YEAR OLD SHOULD NOT CONSUME OIL LIKE THIS CAR IS DOING NOW. TWICE I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH MY 9 MONTH OLD SON IN THE COLD WEATHER BECAUSE THE RED WARNING LIGHT FOR LOW OIL HAS COME ON AND BOTH TIMES I HAD NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THERE IS OBVIUOSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR BUT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THEIR MECHANICS SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.

EACH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS ANNOYING FOR A BRAND NEW CAR BUT THEY WERE FIXED. MY CONCERN IS THE OIL BURNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOOK ME SERIOUSLY UNTIL I THREATENED THEM WITH LEGAL ACTION BUT MY CAR IS STILL BURNING OIL. I CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE ANYONE UNDERSTAND THAT A CAR ONLY ONE YEAR OLD SHOULD NOT CONSUME OIL LIKE THIS CAR IS DOING NOW. TWICE I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH MY 9 MONTH OLD SON IN THE COLD WEATHER BECAUSE THE RED WARNING LIGHT FOR LOW OIL HAS COME ON AND BOTH TIMES I HAD NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THERE IS OBVIUOSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR BUT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THEIR MECHANICS SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.

TURN SIGNALS MADE A BUZZING SOUND, DEALER SAID THEY WERE FINE HOWEVER THEY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. *MJS

REVERSE LIGHTS STAY ON AND CANNOT BE FIXED BETW. 2 DEALERS WHO IN TOTAL HAVE WORKED OVER 32 HOURS OF LABOR WITH OUT RESOLUTION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL HEADLAMPS DO NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO SEE A PERSON IN THE ROAD. THERE IS A DISTINCT LINE AT EYE LEVEL AND ABOVE THAT IS NOT ILLUMINATED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AND WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPURTUNITY TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR AFTER DARK. I HAVE CONTACTED CONSUMER RELATIONS SEVERAL TIMES, AND WAS TOLD THE CAR MEETS SAFETY STANDARDS. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM HOLDS THE DISTINCT POSSIBLITY OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *AK