RoadVitals

1999 Volkswagen GTI

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Oct 15, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Feb 20, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Volkswagen GTI, most frequently naming the electrical, visibility and airbags categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 59 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical222.2%
  • Visibility222.2%
  • Airbags111.1%
  • Fuel system111.1%
  • Seat belts111.1%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Driver assistance111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07V063000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Feb 20, 2007
1,002,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
The risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. 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.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number N4View on NHTSA.gov
05V154000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Apr 19, 2005
30,708 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND DOUBLE-LAYER FUEL TANKS, TENSION ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE TO CRACK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LEAK.
The risk: LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FOR TENSION, AND INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE FOR CRACKING. IF NECESSARY THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number UUView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE04079ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL PUMP LEAKS

Opened Nov 29, 2004
Closed Apr 19, 2005

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004, BASED ON FIVE CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP.BY LETTER OF APRIL 14, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (VOLKSWAGEN) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 35,000 GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN WOLFSBURG GERMANY FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN MARKET.THE RECALLED VEHICLES ARE IN MODEL YEARS 1999 AND 2000 AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES.VOLKSWAGEN HAS IDENTIFIED A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FROM THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (PUMP) TO THE FUEL FILTER MAY COME UNDER TENSION. IN THIS CONDITION THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN A GASOLINE LEAK.VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR TENSION ON THE FUEL LINE AND CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE.IF TENSION IS FOUND IN THE LINE, IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED LINE.IF THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE IS CRACKED, THE LINE AND THE PUMP WILL BE REPLACED.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 05V154 FOR DETAILS.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPLed to recall 05V154000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 2007

AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE-AIR-BAG ATTENUATOR ON MY 1999 VW GTI (NEW GTI) HAS NEEDED SERVICE. FIRST TIME WAS JUST AFTER CAR WENT OFF WARRANTY. VW REGIONAL AGREED TO PAY. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM -- HAD TO CALL VW REGIONAL TO MOUNT THE CASE FOR THEM TO PAY, AND THEY DID. 11 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP PAID FOR REPAIR SAYING IT WAS COVERED BY THEIR 12MO/12K MILE SERVICE WARRANTY. 11 MONTHS LATER -- SAME PROBLEM, DEALER PAID. NOW, 5 MONTHS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10205660
Incident
Oct 1, 2007
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 10, 2007

I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING SO I WENT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND COOLANT MIGRATION. THE COOLANT APPARENTLY MIGRATED THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE ENTIRE WIRE HARNESS AND PART OF MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOW INOPERABLE DUE TO THE MIGRATION. I WAS QUOTED A $3,800 ESTIMATE AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES. I PERFORMED ONLINE RESEARCH AND SEVERAL 1999 VW'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT THAT DRIPPED COOLANT OVER THE WIRE HARNESS. THERE IS EVEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FILED WITH THE NHTSA THAT INSTRUCTS VW HOW TO REPLACE TO MASSIVE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY WILL NOT HELP EVEN THOUGHT THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH 1999-2001 VWS AND A DESIGN DEFECT. NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS, WHICH APPARENTLY RUNS THROUGH MOST OF THE ENGINE AND CAR COMPONENTS AND MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER- A $3,800 REPAIR. RATHER THAN CORRECT THEIR DESIGN DEFECT, VW OFFERED ME $1,00 OFFER A NEW VW, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10202438
Incident
May 21, 2007
Mileage
67,380 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jul 18, 2006

THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT OF MY 1999.5 VOLKSWAGEN GTI TRAPPED A PASSENGER IN MY CAR. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND WOULD NO LONGER RETRACT OR EXTEND, WHICH LEFT A PASSENGER STUCK IN MY CAR RECENTLY (IT WAS NECESSARY TO UNBOLT THE SEAT BELT TO FREE THE PASSENGER). THE UNIT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GOLF/GTI OWNERS IN THE 1999-2005 YEAR RANGE, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND HAS OCCURRED SPECIFICALLY. I BELIEVE THIS CLEARLY SHOWS PRODUCT DEFECT AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN OBTAIN AND SUBMIT PROOF THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SEVERAL OTHER GOLF/GTI MODEL VEHICLES IF NECESSARY, THERE IS A VERY LARGE VW FORUM ONLINE WHICH HAS SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS COMPLAINT STRETCHING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10162732
Incident
Jul 6, 2006
Mileage
118,861 mi
Filed Aug 16, 2005

SAFETY RECALL UU 1999-2000 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A GASOLINE ENGINE INSPECT FUEL SUPPLY MODULE FOR LEAKS AND INSTALL CONNECTOR ON FUEL LINE; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLE MODULE IF NECESSARY. *MR WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CONSUMER FELT A BUMP AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER THEN SMELLED GAS. THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, LINE AND FITTING ON THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED. RECALL CAMPAIGN #05V154000. *SC

NHTSA ID
10134515
Incident
Aug 1, 2005
Visibility
Filed Oct 25, 2001

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL.I'VE HAD 2 FAIL ON ME WITH IN A YEARS TIME. I NOW FEAR THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP WHENEVER I ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
753659
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Oct 25, 2001

THIS IS A KNOW PART FAILURE FOR ALL 1999.5-2001 VOLKSWAGENS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
753658
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Visibility
Filed Jul 2, 2001

THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE NEW GOLF'S AND JETTA'S THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY VWOA. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
747677
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 19, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH RPM WILL GO OVER 1500 AND ENGINE WILL DIE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS COIL PACK THAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

NHTSA ID
878573
Incident
Dec 19, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

V171901201285565

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

V171901201285562

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V171901201285560

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V941901201152119

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Update model year applicability to include 2023.

V271901201189422

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.

V171901201285534

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen GTI by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025010—
2024282050.2
2023650—
2022276056.5
2021410—
2020831—
20191794251.8
2018163158.5
2017522158.0
2016664156.9
2015976161.5
2014101355.5
2013342351.7
2012402352.9
2011542348.9
2010531144.1
20091672150.0
2008671142.1
2007771036.5
2006432045.8
2005810—
2004710—
2003531148.4
20021242254.5
2001742260.3
2000453253.8
1999Viewing821—
1998100039.3
1997100035.0
1996911—
1995182258.2
1994020—
1993020—
1992010—
1991110—
1990020—
1989010—
1988010—
1987220—
1986230—
1985220—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.