Most common 1999 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Share of the 349 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Jetta complaints by model year
Best Jetta years: 2018, 2020, 2022. Years to avoid: 2019, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2010. Compare all years →
1999 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (6)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
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…
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles May malfunction.
Remedy: This recall has been superceded by 06v-183.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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
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.
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…
Structure › Frame and members
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.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.
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 5 possible defects involving the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta:
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 vehicles.previously, vw recalled these vehicles to replace a defective brake light switch (recalls 03v-265…
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 administration (NHTSA) advising that certain model year (my) 1999 - 2002 Volkswagen jetta vehicles…
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 material attached to the inside of the b-pillar trim panel could have been improperly installed.in…
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.
Fuel tank puncture
What 1999 Volkswagen Jetta owners say
Engine & cooling all 80 →
2 days after we purchase the car a brake shoe braket came off and was rubbing the rear rotor. July, 3 windows went bad, 2 were the wiring and 1 was the motor. October the front wheel bearing needed replaced plus wheel alignment. September the exhuast broke off behind the catalytic converter I had it fixed myself. The exhuast had also broke off 6 months earlier in front of the muffler but I fixed it. One window that they fixed in July 2002 went bad again in June of 2003 and needed fixed. The rear brake on the same wheel that they fixed in January of 2001 has gone bad now. I'm done with this car. It's been in the shop more then I have ever had any car combined. Thanks
First: coin holder broke, next, the fuel pump. After that, the catalytic converter went. The heat gauge goes on the "I will work when I want to, and I won't when I don't" attitude. Speaking of front end bumpers, I've had mine replaced and fixed 3 times, stupid me, shouldn't I know by now not to get so close to those parking curbs. Next, it started using oil, every 1000 miles, 1 qt, went to dealer, gave me runaround, mechanic standing by listening, took my side, replaced rings, sorry, I didn't know about the site sooner so I could tell you all this.fixed. Maybe, hope. Now, car dies on highway for no apparent reason above speeds of 50+, momentarily, and then starts again. The drink holder has now broken, son has to put aa battery above cassette to have sound coming from all speakers. Emergency flashers started making cracking noises, electrical problems?, not my vw. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 80 →
2 days after we purchase the car a brake shoe braket came off and was rubbing the rear rotor. July, 3 windows went bad, 2 were the wiring and 1 was the motor. October the front wheel bearing needed replaced plus wheel alignment. September the exhuast broke off behind the catalytic converter I had it fixed myself. The exhuast had also broke off 6 months earlier in front of the muffler but I fixed it. One window that they fixed in July 2002 went bad again in June of 2003 and needed fixed. The rear brake on the same wheel that they fixed in January of 2001 has gone bad now. I'm done with this car. It's been in the shop more then I have ever had any car combined. Thanks
I own a 1999.5 Volkswagen Jetta iv gls. There is a major problem with the window regulators and Volkswagen refuses to recall them. They know there is a problem as they have issued a 7-year extended warranty on the part. I have had to get the regulator replaced on my front passenger side window twice, due to window falling into door. This was under extended warranty. However my front driver side window (which I hardly ever use) has fallen into the door. I am now outside of the extended warranty period and the dealership is trying to charge me $500 to replace the regulator. I should not have to spend $500 I do not have on a part that is known and well documented to be faulty. This defective part poses several dangerous possibilities. For example I am currently driving with plastic where the window should be to secure the car from weather and intruders. …
Electrical system all 44 →
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.
Check engine light on, car runs rough when wet. Has always. Bring it in for diagnostic and they say it is the ignition coil pack. It was replaced and the day after service is completed on the way to work check engine light comes on again. Bring it back in and after another diagnostic hook up and another $72 later now they say there are 2 more faults. The ignition wires need replacing and the long term fuel trim is running lean. I do some research on line and find out vw has had ignition coil problems and had recalls on 2001 and 2002 model years after a class action suit was filed. I contacted vw before I knew about the class action suit and the problems vw has had with the ignition coil packs and was told that they couldn't assist me. Go figure. A company who has had these very same problems in the past with other models and years isn't taking responsibility for defective parts. …
1999 Volkswagen Jetta engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 5-speed manual | FWD | 35 / 44 / 38 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 29 / 40 / 33 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta a good car?
Based on 349 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Jetta rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Jetta 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 Jetta?
The engine & cooling — 80 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (80) and electrical system (44).
How many recalls does the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, the most recent from May 24, 2006 (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 Jetta?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2020 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2010. See the full Volkswagen Jetta years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Jetta problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 22% 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.