Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I purchased this vehicle recently and have noticed a distinct diesel smell when idling or driving at low speeds. Smells strong like leaking diesel fuel. The car idles very rough and sometimes stalls when coming to a stop. There is a very bad odor whenever I enter the vehicle. I am concerned that the car will stall and I might be in an unsafe position during traffic. I think the clutch might be defective. It sounds very loud. The vehicle has 260,000 miles. Diesls are supposed to run forever but I feel like I bought a lemon.
Vehicle completely stalls for several seconds sporadically whenever the fuel guage reads 3/8 or less. Both my vw car do the exact same thing. It is common knowledge this occurs with most vw cars. Extremely unsafe and should be recalled.
The fuel line on my 2000 Volkswagen Jetta recenty burst, making a sound like a balloon popping and leaking several gallons gasoline in the ten minutes it took me to get to a service station for an emergency repair. The mechanic who removed the fuel line (which I kept) showed me two small splits, but he was uncertain about what caused the damage. The Jetta's fuel line runs in a shallow channel under the car, but I was on a smooth, paved street at the time of the failure and don't recall hitting a pothole or anything else that might explain the damage. Two thoughts: despite being in a channel, clearance on the Jetta is low and the fuel line is rather exposed, so it might have been scraped or damaged at some other time...perhaps by road debris or driving over a speed bump or pothole. The only other logical explanation would be a defective fuel line. …
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. …
One year after purchasing this vehicle from a private owner, today was the second incident I've had regarding the clutch and the fumes it emits. Six months ago I noticed the clutch slipping and immediately took it into a repair shop. On top of the slipping clutch, the coolant and emissions workshop and electrical became a problem. "stop coolant low" would always appear on my dash, however the coolant would be filled. The engine light also stayed on. The mechanic did all he could to fix it. Six months later, today, I'm having the same issue with this vehicle. Only difference is, I immediately became ill while driving and breathing in the fumes the vehicle emit. I became nausea, dizzy and vomited. This issue regarding the clutch is an ongoing digression to the vehicle and the safety and health of myself and other drivers. …
2000 vw Jetta belonging to my friend [redacted], quit running in heavy traffic. She coasted out of the way and had other drivers help push it to a nearby parking lot. On investigating the problem, it was found that a switch in the driver's door failed, shutting off the fuel pump. The door switch normally turns on the fuel pump when the door is opened and if the car is started without opening the driver's door the "immobilizer" security system shuts off the fuel pump. The switch failed while [redacted] drove home from work and fuel was shut off turning off the engine.[redacted] and the people that helped push the car were endangered by having to get out of their cars in the heavy traffic. Car designs need to be reviewed for fault tolerance so that minor components like door switches don't cause the car engine to stop. …
2000 vw Jetta - same exact problem as with the 2000 vw golf fuel system. Car suddenly stopped running and wouldn't start. Car was leaking a significant amount of gas. I had already replaced the fuel pump last year (2004) and this time had to replace the entire fuel line. I was told it was a very dangerous situation by the dealer because it could've caused a fire or explosion. Dealer used new parts to replace fuel line.
While driving vehicle stalled. The consumer was unable to restart vehicle, however the consumer noticed that liquid was leaking from underneath the vehicle. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the plastic hose and other parts needed to be replaced. The fuel hose had come loose while the vehicle was in motion.
Vw Jetta tdi 1.9 litter diesel has extremely poor fuel mileage. Advertised is to get 50 mi/gallon. I get at best 40 mi/gallon highway and as low as 25 mi/gallon mixed highway/city. Dealer avoids the issue by saying low milage is due to bad fuel, extreme cold, poor driving habits.
1) I purchased a vw tdi with a diagnosis of a bad turbo and an intermittent check engine light. I had the car seven months and put 12,984 miles on it with no problems. I took the car to the dealer and had the car diagnosed as to why the c.e. Light was on. When asked about repairing the turbo by the counter man I told him I intend to drive it until it breaks then have it repaired. I asked him if there would be a problem doing that he explained to me the car would be sluggish then not run. Vw diagnosed my car as having a "turbo waste gate blown" I deferred the repair intending to drive the car until the turbo went. 2) on the way home, six miles from the dealership, the car ran slightly rough. I observed light smoke coming from my car in the head lights of the cars behind me. I deducted my car was burning carbon since carbon build up was noted on the report. …
Fuel System complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta, 5% of the model year's 439 complaints. The component named most often is fuel injection system (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Volkswagen Jetta fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Volkswagen Jetta fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.