1999 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Jetta years
- More complaints than other years 13th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 349 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta. That ranks 13th out of 32 Jetta model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (81 complaints, 23%), typically at around 76,000 miles. Complaints mention 33 crashes, 9 fires, 29 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.
- 349owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 33complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Volkswagen Jetta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility problems | 81 | 23% | 76,000 | “window fell” (20%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 78 | 22% | 85,000 | “mass air flow” (12%) | — |
| Electrical System | 44 | 13% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 30 | 9% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 30 | 9% | 69,950 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 29 | 8% | 89,713 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 | 7% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 25 | 7% | 90,068 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 24 | 7% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 5% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 17 | 5% | 34,383 | — | — |
| Suspension | 12 | 3% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 3% | 129,217 | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 2% | 61,258 | — | — |
| Equipment | 7 | 2% | 54,700 | — | — |
| Seats | 7 | 2% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 1% | 105,146 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 0% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | 53,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v-265 or 04v-096.
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 november 27, 2006. 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.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
Risk: If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
Fix: This recall has been superceded by 06v-183. Owners who have had a remedy performed under this recall should return to their dealer for the redesigned remedy. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.8l vr6 engines fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the recommended cold tire inflation pressure published on the label for tires of the size 205/50 r15 86h is 0.1 bar (1.45 psi) too low. It should be 2.5 bar (36.3 psi). The label recommends 2.4 bar (34.8 psi = 35 psi).
Risk: Under inflated tires can affect vehicle handling, and driving with substantialy under inflated tires puts the consumer at a risk for a crash.
Fix: Owners will be provided with corrected labels, or a dealer can install the label if the owner wishes. Owner notification began september 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact vw at 1-800-893-5298.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
Problem: On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates.
Risk: Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the event of tire disintegration. Owner notification began june 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Structure:frame and members
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles do not comply with the head injury criterion requirements of fmvss no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." the upper retainer clip near the bp1 impact location is designed to break when impacted by the head form. In some cases, the material of the trim part may be more impact resistant as a result of variations in the molding process.
Risk: This condition could prevent the clip from breaking on impact and result in less deformation in the impacted area and a higher decleration of the head form, increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.
Structure:frame and members
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The sound absorbing mat attached to the inside of the b-pillar side trim panel could have been improperly installed. Surface and edges of the mat could have been damaged during the assembly process. It could ignite when exposed to the exhaust gas of the seat belt pre-tensioner igniter in the event of a severe front or side collision.
Risk: This could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will remove the matting materials from inside the b-pillar on both sides of the vehicle.
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
- Brake light switch failure (RQ06004) — opened Feb 28, 2006, closed Aug 7, 2006, led to recall 06V183000.
- Brake light switch (RQ03010) — opened Dec 17, 2003, closed Mar 1, 2004, led to recall 04V096000.
- Fuel tank puncture (EA00028) — opened Dec 28, 2000, closed Jan 29, 2002, led to recall 02V026000.
- Fuel tank puncture (PE00033) — opened Aug 10, 2000, closed Dec 28, 2000.
- Passenger compartment fire (PE99007) — opened Jan 29, 1999, closed Feb 8, 1999, led to recall 99V022000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Would like to know if there is any recalls on my jetta. I check engine light comes on. I took it to 4 repair shop and no one could find whats wrong with it. I've paid over 1200 on other repairs. What can i do . *tr thanks christina
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, smoke began to fill the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle and saw that smoke was bellowing from beneath the steering column. The smoke disappeared after some time. The contact then…
The vw vehicle is programmed to cripple the engine performance and speed in case of an epc fault. Any fault causing a rich or lean condition will cause this "limp mode". This is a safety issue especially people on the highway going 65-75mph and a 80,000 pound tractor trailer behind them as one…
The middle rear seatbelt locks up and will not release. The seatbelt locking mechanism is located in the seat in an inaccessible location and is also not available to release the seatbelt. *tr
1999.5 volkswagen jetta gls vr6, always getting dtc codes of p1117, p0140, p1198, p1472, p1435, p0102, p0343, p1421.. That always says about open or short circuit conditions and poor electrical connections, and short to grounds for electrical, which is all electrical problems, if you search online…
Other Volkswagen Jetta years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jetta | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 Jetta | 30 | 2 |
| 2024 Jetta | 45 | 0 |
| 2023 Jetta | 43 | 0 |
| 2022 Jetta | 43 | 1 |
| 2021 Jetta | 69 | 4 |
| 2020 Jetta | 54 | 6 |
| 2019 Jetta | 549 | 11 |
| 2018 Jetta | 31 | 2 |
| 2017 Jetta | 160 | 6 |
| 2016 Jetta | 161 | 4 |
| 2015 Jetta | 194 | 7 |
| 2014 Jetta | 387 | 4 |
| 2013 Jetta | 517 | 4 |
| 2012 Jetta | 500 | 5 |
| 2011 Jetta | 607 | 7 |
| 2010 Jetta | 852 | 4 |
| 2009 Jetta | 889 | 6 |
| 2008 Jetta | 188 | 4 |
| 2007 Jetta | 201 | 4 |
| 2006 Jetta | 580 | 4 |
| 2005 Jetta | 248 | 4 |
| 2004 Jetta | 231 | 2 |
| 2003 Jetta | 456 | 2 |
| 2002 Jetta | 702 | 5 |
| 2001 Jetta | 668 | 6 |
| 2000 Jetta | 439 | 4 |
| 1999 | 349 | 6 |
| 1998 Jetta | 192 | 2 |
| 1997 Jetta | 54 | 1 |
| 1996 Jetta | 31 | 1 |
| 1995 Jetta | 220 | 4 |
See all Volkswagen Jetta 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 Jetta?
Owners most often report visibility, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 81 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Jetta model years, the 1999 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.