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2000 Volkswagen PassatProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 507 owner complaints about the 2000 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.

2000 Volkswagen Passat
24
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.1× the Passat median · #7 of 33 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Free fix at dealersOwner complaints50746 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage73kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 16, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2000 Volkswagen Passat has problems

507 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic1603
Engine and engine cooling9412
Electrical system4312
Suspension362
Fuel system, gasoline302
Service brakes, air290
Visibility261
Steering250
Power train191
19 other systems12723

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2000 Volkswagen Passat recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

Recall 08V-156 · Apr 7, 2008 · 412,000 vehicles

Risk. A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Storage: tank assembly

Recall 01V-157 · May 3, 2001 · 70,000 vehicles

Risk. RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUEL IN THE TANK LEAD TO SAFETY PROBLEMS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.

Mileage at failure

When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

73kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 122 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 83% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
3under 30k miles101under 100k miles21100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Service brakes, hydraulic

51 owners mentioned a cost

$1,400median

Middle half: $1,000 – $1,750

Service brakes, air

16 owners mentioned a cost

$1,500median

Middle half: $1,275 – $2,000

Engine and engine cooling

15 owners mentioned a cost

$946median

Middle half: $394 – $3,700

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2000 vs. every other Passat year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Passat median. How we score

'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2000 Volkswagen Passat safety ratings

2000 Volkswagen Passat 4-DR. wSAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2000 Volkswagen Passat frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2000 Volkswagen Passat side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2000 Volkswagen Passat, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE STALLINGDP05004 · closed Dec 8, 2005
    No recall
  2. FUEL TANK PUNCTUREEA00028 · closed Jan 29, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-026
  3. PASSENGER AIR BAG LID FAILUREEA03020 · closed Apr 23, 2004
    No recall
  4. PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA07014 · closed Jul 7, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-156
  5. FUEL TANK PUNCTUREPE00033 · closed Dec 28, 2000
    No recall
  6. PASSENGER SIR DOOR MOUNTING STUD FAILUREPE03021 · closed Oct 7, 2003
    No recall
  7. PASSENGER/ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE07024 · closed Sep 28, 2007
    No recall
In owners' words

What Passat owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ABS BRAKE PUMP BOSCH 5.3 VOLKSWAGEN PART 8E0 614 111 AH BEGAN LEAKING AND CAUSED BRAKE PRESSURE FAILURE IN BOTH CIRCUITS CAUSING PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. THIS WAS NOT THE COMMON FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ELECTRONICS WHICH MERELY CAUSES A FAILURE IN ANTI-LOCK BEHAVIOR. THIS IS A TOTAL…
Complaint 10424680 · Sep 11, 2011 · 85,751 miles
ABS/ASR/BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING AND BEEPING. MESSAGE CENTER SAYS STOP, BRAKE FAULT. AFTER HAVING BRAKES REPLACED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT IS DEFECTIVE MEANING THAT I HAVE NO ABS FUNCTION.
Complaint 10401866 · May 16, 2011 · 96,500 miles
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF (COMPUTER FAILURE?). MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS DRIVING, HAD TO USE BOTH FEET, PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS HE COULD, TO STOP THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US AND WE WERE FAR ENOUGH BACK THAT WE DID NOT ACCELERATE INTO THE…
Complaint 10370158 · Dec 8, 2010 · 140,000 miles

Own a 2000 Passat?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.