RoadVitals

1999 Volkswagen Golf Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Dec 18, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
25%
of 64 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Volkswagen Golf submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel systemTransmission
Filed Dec 18, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE VEHICLE HAS A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE O RING DEFECT. THE DEFECT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED THE 44K TREATMENT TO RECTIFY THE FAILURE AND NOW THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE MOTOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LARGE QUANTITY OF SMOKE COMES FROM THE VEHICLE AND HE DOES NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. HE IS ALSO UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS BECAUSE THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT. THE RECALL NUMBER, VIN, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

NHTSA ID
10212219
Incident
Dec 2, 2007
Mileage
72,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10096912
Incident
Oct 14, 2004
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 2004

MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD MY DEALERSHIP ORDER A PART BACK IN AUGUST OF 2003 WHILE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY STILL COVERED IT THEY NEVER ORDERED IT AND NOW WANT ME TO PAY FOR THIS PART. I HAVE THE DOCUMENT SAYING THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART. PLUS MY CAR HAS HAD DEFECTIVE PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT 5 YEARS AGO. MY WINDOW WASHER BOTTLE DOESN'T HOLD FLUID EVEN AFTER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10080505
Incident
May 21, 2003
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2003

DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BROKEN. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041470
Incident
Jul 1, 2003
Mileage
83,710 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2003

FOUR YEAR OLD CAR WITH 42,822 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED A FEW TIME ON ACCELERATING THURSDAY NIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT SOLID FRIDAY MORNING, AND ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER THE ENGINE SIEZED. VW TELLS ME THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY DEAD.

NHTSA ID
10005228
Incident
Jan 31, 2003
Mileage
42,822 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 21, 2002

THE TWO AREAS WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING ARE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON FOR NO REASON. THEY HAVE ASKED US IF WE CLOSED THE GAS CAP TIGHTLY? WE ALWAYS DO! EACH TIME THEY SAY IT IS SOMETHING ELSE WHICH IS NOW GETTING COSTLY. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS THAT HAS MADE US SICK AND CAUSED HORRIBLE HEADACHES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM EITHER AND ASKED IF WE TOP OFF WHEN WE FILL UP. WE DO NOT. WE FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS HAVING MAJOR ELECTRICIAL PROBLEMS AS WE DO HAVE A 2001GOLF AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, [XXX] & [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
767520
Incident
Sep 21, 2002
EngineSuspension
Filed Apr 12, 2002

WHEEL BEARING MAKES A STREAKING NOISE. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
8007549
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Apr 2, 2002

I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THIS ENGINE MOUNT FAILED, WHAT ABOUT THE MOUNT ON THE OTHER SIDE? IS THERE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE? ARE THERE OTHER GOLF OWNERS OUT THERE WHO WILL POTENTIALLY BE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM? IT SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT AN ENGINE MOUNT COULD FAIL ON THIS NEW OF A CAR WITH THIS FEW NUMBER OF MILES. AM I WRONG IN MY ASSUMPTION? *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760138

NHTSA ID
10006512
Incident
Mar 27, 2002
Mileage
42,500 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 7, 2001

ENIGNE CUT OUT SEVERAL TIMES THEN DIED. CRANKED OVER, NO RESTART. HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT, IF IT HAD BEEN RUSH HOUR WOULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT OR NEAR MISS!!*AK

NHTSA ID
743660
Incident
Aug 14, 1999
Engine
Filed May 18, 2000

THIS VEHICLE STALLS OUT INTERMITTENTLY. HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS 6 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ADMITS THEY ARE GRASPING AT STRAWS AND JUST REPLACING PARTS TO GET RID OF IT. VW REGIONAL MANAGER CHRIS O'HARA REFUSES TO BUY BACK THE CAR AND ALSO REFUSES TO ALLOW US TO BRING THE CAR BACK FOR SERVICE AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID
722865
Incident
Dec 27, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CONSUMING/BURNING UP TWO QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1200 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THAT ENGINE. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
860236
Incident
Aug 15, 1999
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 2000

WHEN DRIVING ENGINE MISFIRES AND STALLS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 5 TIMES, AND CAN'T SOLVE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
854288
Engine
Filed Dec 7, 1999

VEHICLE WILL MISFIRE / STALL. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID
853791
Engine
Filed Dec 1, 1999

CAR WENT INTO DIP IN ROAD, OIL PAN CRACKED OPEN WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION. LOCAL DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. NO PARTS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE US. OIL PAN MADE OF POROUS, POT-METAL WHICH APPEARS WEAKENED BY AIR BUBBLES. COST ESTIMATE EXCEEDS MORE THAN HALF THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. NOW HAVE A CAR THAT IS UNUSABLE AND WE ARE STILL PAYING LEASE PAYMENTS. NO COMPANY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SELL CARS WITHOUT PART AVAILABILITY. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
715516
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Engine
Filed Nov 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON A ROAD ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING. *AK

NHTSA ID
853017
Incident
Jul 4, 1999
Engine
Filed May 10, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE DRIVING.THIS CONDITION OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
837704

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .