Most common 1999 Volkswagen Passat problems
Share of the 664 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Passat complaints by model year
Best Passat years: 2011, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2012, 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
1999 Volkswagen Passat recalls (5)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
Volkswagen is recalling 412,000 my 1999-2005 passat (5th generation) vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions and produced after June 14, 1999. These vehicles May have an underbody heat shield that can become damaged.
Remedy: Dealers will install additional underbody heat shields on vehicles with automatic transmissions to cover the possibly damaged areas and flash all 1.8t engines with a precautionary software update.
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…
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals May not seal properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals May not seal properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold May not open or close fully at temperatures below -4 f under certain driving conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 8 possible defects involving the 1999 Volkswagen Passat:
Power brake booster vacuum by-pass
There is no summary currently available
Passenger sir door mounting stud failure
Odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-021) based on two reports of failed bolt studs that attach the passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) door cover to the instrument panel (ip) on the Volkswagen (vw) passat (model years 2000, 2002).vw has indicated to odi that it has no additional reports.vw implemented a process change on March 1, 2002.this process change consisted of changing the bolt…
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 engine compartment fires
The manufacturer notified NHTSA on 04-apr-08 that a safety recall action would be initiated to remedy the issue.in June 2008, the manufacturer issued a technical service bulletin (code 26e5/r5) regarding the specific procedures to be employed in this campaign.vehicle owner notification letters were sent beginning approximately June 13, 2008.the campaign was assigned NHTSA no.
Stuck-open throttle
Vwoa has recalled approximately 28,300 my 1998-99 a6 vehicles in cold weather states that experienced the highest rate of throttle icing incidents in the subject vehicles (04v-495).the failure rate in the a4 and passat vehicles is much lower than in the recalled vehicles.odi will continue to monitor the experience in the a4 and passat vehicles.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA…
Passenger air bag lid failure
This investigation involves the Volkswagen (vw) passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) lid utilized in my 1998-2002 vw passat.the psir lid May detach from the instrument panel during air bag deployment.the office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) opened the preliminary evaluation on May 23, 2003 to determine whether alleged psir lid detachment…
Fuel tank puncture
Alleged premature tie rod failure
On August 2, 2005, odi received a petition submitted by ms. Miriam schneider of olney, md, requesting an investigation of allegedly defective tie rods in certain model year (my) 1999 Volkswagen passat vehicles not included in two previous safety recall campaigns (identified henceforth as the subject vehicles).in a September 1999 letter, Volkswagen of America, inc.
What 1999 Volkswagen Passat owners say
Brakes all 233 →
Driving at 60 MPH the driver applied the brakes upon entering a reduced speed zone. The pedal went to the floor without resistance and the brakes failed to engage. No warning lights or other indications to suggest a problem. Driver pulled the emergency brake to prevent hitting traffic ahead and spun 180 degrees across traffic slamming into a curb. Witness to the accident tried to apply the brakes several times at the crash site and the pedal offered no resistance for him. Powering the car on and off; brake pressure returned to normal. The vw dealer where the car was hauled to cannot duplicate the failure and the brakes checkout normal. Dealer has given little sense of security to make driver want to get in the car again. Said they could replace the master cylinder, but it checks out fine. One mechanic said he heard of a case with tires confusing the ABS with different wear. …
I own a 1999 vw Passat glx with 72,000 miles. Approximately one month ago, the ABS light, the brake light, the oil pressure indicator, and the tachometer began to behave erratically. Two weeks ago, the right front caliper stuck in the extended position, starting a wheel fire at the rotor. I replaced the caliper, rotor, and pads. A non-vw service center replaced the remaining rotors and pads, replaced the master cylinder, and flushed/bled the entire system. The problem with the lights and alarms persists. The lights and alarms are usually absent when the vehicle is completely cold, then usually appear after several minutes of driving. The lights and alarms can disappear while driving, then reappear during later driving. I have not contacted vw directly, because I'm concerned what the estimate might be to attempt repair.
Suspension all 118 →
I own a 1999 vw Passat wagon. There have been some recalls about the front end. I did have it checked at least twice by my dealer who said everything was OK. As I was nearing my home today at about 25 MPH the right front wheel suddenly collapsed upward into the wheel well and the car started skidding on the right side of the frame off to the right side of the road. Because I was going rather slow I was able to correct it and stop it before it went off the road. If I had been going 65-70 next to other cars on the interstate or even 40 on a two lane around town I'm sure things would not have been quite so benign and we (my family and I) May all have been injured or worse! When the wrecker lifted it the driver and I both looked at the a arm and the ends were cracked or sheared off. I did not hit anything before it happened, and did not hit anything while I have had the car. …
The failure of lower control arm happened without any warning, during normal driving on the city road when making a right turn (approximately at 5 MPH speed). Right front suspension lower control arm sheared in two pieces, leaving a front passenger wheel completely separated. If this should happened on any higher higher speed, consequences would be deadly. I researched this safety hazard and found that vw issued a service action for the lower control arm on 1999 Passat. However, vw service representative informed me that the service action does not cover my vehicle. Vw's explanation was that it only covers parts from certain supplier (according to representative, vw used two different suppliers for the lower control arm). I believe that lower control arm was a defective part, as this type of failure could not be a result of normal wear and tear. It is a safety hazard. …
Engine & cooling all 88 →
Passat began to accelerate under no pressure to pedal. Passat started to accelerate fairly slowly but steadily at first, then it increased. It wasn't possible to decelerate/no pressure on the brake pedal stopped the acceleration. It began to reach an unsafe speed then I began to downshift and to apply the brake in sequence to slow the Passat, then I tried to slow the vehicle to coast it onto the shoulder, but the speed remained too high to halt the car. Having no other way to slow the vehicle, I started to downshift and to apply extreme pressure to the breaks, and was able to slow the vehicle enough after several miles of downshifting and riding the breaks to reach a point at which I could shift the car into neutral, then began coasting it up a long driveway while the engine continued to race and rev. …
Was driving vehicle on the highway , the vehicle's check engine light and brake light came on and the vehicle completely shut down , I pulled over to the side of the highway I seen smoke I opened the hood and it was on fire. I called police and fire. The fire was put out the fans are melted and I'm not sure what else is burned , I have no idea what could have started the fire the vehicle is taken care of and there's no warning lights on , on the dash.
1999 Volkswagen Passat engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 24 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 26 / 19 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Volkswagen Passat a good car?
Based on 664 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Passat rates avoid: 3.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Passat at the same age. It is one of the Passat years we suggest avoiding. 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 Passat?
The brakes — 233 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module. Next are the suspension (118) and engine & cooling (88).
How many recalls does the 1999 Volkswagen Passat have?
There are 5 recalls for the 1999 Volkswagen Passat, the most recent from April 7, 2008 (delivery). 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 Passat?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2012, 1999 and 2002. See the full Volkswagen Passat years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Passat problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 16% 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.