2000 Volkswagen Jetta: engine overheating

Filed Jan 25, 2017 · Engine · 192,000 miles · WA · fire

I was driving in traffic around 35 MPH. Saw smoke in my rearview mirror so immediately pulled off to side of road. The car wasnt overheating, and no warning lights came on until after I began slowing down to pull over. As I stopped and turned off the car, I realized the engine compartment was on fire, I grabbed my phone and called 911 as I got away from the vehicle.

Filed May 7, 2009 · Brakes, Engine · 103,000 miles · TX

Since vehicle was purchased, there has been numerous problems and issues with the vehicle. The most troublesome and expensive is the cooling system. I have had 3 different repair shops look at it and "fix it" only to have the car do the same thing. The temperature gauge does not indicate that the car is overheating, however, it must be. I have been stranded multiple times (almost everyday in my commute to from work and school), after I sit in traffic over 20 minutes, out of nowhere the radiator cap blows off the cooling reservoir spilling the liquid all over the engine and causing the car to smoke. I have even burned had a second degree burn from having to pull over and opening the trunk so I can refill after it cools. Someone has yet to figure out what is wrong with the vehicle. The check engine light has been on for years, again only to have multiple people look at it, and not have the problem solved. I will crank the engine but the car will die out. But if I hit the speed control to set the speed it will stay on. The car will hesitate and I will start off slow then it will go at normal speed. Last but not least I have gotten pulled over 3 times in the last 3 weeks because the brake lights go out. I have replaced these brake lights all recently but they will burn out within days with out me knowing. It is horrible vehicle, I have spent a lot of money trying to get it repaired. Everytime it goes in the shop is for days I have to get a rental car everytime. Enough to say that the car rental people know me by name! My job and school are affected by this each and everytime. I suffer from anxiety every time I get in the car because I don't know what will happen next! It is stressful and ridiculous having to deal with this. Please help!

Filed Jul 15, 2008 · Engine · 155,000 miles · RI · fire

My 2000 vw jetta was being driven today by my fiance on 295 south in rhode island. He noticed the coolant light come on, and so looked at the temp gauge and saw that it had not risen any higher than normal. After keeping an eye on the gauge for a few minutes, he noticed it suddenly drop to 0 and so he pulled over, figuring a hose had broken or something to that extent. When he exited the vehicle he noticed some black smoke coming out from under the hood, and the hood itself starting to bubble from the heat. The car itself burst into flames at that point and my fiance had to back away from it immediately for fear that it would explode. The car had recently been inspected and was working perfectly fine except for a small coolant leak up until today, so we have no idea what caused such a sudden combustion. No one was hurt, thankfully, but it was only a matter of minutes before the car went from operating normally to being completely engulfed in flames, so he could very well have been hurt or worse. The fire dept and state police arrived and secured the area, which included blocking traffic completely on the highway for fear of an explosion, and put out the fire. The car was completely burned beyond recognition.

Filed Jan 9, 2007 · Engine · MA · fire

Owner's son was driving volkswagen and it started overheating. During the course of the evening, he tried a few times to let car cool down and then continue driving, but the engine would continue to overheat. He managed to continue driving and noticed smoke coming from the back of the volkswagen. He shut the engine off and coasted to a stop. He got out and noticed sparks dripping from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle became engulfed in fire. Cause undetermined, but spark plugs showed evidence of a rich air/fuel mixture.

Filed Jan 5, 2007 · Engine · MA · fire

Owner tried to start engine after vehicle sitting unused for one week. Engine would not start, so owner jump-started it and let it run approximately 5 minutes. Owner then drove vehicle approximately 8 minutes and noticed smoke coming from the center console and the right front of the vehicle. Pulled over and called the fire department. Exhaust system was overheated and showed blue heat discoloration. Plastics and carpet on center floor of passenger compartment were burned.

Filed Jun 7, 2005 · Engine · PA

Car temperture gauge suddenly shot up to 230 degrees this particular morning. The vehicle usually signals us if there is something wrong I.e. Brake light, engine light, oil, etc. Without prior warning and knot knowing why this is happening the car was driven to the dealership instead of the intended destination. The customer service rep at dealeship guestimated that a water pump needed replaced which is causing the vehicle to overheat. The car could not be serviced that day due to prior appointments of the dearlership. The car was driven back home until late sunday evening when the car was driven back to the dealership for possible repair monday morning. Car was smoking and then tunred off. The car was towed to the dealership monday evening. As of tuesday 6/7/05 the mechanins at the dealership report that the car cannot be repaired due to the hoses melting into the engine. The car was serviced several times prior to the incident at the same dearlership, once even for inspection in february 2005 and this repair was never mentioned. Since feb. The car has been serviced for oil changes and several minor repairs needed such as mirror, cup holder, tires, etc. Prior to the incident the car was driven over 300 miles and no warning light or signal was given. Now the car is unrepairable. The dearlership claims that a 2000 vw jetta is only worth 1500 dollars!

Filed Jun 4, 2004 · Engine · MD

Took car for routine oil change. Was informed that there was a crack in the engine block and that the entire engine needs to be replaced. This was confirmed by a vw dealer, however, no one seems to know why the engine block would get a crack. In fact, the dealer told me that they had only ever seen this incident once before. My car had never overheated or anything prior to this. The car is now sitting in my garage because I cannot do anything with it. It cannot be sold and I can't afford $7100 for a new engine. In fact the car is not even worth that much. This is not the first problem that I have had with the car...there have been numerous other things (such as the check engine light/mass air flow sensor, fuel tank had to be replace twice, the trunk latch broke one day, the rear breaks had premature wear, glove box latch broke). These are poorly constructed vehicles. I wish I could get rid of it.

Filed Oct 21, 2003 · Brakes, Electrical · 45,000 miles · NM

Vehicle suffered a lost of power when check engine light illuminates.*mr on march 7 2002 university vw discovered a defective airflow meter. The windshield was replaced for a cracked rain drain. The brake servo was changed for a pin hole air leak. Consumer was told that the glow plug harness might be the cause as to why the brake lights come on. The hazard switch switched on and off distressing other drivers behind. Replaced the hazard relay switch (on the dash) by myself. Back brake pad wore down to the rivets. Vehicle overheated on 3 occasions had pressure test and thermostat changed and problem still exist.*ts

Filed Feb 8, 2002 · Brakes · VA

1. The rear brake line snapped off while installing new pads. The brake line snapped a clean cut, no bends etc. The brake line appeared to be very brittle and was probably a result of metal fatigue or faulty original equipment. It should be noted that the rear brake pads were completely worn out at just 33964 miles while the front pads appeared to be nearly new. This is a reverse in normal wear out patterns and was probably caused by the calipers overheating/locked up etc. 2. The rear brake pads were completely worn out after only 33964 miles of which most of the travel was on non-stop on interstate highways. Either the rear brake pads were defective or there is something wrong with the design of the vw jetta, which caused the rear pads to wear out long before the front.

Filed Oct 9, 2001 · Transmission · CA

In oct 2000 my car overheated, I reported this to vw and they made some adjustments, I also reported a noise from the left front like a whining noise, this was attributed to a failure in the transmission, vw did repairs to ring and pinion gears and differential bearings, noise subsided for a few weeks. The warning: check coolant light came on again several months later, reported problem to vw and I was instructed to add water to raise coolant level. In sept. 2001, I reported air conditioning failure, vw determined cooling system had problem, replaced coolant fan and secondary water pump, I also reported return of whining noise. Car has now been at vw in glendale, ca since 10/2/2001, dealer has replaced left front axel and drive shaft, still whining, replaced transmission. I picked up car, drove 5 miles and car slipped out of gear and now does not run. Returned via tow truck to vw dealer in glendale, ca. Vw replacing value box on 10/9/2001 technician said "in my opinion this will not elevate problem" car now has intermitant problem with staying in gear. Technician also reported that vw jettas glx with vr6 engine have transmission problems and dealer has replaced up to 4 transmissions in one car in several cases. Vw dealer and vw of america customer relations department have been notified.