Your vehicle report
1999 Volkswagen Jetta
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 349
- Received Dec 1998 to May 2013
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Power window regulator fails and window drops60 complaints · 17% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Seat belt fails to latch or retract22 complaints · 6.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine burns excessive oil between changes20 complaints · 5.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #06V183000On 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.
- Recall #04V096000On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 33 crashes, 9 fires, 29 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 28 |
| 2000 | 57 |
| 2001 | 69 |
| 2002 | 52 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 42 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 349 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power window regulator fails and window drops | 60 | 17% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 22 | 6.3% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 20 | 5.7% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 16 | 4.6% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 15 | 4.3% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 8 | 2.3% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 7 | 2.0% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 7 | 2.0% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 7 | 2.0% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 6 | 1.7% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 4 | 1.1% | – | NHTSA recall #02V026000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 4 | 1.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #06V183000May 24, 2006646,246 vehicles affected
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.
The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
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 or 06V-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA recall #04V096000February 20, 2004377,130 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
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.
NHTSA recall #03V156000April 23, 20039,811 vehicles affected
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. It should be 2.5 bar (36.3 psi). The label recommends 2.4 bar (34.8 psi = 35 psi).
Under inflated tires Can affect vehicle handling, and driving with substantialy under inflated tires puts the consumer at a risk for a crash.
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. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact vw at 1-800-893-5298.
NHTSA recall #02V026000January 25, 2002487,284 vehicles affected
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.
Fuel leakage Can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
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 event of tire disintegration. Owner notification began june 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA recall #99V251000September 17, 199967,076 vehicles affected
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. In some cases, the material of the trim part may be more impact resistant as a result of variations in the molding process.
This condition could prevent the clip from breaking on impact and result in less deformation in the impacted area and a higher decleration of the head form, increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.
NHTSA recall #99V022000February 5, 199936,258 vehicles affected
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. It could ignite when exposed to the exhaust gas of the seat belt pre-tensioner igniter in the event of a severe front or side collision.
This could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the matting materials from inside the b-pillar on both sides of the vehicle.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN