1999 Volkswagen Jetta Driver assistance Problems

THE VW VEHICLE IS PROGRAMMED TO CRIPPLE THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND SPEED IN CASE OF AN EPC FAULT. ANY FAULT CAUSING A RICH OR LEAN CONDITION WILL CAUSE THIS "LIMP MODE". THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65-75MPH AND A 80,000 POUND TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND THEM AS ONE PERSON EXPERIENCED. THERE ARE TOO MANY NON-VITAL COMPONENT FAILURES TO LIST THAT CAN CAUSE THIS FAULT. I REFER TO NON-VITAL MEANING THE COMPONENT FAILURE WILL NOT HARM THE DRIVER OF THE CAR. THE FAULT LIGHT INDICATION ISN'T ENOUGH? NOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORCE YOU INTO A REPAIR SHOP AND BUY MORE VW PARTS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MONEY MAKING SCAM ENDANGERING OUR LIVES. WE DO NOT PUT A HALT ON THIS NOW- SOON ANY FAULT WILL CRIPPLE OUR CARS. IT'S NOT JUST VW (HYUNDAI DID A SIMILAR "LIMP MODE"). *TR

NHTSA ID

10473134

Incident

Aug 12, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

1999.5 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS VR6, ALWAYS GETTING DTC CODES OF P1117, P0140, P1198, P1472, P1435, P0102, P0343, P1421.. THAT ALWAYS SAYS ABOUT OPEN OR SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITIONS AND POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, AND SHORT TO GROUNDS FOR ELECTRICAL, WHICH IS ALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE THEM CODES YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AS WELL AS ALOT OF US HAVE TO BUY THE PARTS THAT IS LISTED AND PROBLEMS STILL AREN'T FIXED, WHICH TELLS US ITS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, NOT ISSUES WITH THE PARTS, WHICH CAUSES OUR #43 FUSE BLOW ALOT, AND ALOT OF HESITATION AND STALLING, I CANT EVEN TURN AROUND A CORNER OR TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT STALLING, PLEASE FIX THESE PROBLEMS, ITS HAPPENING TO WAY TO MANY OF US AND IT IS ALSO AN SAFETY ISSUE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10444637

Incident

Jun 8, 2011

Mileage

160,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON RT. 495 NEAR EXIT 19, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND I FELT MY SPEED CONTINUE TO INCREASE. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND MY SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE. I DOWNSHIFTED AND WHEN I LET THE CLUTCH OUT WE REALLY TOOK OFF. DEPRESSING THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED, MANAGED TO PULL ON TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. AS I REACHED FOR THE KEY, THE ENGINE SHUDDERED AND DIED. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT WAS THAT THE ENGINE SELF-DESTRUCTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES IN THE ECM AND THE TPS SHOWED NO DEFECTS WHEN TESTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330842

Incident

Apr 24, 2010

Mileage

96,650 mi

THREE OUT OF FOUR DOOR LOCK ALARM SENSORS WENT BAD WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME WHEREAS WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPEN, THE CAR ALARM WOULD SOUND. THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS SO THAT IF KEYLESS ENTRY IS USED AND COMPUTER DOES NOT SENSE DOORS ARE OPEN, THE VEHICLE WILL RELOCK AFTER AN ALLOTTED TIME. THE VEHICLE SHOULD (AND USED TO) DISABLE THE ALARM AS SOON AS ANY OF THE DOORS OPENED. THE ALARM GOES OFF AFTER THE ALLOTTED TIME TO LOCK THE CAR AGAIN, EVEN WITH DOOR OPEN (EXCEPT FOR DRIVER'S SIDE). THIS PROVES INCREDIBLY INCONVENIENT WHILE PUTTING SLEEPING BABY BACK INTO CAR SEAT. HAVE HAD TWO BACK DOORS REPAIRED AT ABOUT $400 PER DOOR. FRONT PASSENGER DOOR NOT REPAIRED AS VW SERVICE COMPUTER REFUSES TO SEE ISSUE WITH SENSOR. REGARDLESS, ALARM SOUNDS WHILE DOOR IS OPEN. ALSO, LOCK SENSOR IN TRUCK FAILED WITH SIMILAR RESULTS. REPLACED AT $75. WHEN INQUIRED WHETHER ALARM COULD BE DISABLED, WAS TOLD IT IS TIED INTO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND WOULD LOSE FUNCTIONALITY OF HORN AND OTHER SYSTEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151534

Incident

Jan 7, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, UNDER ANY ACCELERATION, ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILS AND THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND. ONCE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE E-WAY, VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING AS IF GAS PEDAL WERE NOT DEPRESSED AND I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OVER TO SHOULDER TO AVOID BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF E-WAY. ANOTHER TIME I PULLED OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED, NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BOTH TIMES, EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN DASH CLUSTER - I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE PROBLEM BY SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING ENGINE. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAILED VALVE IN THE THROTTLE BODY. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE REPLIED "WELL, NOT ALL OF THEM FAIL." TO ME THIS IMPLIES A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING A PART THAT CONTROLS THE THROTTLE - THIS SHOULD NEVER FAIL! VW ALSO WOULD NOT HELP ME WHEN I WENT THROUGH 3 BRAKE SWITCHES (PART NOW SUBJECT TO RECALL). VEHICLE NEEDS NEW THROTTLE BODY. PART IS APPROX. $800 + LABOR. WHY WOULD THE THROTTLE FAIL ON A VEHICLE WELL UNDER 100,000 MILES? PRIMARY SYSTEMS (BRAKING, ACCELERATING) SHOULD NEVER FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109959

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE IN NEUTRAL CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. CONSUMER APPLIED FORCE AND PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081599

Incident

Jul 9, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS: THE VEHICLE LOSES SPEED CONTROL (ACCELERATION PEDAL NON-RESPONSIVE), THE EPC SENSOR LIGHT TURNS ON, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. WITHOUT SPEED CONTROL I MUST QUICKLY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID OBSTRUCTION OF FREE-FLOWING TRAFFIC. IF I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND TURN IT ON AGAIN, THE VEHICLE REGAINS SPEED CONTROL UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE (THERE IS NO PATTERN). MY MECHANICS HANDHELD COMPUTER HAS IDENTIFIED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH IS A BY-WIRE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. HAVING READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB, I SUSPECT THAT THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SPEED CONTROL DEVICE THAT COSTS ALMOST $700 TO REPLACE (EXCLUDING LABOR).*AK

NHTSA ID

10067569

Incident

Apr 14, 2004

Mileage

75,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THROTTLE SPEED SENSOR LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD FOR A MINUTE AND WENT OFF. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED CLEANING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067281

Incident

Apr 16, 2004

I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 VW JETTA AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV TO THE REDLINE. I THEN TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE RELEASED. MY WIFE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON A SIDE ROAD. THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, AND SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10054779

Incident

Jan 20, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN ENGINE REVVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055608

Mileage

43,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOESN'T NOT READ THE CORRECT SPEED THAT VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS, BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10031342

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

NHTSA ID

10014865

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.

NHTSA ID

10007946

Incident

Feb 21, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10006137

Incident

Jan 29, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10004050

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

AT FIRST START VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. CONSUMER DOES NOT RECALL IF GEAR WAS STILL IN PARK OR IN DRIVE. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE HARD AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007613

Incident

Apr 12, 2002

CAR ACCELERATED FROM 5 MPH UNTIL HIT THE CAR IN FRONT.BRAKE DIDN'T WORK.THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. DEALER INSULTED DRIVER INSTEAD OF A FOLLOWUP. *AK

NHTSA ID

747355

Incident

Jun 22, 2001

WHEN SHIFTING GEAR INTO REVERSE AND STEPPED ON BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE , AND THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE, VEHICLE ROARED UP, AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER.*AK WHEN GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACK ABOUT 2 FEET BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. THE CONSUMER'S INTERNET RESEARCH RESULT INDICATED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS OF THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

886444

Incident

Apr 23, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO SPEEDS OF 105 MPH.CLUTCH HAD TO BE DISENGAGE,D, BUT VEHICLE STILL WAS ACCELERATING. CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT CAR OFF, AND MADE IT TO SIDE TO ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID

880328

Incident

Feb 12, 2001

OIL LIGHT CAME ON 2000 MILES AFTER OILCHANGE/BURNING OR LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL,AND OIL LEVEL LOW. PASSENGER'S WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED WORKING, RESULTING IN WINDOW FALLING DOWN,. ALSO, ENGINE REVVED HIGH/ LIGHT SWITCH ON INTERIOR LIGHT FELL OFF/ FRONT RIGHT MICHELIN TIRE BLEWOUT, AND HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY. DEALER KEPT REPAIRING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER CONTACTED VW CO, AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HER, BUT NEVER DID. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS A LEMON. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

875011

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT (GOING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH) WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES AN HOUR. (I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE.) THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND IT JUMPED A CURB, CROSSED OVER AN ISLAND OF GRASS, A PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK AND LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TWO WAY STREET AND FINALLY STOPPED. LUCKILY, THRE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS OR VECHICLES IN MY WAY; OTHERWISE, A MAJOR ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AND COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS AND BASCIALLY BLAMED IT ON DRIVE ERROR. I ALSO CALLED VOLKSWAGEN. VOLKSWAGEN STATED THAT SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NO OTHER INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE INITIAL ONE. (I, OF COURSE, WAS CONVINCED THAT SOMEHOW I HAD CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE UNTIL I READ THE OTHER INCIDENTS IN THIS DATABASE.*AK

NHTSA ID

734255

Incident

Jul 14, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

729174

BEGINNING TO BRAKE AT RED LIGHT, ENGINE ACCELERATED TO REDLINE. BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD CAR. HAD TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID COLLISION. TURNED OFF IGNITION TO STOP HIGH RPM. *AK

NHTSA ID

723368

Incident

May 24, 2000

VEHICLE BURNS OIL (DOING SO FOR 9 MOS NOW), DEALER HAS BEEN RUNNING "TEST" ON CAR FOR 4 MOS. SAID MAY HAVE TO REPLACE ENGINE. AIR BAG LIGHT ON FIRST DAY OWNING, TOLD TO WAIT 2WKS FOR AN APPT AT WHICH WAS TOLD CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TRANSMISSION DIFFICULT TO SHIFT/ACCELERATION (MAKING TURNS, ENTERING HIGHWAYS, ETC.)

NHTSA ID

722235

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEAR ROUGHLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

860138

Incident

Apr 11, 2000