1999 Volkswagen JETTA: complaints, problems and recalls

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

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000744 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS TRAVELING WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15-25 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN I STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO CAN IN FRONT, ALTHOUGH MY HOOD AND BUMPER WAS DENTED. ALSO, MY DRIVER''S SIDE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE'WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, I SAW A FIRE HAD IGNITED BY THE DRIVER''S SIDE SEAT BELT'(THIS STATEMENT WAS MADE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE AT THE TIME) WITHIN 10 TO 15 MINUTES, WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE ENTIRE CAR BURNED UP. I CONTACTE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003088 at NHTSA ↗

CALIPERS WERE STUCK ON AND RUINED THE BACK LEFT ROTOR ON MY VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003111 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING SHOCKS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A HARD BOUNCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003793 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN FULL THROTTLE AND ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO DECREASE SPEED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004050 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004973 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY IN INCLINING WEATHER WHICH MAKES VISIBILITY IMPOSSIBLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS WIPER MOTOR REPLACED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005948 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND LOSE CONTROL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006137 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-01-25 (January 25, 2002)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)

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).

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2006-05-24 (May 24, 2006)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 1999-02-05 (February 5, 1999)

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.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MATTING MATERIALS FROM INSIDE THE B-PILLAR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE.

Reported: 1999-09-17 (September 17, 1999)

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.

Consequence: 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.