Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
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. …
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. …
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").
O2 sensor & mass air flow sensors were replaced as part of a compaign after they went bad. Less than 2 years later, o2 sensor has gone bad again. Vw refuses to replace saying it's out of warranty. Complained that sensors were replaced at the very start of the compaign long before letters were ever sent out and that I could have received the old sensor. Vw was unable to provide any proof that the replacement sensors were the updated sensors and they refused to cover the additional repair. New sensor lasted less than 2 years/40000miles.
Fitzgerald of annapolis failed to replace the stretch bolts when they changed the timing belt at 40K miles. At 130K miles, the bolts gave and the engine fell out of the car. I repaired this and continued to drive the car. At 140K the mounting bracket on the engine block snapped and the engine fell out again. The car now needs a new
While traveling north on the new jersey turnpike the vehicle, without prior warning, suddenly stalled in the center of three lanes and would not restart. I was not able to move the car from the center lane. Shortly after I got out of the vehicle a tractor trailer struck the rear of my vehicle totally destroying the vehicle.
Check engine light came on and stayed on while driving. Dealership has serviced the vehicle twice in which they have cleaned the throttle . This provided a temporary solution, but the light came back on within an hour. A mechanic indicated that this was an intermittent problem that could not be repaired.
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.
Car burns at least a quart of oil between every oil change - service dept claims this is normal - oil filler cap is full of yellow "foam" - oil pressure light recently came - check oil level and found it needed 2 1/2 quarts of oil - service department claims this is normal
Engine complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 80 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, 23% of the model year's 349 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volkswagen Jetta engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.