1999 Volkswagen GTI Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other GTI years
- Not enough data 25th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Volkswagen GTI. That ranks 25th out of 31 GTI model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 25%), typically at around 67,380 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 8owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Volkswagen GTI problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 25% | 67,380 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 13% | 67,380 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 13% | 118,861 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 13% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Volkswagen GTI recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through september 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the vin number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with gasoline engines and double-layer fuel tanks, tension on the fuel supply line may cause the fuel pump supply nipple to crack which could result in a leak.
Risk: Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, may cause a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel supply line for tension, and inspect the fuel pump supply nipple for cracking. If necessary the fuel line and the fuel pump will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on july 25, 2005. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel pump leaks (PE04079) — opened Nov 29, 2004, closed Apr 19, 2005, led to recall 05V154000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Airbag malfunction. This is the 5th time the passenger side, side-air-bag attenuator on my 1999 vw gti (new gti) has needed service. First time was just after car went off warranty. Vw regional agreed to pay. About 18 months later, same problem -- had to call vw regional to mount the case for them…
I noticed that my speedometer was not properly functioning so i went to the vw dealership and they told me that i had a coolant leak and coolant migration. The coolant apparently migrated through the wiring harness to short my instrument cluster. The entire wire harness and part of my instrument…
The rear center seat belt of my 1999.5 volkswagen gti trapped a passenger in my car. Upon exiting the vehicle, the rear center seat belt locked up and would no longer retract or extend, which left a passenger stuck in my car recently (it was necessary to unbolt the seat belt to free the passenger)…
Safety recall uu 1999-2000 model volkswagen golf and gti vehicles equipped with a gasoline engine inspect fuel supply module for leaks and install connector on fuel line; replace fuel supple module if necessary. *mr while driving home the consumer felt a bump and heard a cracking sound. The…
This is a know part failure for all 1999.5-2001 volkswagens. No safety defect listed. *ak
Other Volkswagen GTI years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 GTI | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 GTI | 29 | 2 |
| 2023 GTI | 6 | 5 |
| 2022 GTI | 28 | 6 |
| 2021 GTI | 4 | 1 |
| 2020 GTI | 8 | 3 |
| 2019 GTI | 179 | 4 |
| 2018 GTI | 17 | 3 |
| 2017 GTI | 52 | 2 |
| 2016 GTI | 66 | 4 |
| 2015 GTI | 97 | 6 |
| 2014 GTI | 10 | 1 |
| 2013 GTI | 34 | 2 |
| 2012 GTI | 40 | 2 |
| 2011 GTI | 55 | 2 |
| 2010 GTI | 53 | 1 |
| 2009 GTI | 167 | 2 |
| 2008 GTI | 67 | 1 |
| 2007 GTI | 77 | 1 |
| 2006 GTI | 43 | 2 |
| 2005 GTI | 8 | 1 |
| 2004 GTI | 7 | 1 |
| 2003 GTI | 53 | 1 |
| 2002 GTI | 124 | 2 |
| 2001 GTI | 74 | 2 |
| 2000 GTI | 45 | 3 |
| 1999 | 8 | 2 |
| 1998 GTI | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 GTI | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 GTI | 9 | 1 |
| 1995 GTI | 18 | 2 |
See all Volkswagen GTI problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Volkswagen GTI?
Owners most often report electrical system, visibility, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Volkswagen GTI?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Volkswagen GTI a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other GTI model years, the 1999 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.