Most common 1999 Volkswagen Golf problems
Share of the 64 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Golf complaints by model year
Best Golf years: 2020, 2014, 2021. Years to avoid: 2022, 2015, 2017, 2011, 2016. Compare all years →
1999 Volkswagen Golf recalls (4)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch May malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
Remedy: 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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
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.
Structure › Frame and members
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.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the matting materials from inside the b-pillar on both sides of the vehicle.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Volkswagen Golf:
Fuel pump leaks
This investigation was opened on November 29, 2004, based on five consumer reports alleging fuel leaking from the fuel pump.by letter of April 14, 2004, Volkswagen of America (Volkswagen) notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall of 35,000 golf and gti vehicles manufactured in wolfsburg Germany for the north American market.the recalled vehicles are in model years 1999 and 2000 and are equipped with…
What 1999 Volkswagen Golf owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl contact owns a 1999 Volkswagen Golf. The vehicle has a recall notice for the o ring defect. The defect causes the vehicle to overheat, resulting in engine failure. The contact stated that the vehicle received the 44K treatment to rectify the failure and now the entire exhaust system needs to be replaced. The manufacturer has not been notified. The catalytic converter is also defective and causes the motor and other components to overheat. The contact stated that a large quantity of smoke comes from the vehicle and he does not drive it due to safety concerns. He is also unable to switch gears because the clutch is burned out. The recall number, VIN, and engine size were unknown. The failure and current mileages were 72,000.
I am concerned that since this engine mount failed, what about the mount on the other side? Is there a potential safety issue? Are there other Golf owners out there who will potentially be experiencing this same problem? It seems unbelievable to me that an engine mount could fail on this new of a car with this few number of miles. Am I wrong in my assumption? ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****760138
Fuel & propulsion system
Dt: 1999 Volkswagen Golf, fuel pump was leaking because the supply fitting was cracked. This was caused by a manufacturer's defect, which caused a pool of fuel to form under the back seat. Also, fuel was leaking out of the vehicle onto the ground. The consumer found various websites that there had already been a recall 05V154000 concerning this problem. In addition, the consumer had found that there was a letter from NHTSA to Volkswagen of America, pea-04-079. Consumer contacted the dealership, they indicated that they did not know anything about the recall. When the consumer contacted the manufacturer, they told consumer that there was no recall. Fumes were causing the consumer and passengers headaches and dry eyes. Vehicle leaked fuel when the ignition was in the on position, when the driver's side door was opened and when the vehicle was running. …
Smell of gas heavy inside the car. Smell equally as bad if windows are rolled down. Gradual decrease in the miles to gallon. Took to dealership while under warranty. They replaced the fuel component that sits under the passenger side of back seat. Happened again one year and 1 month later. Car then out of warranty. Took to private mechanic. Fixed problem again. Told both times it was repaired that a cigarette on the road way could have cause car to explode due to gas spewing out of car. On the component that had to be replaced (im not sure of the exact name) there was a plastic "nipple" that comes out of component and a plastic tube is attached there. ""nipple" had cracked almost completely off and gas was spewing out every time I pressed on the gas. Car was driven normal and not involved in any accidents. Perhaps dry rotting of plastic?
Electrical system
Instrument cluster fire in 1999 vw Golf tdi: 2003-01-14, mileage 88290, lights and gauges on instrument cluster were acting flaky and not working properly. Some lights were dim and some were burnt out. 2003-02-05, I bought new instrument cluster. Plan was to have dealership replace faulty one with new one on 2003-02-10. A few days after I bought new one, the cars existing one suddenly emitted sparks while I was driving in a snow storm, and caught on fire! Thick, acrid smoke billowed from underneath the dashboard, forcing me out of the car. I put out the fire with my jacket and some snow. 2003-02-10, dealership replaced instrument cluster. During the first heavy snowfall after that, car started bucking at low rpms and when attempting to shift gears. Speedometer started fluctuating wildly, showing me going anywhere from 0 to 120 MPH. …
Engine suddenly stopped running while on freeway, only good luck allowed me to get out of traffic. Engine restarted 5 minutes, I continue driving, now only in the right hand lane. Almost made it home, engine dies suddenly again, same 5 minute wait, engine starts and runs just fine. I am an engineer so I took off the kick panel to have access to the relay panel: the next time it suddenly stopped, I felt all relays on the panel, relay marked 109 was hot to my touch; I would estimate 130 degrees f or more. I replaced the relay and I find it has been redesigned. This is why I contact you.
1999 Volkswagen Golf engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Volkswagen Golf a good car?
Based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Golf rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Golf at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Volkswagen Golf?
The engine & cooling — 16 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (12) and electrical system (9).
How many recalls does the 1999 Volkswagen Golf have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1999 Volkswagen Golf, the most recent from February 20, 2007 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Golf?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2014 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2015, 2017, 2011 and 2016. See the full Volkswagen Golf years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Golf problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.