1999 Volkswagen JETTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
320 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
73,137 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 88 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 320 complaints (17.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 57 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 22 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 57; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 22; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Electrical System: 18; Unknown Or Other: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 232 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 29 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007946 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
WHEN I SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A 2 SECOND DELAY AND AT TIMES I CAN STILL BE ROLLING BACK AN ADDITIONAL 2-3 FT. ALSO MY VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE W/O ME TOUCHING THE GAS. I HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKES AND AT TIMES THIS WILL NOT WORK. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN I BRAKED AND MY JETTE ACCELERATED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014865 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER STATED THE WIPERS WERE INCOMPATIBLE. THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER AND DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER SPEED IN WARM WEATHER. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAD FALLEN DOWN INTO THE DOOR, THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED, THE METAL TRIANGLE PIECES ON THE DOORS HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED FROM PURCHASE, AND THE FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WIPERS. (NO RECALL FOR WIPERS) MR SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010931 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
CAR HAS SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HAVE ALREADY SPENT ABOUT $1000 ON VARIOUS IGNITION RELATED REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP. PART OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, TRUNK CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 48,968 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019808 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
ALL THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037985 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*MR WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, THE REVERSE SYNCHRO FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HAD NO REVERSE GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A 10 YEAR/100,000 WARRANTY, BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE THE DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043681 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
PIN IN TRANSMISSION COMING OUT, CAUSING LEAK, REPLACED TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH DISK, PRESSURE PLATE AND THROWOUT BEARINGS. VW HONOR WARRANTY BECAUSE I WAS SECOND OWNER. ORIGINAL WARRANTY 100,000 OR 5YRS. DEALER STATED THEY NEVER SAW A PIN WORKED ITS WAY OUT THAT WAY. THEY THOUGHT VW SHOULD HAVE COVERED PROBLEM. MILLEAGE AT TIME 68,299 . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 68,299 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008725 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
THE IGNITION COIL FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055608 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN ENGINE REVVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030570 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WITH NO WARNING. LOST POWER ASSISTED STEERING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 64,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030571 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WITH NO WARNING. LOST POWER ASSISTED STEERING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 61,258 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033051 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS: MAIN COMPLAINT 1. FAILURE OF WINDOW REGULATOR, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE - SEVERAL TIMES ON EACH SIDE 2. THE CAR IS A 1999 AND I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE ONCE IN 2000 (BLEW UP) AND ONCE RECENTLY (8/2003) AND NOW STARTER MOTOR AND ALTERNATOR ARE FAILING. SOMETIMES THE GAS GAUGE WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, SOMETIMES THE KEY LOCK/ALARM WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T AND HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY - ALL PROBLEMS SINCE 2000. THE CAR IS KNOWN TO LOCK/UNLOCK ITSELF. THE FENDER LINER AND FRONT GRILLS FELL OFF IN 2000. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036813 · 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)
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 T…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036813 at NHTSA ↗