Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2000 Volkswagen Golf, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility20
- Air bags16
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Suspension5
- Electrical system5
- Power train5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Unknown or other4
- Structure4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 2000 Golf vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 5 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2000 Volkswagen Golf failed the safety check 1.36% of the time — 27% less often than the average 2000 passenger car (1.86%). Median odometer at inspection: 152,915 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2000 Volkswagen Golf cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp), 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp) and 1.6 petrol (77 kW, 103 hp), out of 12 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 608 |
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 582 |
| 1.6 petrol | 77 kW 103 hp | 571 |
| 2.0 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 457 |
| 1.8 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 302 |
| 1.8 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 258 |
| 1.8 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 169 |
| 1.9 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 139 |
| 2.8 petrol | 150 kW 201 hp | 136 |
| 2.3 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 135 |
| 1.6 petrol | 75 kW 101 hp | 61 |
| 1.9 diesel | 81 kW 109 hp | 51 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
3,597 first registered in 2000 are on Dutch roads; 10% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1,772
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,635
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect1,132
- Band onvoldoende profiel1,067
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm870
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld750
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse636
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht522
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,924 cars built in 2000 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 6,527 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 5,588 of these cars first registered in 2000 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2000 the figure was 61%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 18.2% | 17.7% |
| Suspension | 16.3% | 14.3% |
| Brakes | 13.4% | 12.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 11.1% | 7.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Visibility | 7.0% | 7.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
1,362 of these cars first registered in 2000 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 282,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
295 2000 cars are on the New Zealand register; 74% arrived as used imports, 23% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 6.1–10.8 L/100 km (about 22–39 mpg US), CO₂ 165–248 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf TDI Diesel · Compact · Diesel | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 |
| Golf TDI Diesel · Compact · Diesel | 8.1 | 5.8 | 7.1 |
| Golf · Compact · Premium gasoline | 11.1 | 8.3 | 9.8 |
| Golf · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.2 | 8.3 | 9.9 |
| Golf · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 9.0 | 10.6 |
| Golf · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.1 | 9.3 | 10.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2000 Volkswagen Golf.
| 2006122 24 May 2006 | Lights And Instruments On certain Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta wagon, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Passat and Passat wagon, the brake lamp switch may malfunction. If this happens, … |
| 2005107 14 Apr 2005 | Fuel System On certain vehicles equipped with a gasoline engine, fuel supply line tension may cause the fuel pump supply nipple to crack, which could result in a leak. A f… |
| 2004436 13 Dec 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts of certain … |
| 2000214 3 Oct 2000 | Steering On certain vehicles, one of two brackets used to bolt the front control arm to the body structure may not have been welded to specifications. Depending on the … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
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.
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.
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 MANUAL.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2000 Volkswagen Golf: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633842 | FRESH AIR BLOWER MOTOR, INOPERATIVE AT AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURES NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING. *TT |
| 633840 | REAR BRAKE PADS THAT APPEAR TO BE WORN PREMATURELY. *TT |
| 626970 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTION. *SLC |
| 625451 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR WILL NOT OPERATE DUE TO BROKEN WINDOW CLAMPS. THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN REPLACES BROKEN CLAMPS. *TT |
| 621623 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT |
| 619873 | SUBJECT REGARDING COOLANT LEAKING FROM COOLANT RESERVOIR BOTTLE WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAMINATES THE WIRING HARNESS. *TT |
| 619137 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES INSPECTING THE REAR BRAKE PADS DUE TO PREMATURE WORN. *TT |
| 616808 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0411 SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM INCORRECT FLOW DETECTED STORED IN DTC MEMORY. *TT |
| 615895 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0411 - SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM INCORRECT FLOW DETECTED - STORED IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 612470 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A HUMMING NOISE FROM GENERAL AREA OF THE FRONT END DURING CORNERING, ON VEHICLES WITH 02J TRANSMISSIONS. *MJS |
| 612460 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE CAPACITIES OF THE ENGINE OIL WITH FILTER CHANGE. *MJS |
| 610177 | CONCERNS WITH TRANSMISSION IN LIMP MODE WITH NO MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED. *TT |
| 610173 | CONCERNS WITH THE ARMREST CUPHOLD MISSING AT PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION. *TT |
| 610164 | CONCERNS WITH POOR OR NO RECEPTION FROM AM RADIO. *TT |
| 610162 | SUBJECT REGARDING PREMIUM V RADIO, CODING AFTER CD-CHANGER OR CD-PLAYER INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 610161 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO THE SUNROOF SLIDING HEADLINER, REPLACING SLIDES. *TT |
| 610160 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE SHIFTER LEVER MAY VIBRATE / KNOCK IN 1ST, 2ND, 3RD OR 4TH GEARS. *TT |
| 608352 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO THE LUBRICATION OF THE DOOR LOCKS DURING THE PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION. MJS |
| 608351 | THIS BULLETIN MENTIONS THAT IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW DURING NEW VEHICLE TRANSPORT AND STORAGE, FUSE NO. 42 FOR THE RADIO AND / OR FUSE NO. 14 FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS MAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED. *TT |
| 608349 | INFORMATION ON THE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD). MJS |
| 607937 | CONDITIONS WITH POOR AM RECEPTION. *TT |
| 10253215 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10253214 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10253213 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10252204 | Air Conditioning Does not Operate |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALLING
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation