2000 Volkswagen Passat Fuel System Problems

Which parts fail

• Storage › Fuel gauge system
  8
• Storage › Tank assembly
  7
• Fuel injection system › Injectors
  3
• Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  2
• Fuel injection system
  1
• Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
  1

Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  515%
• 25k–50k
  824%
• 50k–75k
  824%
• 75k–100k
  39%
• 100k–150k
  926%
• 150k+
  13%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Heat shield caught fire while driving down the road. I had bought the car from carmax who had lied about the auto from the broken seatbelts forward on the day of sale. Vw dealership repaired auto after fire but another mishap with heatshield when it fell off and under the passenger front tire @ 65 mile per hr, while driving down turnpike. I was not injured thanks to a truck driver who assisted my navigation to the side of the road and cut off the shield so I could return home. The tie rod was damaged and had to be replaced, since the fire the car has never been the same and has been a hazard, stalling on a beltway, etc... No apparent reason for this was found on a diagnostic machine as it has been checked several times..it is when the emission light comes on and a bad sensor needs replaced or switch. But nothing fixes this car for long.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 20 MPH, smoke billowed from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to safely leave the roadway, the hood was raised and flames appeared in the engine compartment. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was not towed and remained at the scene. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the fire. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V156000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The insurance company was not made aware of the fire. The contact was unsure if the vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unavailable.

I kept noticing a smell of gasoline. One morning when I backed up and looked forward there was a puddle. I got out, bent down and smelled it. It was gas. I backed up a little more and there was another small puddle. It also was gas. When I first saw the puddles of gas I called Volkswagen and was told there was no recall for this and that any recall that was on my vehicle has been complete (nothing to do with the fuel leak). Just this past week (5/2/15) I noticed the same smell. This time I could actually see the fuel leaking from the back passenger side and I filmed it on my cell.

Tl contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Passat. When the contact started the vehicle, there was fuel leakage and smoke appeared from the muffler. She received a recall notice for the fuel system and took the vehicle in for repair. A technician repaired the vehicle, but did not acknowledge the smoke. The contact was informed that there was no failure with the vehicle. She has not driven the vehicle since the repair because she feels it is unsafe. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 156,520.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Passat. The contact smelled fuel inside and outside the vehicle. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered fuel leaking under the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 08V156000 (fuel system), but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 49,000. Updated 11/01/16

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle after being parked overnight, he noticed a fuel odor. The contact stated that the fuel tank was half empty after being refilled. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic and was informed that the seam in the fuel tank was fractured which caused the fuel leak. The fuel tank was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

While driving on the highway, we started smelling gasoline in the cabin. We pulled over and checked under the hood. A fuel line attached to the firewall had a leak directly above the exhaust system, and was spraying gasoline everywhere in the engine bay, including the catalytic converter and exhaust system. We were informed by tow truck driver that we were incredibly lucky no fire got started in the engine bay while we were driving down the highway.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the transmission was fractured and there was fuel leaking. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.

Our Volkswagen dealer (martens Volkswagen) was initially contacted for service when an engine light came on my 2000 Passat gls wagon that said "emissions workshop". They said they couldn't take a look at the car for about two weeks because it wasn't a serious problem and we should just keep driving it. After a few more days of driving the car, we smelled gasoline fumes coming from the engine compartment (while driving, not while starting). We then insisted that martens look at the problem immediately. The mechanic said that all four fuel injectors were leaking fuel through the side of the injectors into the engine compartment and needed replacing. He claimed that something in the gasoline was melting the seals. The car has only 33,421 miles on it. It has had regular service at Volkswagen dealers and was only filled up with 93 octane gasoline bought in the us as required by Volkswagen. …

While backing up out of a parking spot in July of 2004, I began to smell gas very strongly in the cabin of my 2000 v6 Passat and immediately stopped and got out to see what was causing the smell. For unknown reasons, the car was randomly and visibly leaking gasoline onto the ground just in front of the fuel filter on the passenger side. It leaked gasoline in puddles and the engine began running 'lean' almost immediately, with significant valve clatter. Due to the serious safety risk posed by the profuse gasoline leak, I immediately turned off the car and had it towed to a reputable vw dealer in a nearby town. Upon inspection at the dealer, the fuel line had clearly split on the top side just in front of the fuel filter....for no apparent reason. I submitted a complaint and a reimbursement request to Volkswagen of America re. …

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints in other Passat years