2000 Volkswagen Beetle electrical problems

Filed Jul 13, 2025 · Electrical · MS

Terminal Box above battery has a black wire that get extremely hot and melts in its receptacle in the terminal box. Have replaced the terminal box and that one was also melted within a few days after installation of the new box.

Filed Apr 15, 2018 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · OR

Electrical surges...blows fuse block...melts down fuse block. Replaced fuse block above the battery three times since owning the car. Car was being used in the city.

Filed Jan 8, 2017 · Electrical · 148,000 miles · NC

His complaint consists of a 2000 volkswagen beetle, in which it doesn't apply to any warranty whats so ever. Whether it's a new vehicle or not. The problem is with the switchblade programmable type key with remote. Volkswagen has known about the problem with these type keys for sometime but has failed the consumers and the government to provide a solution to the problem. They instead take the approach, which profit outweighs the consumers, they put profit before consumers, and safety. These keys produce a ''danger'' to not only the consumers but everyone on the highways around them the safety and marksmanship of the key can break off during use, so if this happens during a crash, the consumer would be unable to turn off the vehicle which again produces an immediate ''danger''. The remote switchblade key is only secured by a very cheap made plastic. It's very poorly designed and made. If the encasing that holds the key was made out of metal or aluminum this would solve the problem. Another problem with the key, is that volkswagen made the key programmable with a chip, so the key has to be cut down the middle, and programmed, which means the vehicle has to be connected to a computer at the dealership and usually takes about one hour at a cost of $245.00. It's very obvious that the manufacture does this for pure profit, and to deter the consumer from going elsewhere to have such key made. I urge the federal safety agency to take immediate action to eliminate anyone from being injured or killed. These emails will be kept as proof and for the record that this very ''important and safety issue'' has been sent to you as evidence, for future lawsuits etc concerning this matter. Happened while driving.

Filed Feb 28, 2016 · Electrical · 146,000 miles · VA · fire

I was driving this car and just stalled on an intersection and smoke just came out under the hood and I smelled it too, opened the hood and fuse box had melted which is located on top of battery and fire inside the engine compartment, under the battery has been burning and also melted the wires.

Filed Dec 23, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 110,000 miles · TX

Fuse box on top of battery melted.

Filed May 2, 2015 · Electrical · 118,000 miles · CA · fire

My daughter's car was being driven by my niece on the freeway when the light went on signaling it was over heating so she pulled over to a call box and while she was making the call for assistance she heard a pop pop and the front hood was on fire and a man pulled over and tried to put it out with his extinguisher which didn't work and the whole car went up in flames within a matter of minutes. It was completely burned up which also burned down the call box on the freeway. She had just spent aproximately $1, 400 on repairs on the car which was mainly on the cooling system.

Filed Feb 21, 2015 · Airbags, Brakes · IN

I bought this car for my grandson to drive to work..the guy I bought it from swore it was in excellent shape, that his daughter drove it to school etc......when we got it, I took it to the volkswagen dealer to make sure it was safe for my grandson to drive, they began to find things wrong and the cost was mounting up and up and they even had us take it home only to take it right back because it had no heat (and its very cold here) so they worked on it some more...bottom line is so far they have charged me 3 times what I paid for it and when I looked it up on line, every thing they did was a recall....my question to you is..how long are the recalls good for and I find it hard to believe the guy was appraised of them or he wouldn't have let his daughter drive it like that ....I have the paperwork right here where it shows 9 recalls and 62 service bulletins...please advise me of my option as I could have bought him a much nicer car for what I have in this!!! Thank you so much for your time [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 24, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · NY · fire

The fuse box atop the battery melted on 2/18/2009 causing a fire in the engine compartment. Repairs including new fuse box and other damaged parts cost me $1500.00. On 7/15/2011 the fuse box melted causing A/C to stop working. The outside temperature at the time was in the high 90's during a prolonged heat wave in the north east. Cost to repair $400.00. On 5/18/2014 once again the fuse box melted, cost to repair and replace $700. Two days later the repair (5/20/2014) the car went dead in traffic caused by a drained battery cost of towing $150.00 + new fuse box melted. In checking vw owners forums available on the internet, this is a common problem and complaint (fuse box melting) in the vw product line. Why hasn't vw been fined and ordered to recall their defective cars?

Filed Aug 15, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · 95,600 miles · FL

The transmission mechanically failed on 3 june 2013. Prior to it failing I had taken the vehicle to three different vw repair shop over a four year period, due to the car suddenly downshifting all the way to first gear. The car will drive normally for about 30 minutes, then start having this downshifting issue, I pull over and let the car cool a few minutes then all is normal again for a short period of time. Of course with the downshifting the tranny tends to overheat quickly. I wanted to get the oil changed in the tranny, but all repair centers said, "it's a sealed system and never needs and oil change;" also the vw repair techs test drove the car and analyzed it, could find nothing wrong. My experience with vw service on everything is, their mechanics are parts changers only and don't have any real diagnostic capability to find the problem, just replace parts until they fix the problem at the customers expense; I've spent about $10,000 on repairs for A/C, brakes, transmission, etc. Finally, the car failed fortunately across the street from a mr. Transmission shop. Per mr. Transmission specialist, the tranny failed due to lubrication failure probably from over heating and high mileage; so much for the "never needs an oil change policy." mr. Transmission rebuilt the tranny (out $3400), and state the problem is electrical not the transmission, and vw is famous for electrical issues and always have been. Needless to say mr. Transmission has not been able to find the problem, and they have rebuilt the tranny twice just to make sure the problem is not in the transmission. Word to the wise, never buy a vw; I'll never own another one.

Filed Feb 19, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · MN

Headlights keep going out. I have to replace them about every three months.