Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
I was driving approximately 25 miles a hour by my house while I was driving a big click noise sounded on my front right wheel the car swerved and fell in a ditch the police came and the car was towed to a mechanic and he told me it was your tie rod and axle broken I had to change them. Plus my ABS system is not working and it needs a new module and it seems like every Passat out there have no problem and the dealer wont help or vw hotline plus my two front windows just fell and the windows need a whole new actuators and on the internet alot of the Passat have that problem and the dealer wont help there is five recalls on Passat and the dealer don't want to do but 1 of them so please help me.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, fuel fumes emitted in and around the vehicle. The contact mentioned that while inspecting the vehicle, fuel was discovered leaking from the rear passenger side sub frame. Also, the contact indicated that the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V156000 (fuel system). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 119,000.
On 6/10/2004, I had my vw Passat repaired at mitchell Volkswagen, canton, ct, for rough idle and check engine light. Dealer found scan codes for cylinder #2 misfires and random/multiple misfires. Dealer replaced icm ignition control module and cleared fault. Then dealer attempted to set basic settings and a new problem was generated, throttle body would not adapt. I now have a continuous check engine light. Dealer did not explain why they tried to set the basic settings for the replacement of the icm. It is my understanding that if the basic settings are not performed correctly a malfunction to the throttle valve control can occur. The dealer told me the this problem May be self correcting. If it does correct itself, I need to replace the throttle body for approx. $500.00. I have spent more than $539.00 to have my icm replaced and now have a new problem. …
Winter 2008-2009 had several times when car would accelerate on it's own. Brakes did not help. Only way to stop is to apply brakes with both feet and slow down enough to pull over and put in neutral, which makes tac go over 7000 RPM's. Had throttle body cleaned and reset in spring of 2009 but problem recurred again this year. On Monday, feb. 8, 2010 temperature was in low teens. Warmed car for approx. 7 min. Drove slowly due to bad road conditions and at approx. 3 miles into drive car started accelerating again on its own and no place to pull off. Had to stop in extremely dangerous position and pray I wasn't hit before I could safely start car again. Finally able to restart engine after approx. 5 min. Without revving problem but approx. 2 miles later car again accelerated on it's own. Took to dealer and they did a general diagnosis which showed nothing. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 08V156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). The dealer stated that in order for the recall repair to be performed, they would need to perform $800 worth of repairs first. The contact stated that the notice does not clearly state that, which it should. The manufacturer was called and explained that the additional charges May apply if the recall repair needs to be performed. The contact stated that it should be clearly stated in the notice that additional charges May accrue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 70,000.
The oil light came on while driving. When consumer checked the oil level it was down a quart of a quart of oil. A quart of oil was added. Oil light come back on and the engine stalled within seconds of restarting and driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, who indicated that the engine head shut and was damaged beyond repair. This occurred because of fuel pump failure. Prior to this incident at 58, 510 miles the oil light came on, a diagnostic test was performed, but no failure were found. The dealership couldn't find the cause of problem, but changed the oil.
Our 1999 Passat with the 1.8 liter engine stalls repeatedly when decelerating, this is dangerous. We purchased the car new and had a problems before 20,000 miles. Vw cannot diagnose this problem. I took vw to the bbb since they were very uncooperative in repairing this problem, and then they changed the throttle body. Then the problem went away for a few years and is now back and vw again refuses to replace the throttle body. The throttle body is obviously defective and they will not admit that there is a problem or fix it.
I had my car diagnosed at the vw dealer, and they said there are emission problems related to the recall I recently found on my car, when I called the number on the recall, vw customer service insisted I was not included because my VIN number hadn't been included in the recall. This car regularly smokes, lets off huge smog clouds when I put gas and is a fire risk according to their recall. I don't drive it because I'm afraid it is going to explode into flames.
Electrical problems from the start, melting of plastic, lights in the car working sporadically at best. Oil, drain, oil pump, camshaft,all blamed on lack of verifiable oil changes. Timing belt - let go on highway at 85000 miles (warranty for 1999 Passat, 100,000 miles) blamed on oil changes. 82 days in shop steering goes during this time and I'm told I need an altenator [ 3rd one ] the story goes on and on......
Related recalls
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…
NHTSA investigations
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…
Fuel System complaints in other Passat years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 1999 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 1999 Volkswagen Passat, 4% of the model year's 664 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volkswagen Passat fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 08V-156 (delivery, Apr 7, 2008); NHTSA recall 02V-026 (filler pipe and cap, Jan 25, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Passat fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion 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.