1999 Volkswagen Jetta
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Volkswagen › Jetta › 1999
These records cover every 1999 Volkswagen Jetta. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
7 recalls name the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta. Newest first.
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
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 and remedy
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.
Remedy
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.
On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle IS parked.
Remedy
This recall has been superceded by 06v-183.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.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Under inflated tires can affect vehicle handling, and driving with substantialy under inflated tires puts the consumer at a risk for a crash.
Remedy
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.
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 and remedy
Risk
Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.
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…
Risk and remedy
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.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
This could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the matting materials from inside the b-pillar on both sides of the vehicle.
Owner complaints
349 complaints33 involved a crash9 involved a fire29 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine · Fuel system, gasoline · Suspension
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
- Air bags · Electrical system
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…
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 attempted to restart the vehicle and the air bag deployed independently. The manufacturer was notified and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for inspection and the contact was awaiting the results. The failure and current mileage was 115,144.
- Electrical system · Engine · Vehicle speed control
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 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 person experienced. there are too many non-vital component failures to list that can cause this fault. I refer to non-vital meaning the component failure will not harm the driver of the car. The fault light indication isn't enough? Now they have the right to force you into a repair shop and buy more VW parts. I feel that this IS a money making scam endangering our lives. We do not put a halt on this now- soon any fault will cripple our cars. It's not just VW (hyundai did a similar "limp mode"). *tr
- Seat belts
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
- Electrical system · Electronic stability control (esc) · Fuel system, gasoline
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…
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 them codes you will see numerous people with the same problems, and as well as alot of us have to buy the parts that IS listed and problems still aren't fixed, which tells us its an electrical issue, not issues with the parts, which causes our #43 fuse blow alot, and alot of hesitation and stalling, I cant even turn around a corner or to get off the highway without stalling, please fix these problems, its happening to way to many of us and it IS also an safety issue. *tt
- Engine and engine cooling · Power train
The transmission on my jetta takes long to shift ## vin passed ## volkswagen,jetta,1999 ## *kb
- Seat belts
1999 volkswagen jetta, rear middle passenger seat belt has become tightened to the point that it won't release. It seems that each time the seat back was lowered to increase the cargo area of the trunk, the belt tightens more. *tr
- Seat belts
In my 99.5 VW jetta GLS the middle rear seat belt has tightened and will not release. I have taken it to a repair shop and have had them work on it and normally they can get it to release. However once it IS released, it can't be used b/c the next time I go to use the seat belt and pull it out it…
In my 99.5 VW jetta GLS the middle rear seat belt has tightened and will not release. I have taken it to a repair shop and have had them work on it and normally they can get it to release. However once it IS released, it can't be used b/c the next time I go to use the seat belt and pull it out it locks again. The seat can't be used. It has also made it impossible to lay down the back seats, or once I lay it flat the seat can't be returned to the up right position. *tr
- Structure
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that whenever it rained, excessive amounts of water leaked into the vehicle. The contact did not specify where the leak was located inside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but it was not repaired. The…
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that whenever it rained, excessive amounts of water leaked into the vehicle. The contact did not specify where the leak was located inside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but it was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was told that they could not discuss the failure with him due to a pending lawsuit. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000 and the current mileage was unavailable.
- Vehicle speed control
While driving on rt. 495 near exit 19, I took my foot off the accelerator and I felt my speed continue to increase. I stepped on the brake and my speed continued to increase. I downshifted and when I let the clutch out we really took off. depressing the brake had no effect. with the clutch…
While driving on rt. 495 near exit 19, I took my foot off the accelerator and I felt my speed continue to increase. I stepped on the brake and my speed continued to increase. I downshifted and when I let the clutch out we really took off. depressing the brake had no effect. with the clutch depressed, managed to pull on to the shoulder and stopped. as I reached for the key, the engine shuddered and died. I was unable to restart the car and had to be towed. the result of this incident was that the engine self-destructed and had to be replaced. there were no trouble codes in the ecm and the tps showed no defects when tested. *Tr
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Brake lamps were operating correctly on 11/22/2009 and on 11/23/2009 they ceased working. Checked with nhtsa to see if open recall was open none but wanted to make known the issue since there have been two recalls in the pass for the same issue. *Tr
- Visibility
VW window fell off track in to bottom of the door. *Tr
- Equipment · Seats
Recently my 1999 VW jetta passenger's seat back caught fire, burning from insider the seat back, the seat and my husband's winter coat (i have pictures I can send) while we were driving in a snow storm down I-93. the VW dealers I went to see, let alone my call to VW north america, were asked to…
Recently my 1999 VW jetta passenger's seat back caught fire, burning from insider the seat back, the seat and my husband's winter coat (i have pictures I can send) while we were driving in a snow storm down I-93. the VW dealers I went to see, let alone my call to VW north america, were asked to provide a replacement seat, to check the electrical connections, etc. The response was almost uniform as to nothing they could do, never seen this before, not within warranty, etc. Now my insurance company IS asking for $500 deductible for me to pay for this replacement! My insurance guy and the head of service at wellesley VW both said in all their years, they have never seen anything this bad. but what really gets my goat IS that the fire was a serious, life-threatening hazard; there are many cases the internet of jettas' seats catching fire ' but not one recall like they did with the passat a few years back. I have owned vws since 1987 when I got my license; my parents since 1953. I consider myself brand-loyal but am now baffled as to their uniform, unhelpful responses. I need some guidance, let alone help to have them fix this problem. someone might have been killed had the seat fully caught fire or my husband was wearing something other than leather that takes longer to smolder than, let's say, fleece. it seems to me that this IS their "liability", and they should make good on correcting the situation. *Tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Coolant system external leak was fixed, hoses replaced and connector that attaches to engine was replaced also. Leak comes back , replaced another hose., then the worse starts, the heater core started leaking and the car started to smell like antifreeze. Got heater core replaced, but the inside of…
Coolant system external leak was fixed, hoses replaced and connector that attaches to engine was replaced also. Leak comes back , replaced another hose., then the worse starts, the heater core started leaking and the car started to smell like antifreeze. Got heater core replaced, but the inside of the car smells horrible,.every time I drive my 1999 jetta, I get this metallic taste in my mouth and throat. The stuff IS definitely toxic, and the af container reads poisonous. Becomes a torture to drive my jetta I hate the metallic taste in my mouth. The design off some of the heating system includes plastic components that may not take the heat well specially at the point of contact with the engine. Did some online research and found similar cases with internal antifreeze leaks on VW jettas. This fumes can really ruin your driving experience not to mention the possible detriment on your health due to breathing in a contaminated atmosphere thanks for looking into this complaint. *Tr
- Seats
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen jetta. the contact has heated seats in his vehicle. the heating elements in the seats became so hot that they burned through the seat to his jacket. the dealer stated that there was no recall for the failure and the vehicle had too many miles on it for them to assist. the failure mileage was 140,000.
- Seats
In our 1999 jetta, our passenger seat warmer caught on fire, and burned through my husband's jacket. I reported to volkswagen of america and they said as it was an old car and there was never a recall, they can't help me. I read on many internet sites that this IS a problem. I have owned vws since…
In our 1999 jetta, our passenger seat warmer caught on fire, and burned through my husband's jacket. I reported to volkswagen of america and they said as it was an old car and there was never a recall, they can't help me. I read on many internet sites that this IS a problem. I have owned vws since 1986, consider myself brand-loyal but now very upset. We could have had a major fire and no one IS caring about this as the car IS 10 years old. *Tr
- Visibility
Window regulator going bad. Researched your site and found numerous complaints about this issue. Just purchased car used and was unaware of problem and of course it IS too late for any extended warranties. This problem should be reconciled regardless of timeframe. *Tr
- Air bags
Took my car to dealership to have my airbag light checked, they said that they would clear it. It was cleared, then popped up again and has since then stayed on. *tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Leak in cooling system causing migration to water pump, heater core, and engine wiring harness. having to replace all 3. car stalls at random times in busy traffic, posing potential accident problem. caused toxic fumes to come through heat vents in car. *tr
- Exterior lighting › Turn signal › Switch
The blinker on my car IS failing. it IS in the unit on the steering column. after turning a corner it will not automatically shut off. when driving it will drop down and come on sometimes. it sometimes does not want to come on and I have to push it hard. the vehicle IS a 1999.5 VW jetta. I have read on the forums also that this IS a very common problem and a very expensive fix. *tr
- Structure › Body › Bumpers
Front bumper too low, gets caught and detaches from body of car. *Tr
- Structure › Body › Bumpers
Front bumper IS way too low and scraps and gets caught on curbs. this can result in the whole front bumper coming off. The first time this happened the local dealership replaced it for free. Now they just say watch how you park. The trouble IS, you cant's tell when you drive over a curb, only when…
Front bumper IS way too low and scraps and gets caught on curbs. this can result in the whole front bumper coming off. The first time this happened the local dealership replaced it for free. Now they just say watch how you park. The trouble IS, you cant's tell when you drive over a curb, only when backing out, does the bumper catch and pull off. this IS a defect the manufacturer should fix, especially since I know my car was manufactured in mexico. *Tr
- Seat belts › Rear/other
The rear middle shoulder belt of my 1999 jetta IS constantly broken. Every time I fold the middle seat down in the back the seatbelt gets tighter and tighter and tighter. This happens until eventually the belt IS too tight for me to even fold the seat down any longer and I have to take the car in…
The rear middle shoulder belt of my 1999 jetta IS constantly broken. Every time I fold the middle seat down in the back the seatbelt gets tighter and tighter and tighter. This happens until eventually the belt IS too tight for me to even fold the seat down any longer and I have to take the car in to be worked on. Apparently it IS some "button" that IS breaking. This happens every time I try to fold the seat down and as a result I am not able to safely secure passengers in my middle seat. So far I have had this button replaced 3 times. *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that the wiring harness set overheated, melted 10-15 wires together, and shorted out the electrical system. he paid over $3,000 to replace the wiring harness set. the contact has pictures. the purchase date was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 123,000.
- Engine and engine cooling
About every 2,000 miles, the engine in my 1999 mk IV volkswagen jetta starts ticking, and I check my oil, and im a quart low. Everytime. The engine quality IS steadily declining. I have not done anything to repair this because I do not have the money, nor do I trust mechanics with the car. *tr
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Brake light switch failure
By letters dated may 24, 2006 and august 4, 2006, volkswagen (VW) notified the agency that it IS conducting a safety recall (nhtsa recall no 06v-183) involving model year (my) 1998-2002 volkswagen new beetle and 1999-2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles equipped with cruise control.volkswagen?s recall covers 646,246…
By letters dated may 24, 2006 and august 4, 2006, volkswagen (VW) notified the agency that it IS conducting a safety recall (nhtsa recall no 06v-183) involving model year (my) 1998-2002 volkswagen new beetle and 1999-2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles equipped with cruise control.volkswagen?s recall covers 646,246 vehicles.previously, VW recalled these vehicles to replace a defective brake light switch (recalls 03v-265 and 04v-096) that was unique to vehicles with cruise control.volkswagen reports that the brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during recalls 03v-265 and 04v-096.volkswagen will install a new design brake light switch.based on volkswagen's safety recall action, this investigation IS closed.
- Brake light switch
The number of duplicates between odi and manufacturer failure reports cannot be determined due to missing and or inaccurate information.the injury noted above was minor.on february 26, 2004, volkswagen of america, inc. (VW) submitted a defect notification (per 49cfr573) to the national highway traffic safety…
The number of duplicates between odi and manufacturer failure reports cannot be determined due to missing and or inaccurate information.the injury noted above was minor.on february 26, 2004, volkswagen of america, inc. (VW) submitted a defect notification (per 49cfr573) to the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) advising that certain model year (my) 1999 - 2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles manufacutured with the same brake light switch as recalled under 03v-265 (my 1998-2002 new beetle) are affected by a safety defect.specifically, if the brake light switch malfunctions, the brake lights could fail to illuminate when the brakes are applied, or could stay illuminated continually even when the brakes are not applied.either condition results in the inability of the brake lights to notify other motorists of vehicle braking, thus increasing the risk of a rear end collision and occupant injury.accordingly, volkswagen IS recalling jetta vehicles manufactured from may 1998 to november 2001 to inspect and replace free of charge any affected brake light switches.the recall program, VW code wx, will commence in april 2004.
- Fuel tank puncture
- Fuel tank puncture
The office of defects investigation opened this investigation on august 10, 2000 based on 9 reports regarding punctured fuel tanks involving the jetta, passat, and cabrio models.the reports indicate additional reports in its response to the preliminary evaluation.this investigation has been upgraded for further study.
- Passenger compartment fire
In its letter dated february 4, 1999, volkswagen stated that it will recall approximately 23,600 redesigned 1999 jetta and golf 4-door vehicles, of which approximately 11,000 have been sold to customers, to correct a defect thatmay cause a fire in the passengeer compartment after a vehicle collision.a sound insulation…
In its letter dated february 4, 1999, volkswagen stated that it will recall approximately 23,600 redesigned 1999 jetta and golf 4-door vehicles, of which approximately 11,000 have been sold to customers, to correct a defect thatmay cause a fire in the passengeer compartment after a vehicle collision.a sound insulation material attached to the inside of the b-pillar trim panel could have been improperly installed.in the event of a collision severe enough to activate the seat belt pretensioner, the hot exhaust gas from the pretensioner could ignite the insulation material if it IS too close to the pretensioner.volkswagen dealers will remove the insulation material from the b-pillars.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10243059VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10243011VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242996VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242397VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242349VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10241749Quick Reference Update Guide
- 10241340Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard VW 502 00/505 00/505 01 and VW 504 00/507 00
- 10241266Squeaks, Rattles, Noise, Repair Materials
- 10241265Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
- 10241177Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- 10240922Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections
- 10240605P0102, P1128, P1296 - WA front oxygen sensor faults
- 10240604Emissions Recall Circular - 1999-2001 Volkswagen Folf/Jetta and New Beetle 2.0 Liter Gasoline Engine Vehicles Reprogramming of Engine Control Module and Replacement of Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensor
- 102405971999-2002 Jetta, Golf and GTI with VR6 Engine Update ECM Software for Catalytic Converter Monitoring System.
- 10239831Battery, Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161, MCR340V, InCharge 940, or GRX3000 Charger
- 10239789To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine running and heated rear window switched on. Switch OFF the ignition and visually locate the damage. Proceed with checking any other lines as necessary. Once the damaged line is identified, repair utilizing the Repair kit by Permatex ITEM 09117.
- 10239592Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239591Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239590Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239541Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the Refrigerant Circuit (U.S.Only)
- 10239531HVAC, Temperature Output Control Cannot Be Adjusted
- 10239270Volkswagen Warranty Policies and Procedures ? April 2014
- 10239262In SAGA, the time units for the Volkswagen DoubleCheck labor operation were reduced in error from 50 time units to 30 time units during the system update posted on July 4th.
- 10239210Quick Reference Update Guide
- 10239202Quick Reference Update Guide
- 10238598If a customer comments that the key cannot be removed from the ignition when the transmission is in PARK or that the PRND12 is not reading correctly in the MFI, DO NOT replace the ignition switch, lock cylinder, or lock housing assembly. Instead, be sure the Ignition lock solenoid is working properly and/or check that the N376 (called the "catch"), is connected to the lock housing. In some cases you may get a fault code 00194 009 Ignition key removal from lock open circuit/ short to earth. Use MVB 5 in address word 16-Steering Column Electronics for an aid in diagnosis. Please be certain to use the VIN in ETKA to obtain the latest part number(s) available.
- 10238596Be aware that there are 2 suppliers for the TDI glow plugs-Bosch and Beru. When replacing the glow plugs make sure that you do not mix stock. The vehicle must have all the same supplier or DTC P0380 (Glow Plug Monitoring) may set.
- 10238572Fault code P1297 may be set and fuel mixtures may go lean if the vehicle is driven under load or revved up and then returned to idle.
- 10238041Surface corrosion or corrosion perforation can occur on various locations around the front wheel arch.
- 10237427Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10236497Quick reference update guide.
- 10236449Corrosion on rear lid around license plate lights.
- 10236448Rear quarter panel corrosion.
- 10236446Corrosion, Front fenders, at upper wheel opening.
- 10236426Contacting the parts helpline
- 10235138Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10228180Update model year applicability to include 2023.
- 10228178Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
- 10213858Surface corrosion or corrosion perforation can occur on various locations around the front wheel arch.
- 10213843Jetta Bluetooth manual coding procedure.
Every Volkswagen Jetta model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.