2000 Volkswagen New Beetle: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 28, 2004 · Electrical · 36,000 miles · NC

The 2000 new beetle that my husband and I purchased apparently has a defect in the electrical system. We purchased the car in february 2003. At that time there were no problems. The first time I put gas in the car the check engine light came on. My husband contacted a local volkswagen dealer to see about getting it fixed. He was told that this was a normal problem. If the gas cap wasn't put back on and clicked at least seven times, the light would come on. He was instructed to remove the gas cap, put it back on and turn it until there had been seven clicks. After that, we were supposed to do a cold start to make the light go off. This worked, but we have had to do it several times. The light will come on and go off, even though there are no engine problems. I have had another mechanic look at the car, and was told there were no problems with the engine, so it had to be a problem in the electrical system. After seeing some of the complaints that have been posted, I am worried about the possibility of the car stalling, malfunctioning, or, as in some of the other complaints have shown, the car catching on fire. I feel that the volkswagen company needs to really examine this issue. We had to have a sensor replaced for the braking system earlier this year that was under recall, and we only got it done because we were at the dealership for routine maintenance. We had not received a recall notice at all. I don't feel that the volkswagen company is concerned about any of the problems that are going on with this model. It is very distressing to think that I am stuck with a car that isn't worth what I paid for it because of defective equipment. This problem with the check engine is ongoing and I am not pleased with the response I have gotten from the dealer. It hasn't made the problem go away.

Filed Apr 8, 2003 · Electrical · GA · fire

My 2000 volkswagen new beetle glx caught fire fifteen minutes after I parked it in my garage, causing the destruction of the garage, the beetle, and two other cars.

Filed Jun 2, 2002 · Electrical · MA · fire

At 4:20pm on 5/28/02 my wife was on interstate 95 near georgetown, ma on the way to the dealership in amesbuy for service because the car's airconditioner had quit and some of the dashboard indicator lights would not stop flashing. Suddenly she saw smoke in the rearview mirror and pulled the car over to the side of the road. Then more smoke came from under the hood, so she got out of the car. Minutes later the car was engulfed in flames and black smoke. Ten minutes later it was completely destroyed. The georgetown fire department and state police had responded, but by the time they got there, there was nothing they could do. We have not contacted volkswagen directly because we feel they would not be responsive. Maybe the insurance company or the federal safety agency can force the manufacturer to look into this, since this seems to be happening to other 2000 beetles as well, and sooner or later someone will be seriously injured or killed because of this apparent defect.

Filed Jan 13, 2002 · Electrical · CA · fire

Car was parked and caught fire-total loss, was this an electrical failure or vandalism.

Filed Jan 4, 2002 · Electrical · MA · fire

On 12/27/01 while driving my 2000 vw beetle to work all the dashboard lights started to flash and make a clicking sound. I then smelled wires burning. I got out of my car , called my husband as I was not expecting the car to catch on fire. Within minutes I noticed smoke and then flames coming from beneath the drivers side dash. I then called 911 but the car was fully engulfed in flames by the time the f.d. Got there. The fire station is aprox. 1 mile from the incident. Vw has been deaf to my complaint.

Filed Dec 27, 2001 · Electrical · MA · fire

Car began to hesitate but did not stall. All panel lights began to flash, also a ''clicking'' sound. There also was a smell of burning wires. The car became fully engulfed in flame in less than 10 minutes. The fire began on drivers side.