Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Dur to a short in the wiring electrical wiring was burnt from a & b pillars to the dash, numerous electrical problems., no reasonable explanation for the burning of the wiring or the cause of the short. One month after the dealer fixed the problems, additional electrical problems were encountered. Dealer refused to stand behind first work. First dealer also felt interior fire and electrical failure was not a warranty item. Second repair bill was for $872 and that dealer wrote on the bill "once the car is registered in california repairs can be reimbursed". Car is registered in utah, see no reason state of registration should effect the warrenty. Called vw of America [phone] and they took the complaint, but have done nothing to this date and have provided no reasonable explaination for why work would be covered in one state but not another. …
Multiple problems: main complaint 1. Failure of window regulator, driver and passenger side - several times on each side 2. The car is a 1999 and I have replaced the battery twice once in 2000 (blew up) and once recently (8/2003) and now starter motor and alternator are failing. Sometimes the gas gauge works and sometimes it doesn't, sometimes the key lock/alarm works sometimes it doesn't and horn works intermittently - all problems since 2000. The car is known to lock/unlock itself. The fender liner and front grills fell off in 2000. The sunroof cover and the sunroof have both failed once. The gas tank cover failed twice. The front clutch dropped off the engine while driving at 24500 miles and the dealership did not work with me on expenses ($600 to fix). The vw symbol on all 4 tires have fallen off (only in place with adhesive).
I have a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta. On March 24, 2003 Monday morning I was driving with in the city in san ramon, ca and suddenly with a noise my car stopped. My engine won't start at all after that and in the end I had to call aaa to tow my car. Aaa towed my car to the nearest auto center, where after the complete inspection "bob auto tech" told me that the crank shaft of my car was broken. I was shocked and surprised to hear that, and I could not believe that. My car is only 4 years old, and has always been taken care of by me by regular servicing and oil change and always at vw authorized dealerships/workshops. I ended up paying up bills worth $3194.82 from my pocket as it was not covered by the insurance also. I would kindly request you to look into the matter and help me with my distress and financial pain.
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").
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.
My check-engine light has come on three times since late November. The first time it was a cracked vacuum hose. The second time (within two weeks of fixing the first problem) it was the mass air meter. The third time, it came on 5 hours after I was rear-ended January 6th but the dealer said it was not related to the accident. They said it was the oxygen sensor. The serviceman I spoke with at the dealership said he has noticed that this model seems sensitive, causing the check-engine light to come on so frequently. I'm frustrated that none of this is under warranty and with the frequency of these occurrences.
My 1999 Jetta iv (gls vr6) needed a new coil pack at 75,000 miles (rough operation in wet weather; engine light finally turned-on). I have read that the replacement of the coil pack on the 1999 Jetta's is extremely common. A recall on this part has been issued for the 2000 and 2001 vehicles, but not for the 1999. I also read that some individuals May be in pursuit of obtaining legal actions to resolve matters. The part and labor is expensive. Please advise on whether a recall for the 1999 coil pack of Jetta vehicles will be acknowledged?*a
Tl 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.
Electrical complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the electrical system of the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, 13% of the model year's 349 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 5 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.