Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I just bought my daughter a new "used" vehicle. Because it is over 5 years old, the vehicle is sold "as is" - no warranty. Since getting the car home, in the first 120 miles I drove, not 1, but 2 window regulators broke creating a load crashing noise and a safety concern. The noise caused me to brake suddenly since I did not know where the noise came from. Fortunately, the vehicles behind were able to stop without crashing, but it was a very unsafe condition. The car is in the repair shop right now and the estimated repair is cost $501.75. I have been driving for 35 years and in my lifetime, I have never seen a vehicle have 2 window regulator failures within a one hour time span, also within a 20 mile driving span. It seem to me this is a defective part and should be recalled and replaced by volkswagon. All this after I just spent $7000.00 for this vehicle. …
Purchased my 2000 Passat in 2003, had numerous problems since. It seemed like everything on the car had to be replaced. The control arms, o2 sensors, twice, belts, stereo didn't turn on, all new hoses right away, all 4 window regulators, and now to top it all off, the ABS lights kept coming on. My husband has a 2000 Audi a4, virtually the same car, and had to replace all of the same things. The ABS seemed to work fine, but the dealer said it would be $1800 to fix it. I looked at some online forums and found thousands of people with similar problems. The manufacturer, (Bosch or Volkswagen, should do something about this. My car has been parked since August 2006 because I don't have money to fix it! I am college student. Help!
On raising the window, the glass falls into the door without warning. This happens with both front and rear doors, driver and passenger sides. Each time, the diagnosis is the same: the "regulator" failed. Repairs cost approximately $400 per window. My wife and I own identical cars and of the eight windows, four have failed. After roughly $1600 for the four windows, I'm losing patience. A coworker owns a similar car and has had the same problem.
One of the passenger rear windows into fell into the door random on day, had to replace the window regulator. Eventually within the next two months the passenger side window and driver rear window also became defective, falling into the door and their regulators had to be replace. A recall should be issued, clearly this is a defect vw needs to take care of as many others with same car are having this same issue.
I needed to replace the rear driver side window regulator on my 2000 vw Passat. A week ago I the rear passenger side window regulator failed. Today my front passenger regulator failed. This seemed like a little more than bad luck. It turns out I'm not the only vw owner who has had extremely bad luck with their window regulators.
2000 Passat - 82000 miles - front right power window - regulator failed allowing window to drop into door. Technician found plastic part which rides in track broken and pieces in door. Vw has similar problem in mulitple vehicles. Extended warranty issued to cover repair on other vehicles but not on Passat.
9/2003: headlights aimed incorrectly; road wasn't illuminated. Within 2 wks, 1 of the bulbs burned out. Within a week of the 1st, the 2nd bulb burned out. Cost to have headlights repositioned & bulbs replaced: $267. 9/2003: rear tail light out. Cost to have bulb replaced by mechanic: $32.50. 11/2003: both rear windows off track. Cost to tear doors apart & fix: $159.75. 12/2003: electrical problems with front power windows. Never know if window will go up or down. 2004: had car in for (at least) 3 different dashboard warning codes. One had something to do with fuel, or the fuel tank or something. After some trial and error on my mechanic's part, discovered that unscrewing and tightly rescrewing gas cap fixed the problem. Cost to diagnose and "fix": $165. Had (at least) two other warning codes in 2004 that required me to take the car in. …
I have had my 2000 vw Passat for a little over two years and it has been a money pit! I have had so many problems since a month or so after I bought my car. I bought the car from a private party, test drove the car, had it checked out by a mechanic, and I have put thousands of dollars into the car. I bought the car just before my senior year in high school thinking I made a wonderful choice, and I had to replace a new right side boot just after a month of owning the car. The check engine light/ABS/airbag kept coming on and beeping at me, and I had to buy a whole new brain to the car over $1500. I had to replace the timing belt way before the mile warranty, oil leaks which ruined some wires, new shocks/shock absorbers, now the window will go part way down, but will no longer go up... And my headlights are fogged up which I have noticed on all other 2000 passats...! …
Am I filing this report in the correct place? I have a 2000 vw Passat. Three of the 4 windows have dropped into the door. Options: costs $350 each to fix or $60 to have mechanic freeze window in place, creating a safety hazard. Many May go this route as their only option. Considering it myself. The regulator is the same one used in the vw jetta and these have been recalled. The window regulators in the Passat need to be recalled also. Concerned for the safety of my teenage drivers who May need to lower the window (front passenger) in times of poor visibility.
Sun roof leaks - drains cleaned by dealer twice - still leaking. Driver's seat back moves forward when brake applied. Dealer claims this is normal. Seat back can be moved by hand. Car has vibration and steering wheel shakes at most speeds. Dealer claims tires are the problem. However, tires have been inspected twice (at my expense) by independent dealers who state tires are o.k. Wheels rebalanced, front end aligned, (all at my expense) and proplem persists. Vw refuses to help claiming problem is related to tires.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Passat years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2000 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2000 Volkswagen Passat, 4% of the model year's 507 complaints. The component named most often is power window devices and controls (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Volkswagen Passat window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2000 Volkswagen Passat, though it has 3 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 Passat window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.