Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 80 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.
The 25 most recent of 80, in the owner's own words
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RECALLS ON MY JETTA. I CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I TOOK IT TO 4 REPAIR SHOP AND NO ONE COULD FIND WHATS WRONG WITH IT. I'VE PAID OVER 1200 ON OTHER REPAIRS. WHAT CAN I DO . *TR THANKS CHRISTINA
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
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY JETTA TAKES LONG TO SHIFT ## VIN PASSED ## VOLKSWAGEN,JETTA,1999 ## *KB
COOLANT SYSTEM EXTERNAL LEAK WAS FIXED, HOSES REPLACED AND CONNECTOR THAT ATTACHES TO ENGINE WAS REPLACED ALSO. LEAK COMES BACK , REPLACED ANOTHER HOSE., THEN THE WORSE STARTS, THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING AND THE CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE ANTIFREEZE. GOT HEATER CORE REPLACED, BUT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR SMELLS HORRIBLE,.EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY 1999 JETTA, I GET THIS METALLIC TASTE IN MY MOUTH AND THROAT. THE STUFF IS DEFINITELY TOXIC, AND THE AF CONTAINER READS POISONOUS. BECOMES A TORTURE TO DRIVE MY JETTA I HATE THE METALLIC TASTE IN MY MOUTH. THE DESIGN OFF SOME OF THE HEATING SYSTEM INCLUDES PLASTIC COMPONENTS THAT MAY NOT TAKE THE HEAT WELL SPECIALLY AT THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE ENGINE. DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND SIMILAR CASES WITH INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAKS ON VW JETTAS. THIS FUMES CAN REALLY RUIN YOUR DRIVING EXPERIENCE NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBLE DETRIMENT ON YOUR HEALTH DUE TO BREATHING IN A CONTAMINATED ATMOSPHERE THANKS FOR LOOKING INTO THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
LEAK IN COOLING SYSTEM CAUSING MIGRATION TO WATER PUMP, HEATER CORE, AND ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. HAVING TO REPLACE ALL 3. CAR STALLS AT RANDOM TIMES IN BUSY TRAFFIC, POSING POTENTIAL ACCIDENT PROBLEM. CAUSED TOXIC FUMES TO COME THROUGH HEAT VENTS IN CAR. *TR
ABOUT EVERY 2,000 MILES, THE ENGINE IN MY 1999 MK IV VOLKSWAGEN JETTA STARTS TICKING, AND I CHECK MY OIL, AND IM A QUART LOW. EVERYTIME. THE ENGINE QUALITY IS STEADILY DECLINING. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY, NOR DO I TRUST MECHANICS WITH THE CAR. *TR
''PART 3 OF ORIGINAL COMPLAINT--I PHONED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION IN MICHIGAN, MARGARET THERE TOLD ME THAT THEIR POSITION IS TO SUPPORT THE DEALER. THEY WOULD RECORD MY COMPLAINT. I ASKED FOR A DOCUMENT IN PRINT- A MANUAL- THAT GIVES ME THIS PARTICULAR "SPECIFICATION". SHE HAD ME ON HOLD FOR 15 MINUTES AND COULD NOT FIND SUCH DOCUMENTATION, I ASKED HER TO LOCATE IT AND INCLUDE IT IN MY LETTER OF RECORD THEY ARE SENDING ME. ''I SPOKE TO A DIFFERENT VW DEALER, HE SAID TO SPEAK TO THE "FACTORY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE" THE APOLLO DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GIVE ME HIS NAME OR PHONE NUMBER AND TOLD ME TO CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE,-- THEY SAID THE FACTORY FIELD REP WOULD SUPPORT THE DEALER AND HAD NO CONTACT NUMBER FOR HIM EITHER. THEY ARE ALL IN BED TOGETHER. ''WHY THEN IS IT NOT WITHIN THE "SPECIFICATIONS" OF THE SAME MANUFACTURER BUT A DIFFERENT DEALER IN CALIFORNIA THAT ASSISTED MY SISTER? ''GROUP OF DOCUMENTATION (ITEM SET 6) ENCLOSED IS MY BRIEF INTERNET RESEARCH OF 4 SITES THAT INCLUDE 39 ENTRIES ON MESSAGE BOARD, LETTERS, COMPLAINTS TO THE SAME AS MINE WITH VERY POIGNANT AND DISTURBING RESPONSES FROM THE EXPERIENCED MECHANICS THAT MONITORED THE WEB SITE. "CONSIDER CLASS ACTION SUIT" AMONG OTHERS I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED FOR YOUR EASE OF RECOGNITION. MY CARSTATS2, AUTOREPAIR, AUTO TECH REPAIR 2 GOOGLE GROUPS VW DRINKS OIL 6 PAGES- 13 CASES VW BURNS OIL 8 PAGES, 21 MESSAGES 2+1+2+13+21= 39 INCIDENTS IN 4 WEB SITES ''PLUS EDMUNDS.COM 1 CONSUMER FULL DOCUMENTATION OF ISSUE, REFERENCE TO SUGGESTING AVOID THE JETTA TO A POTENTIAL CONSUMER AND REFERENCE TO A CLASS ACTION SUIT. '' VOLKSWAGEN IS HIDING THIS MAJOR ISSUE UNDER THE SKIRT OF THEIR SUB STANDARD "SPECIFICATIONS." ''I AM ALSO DRIVING WITH A SIGN IN MY JETTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND PART IT AND LEAVE A SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD ABOUT THE SAME THING. *JB
THIS IS MY SCENARIO: EACH 3,000-4,000 MILE OIL CHANGE, OFTEN THERE WAS NO REGISTER ON THE DIP STICK OF MY JETTA. JETTA MANUAL STATES OIL CHANGE RECOMMENDED EVERY 10,000 MILES ITEM 2 THERE ARE NO DRIPS UNDER THE VEHICLE OR SMOKING EVER. THERE IS NO OIL SPLASHED UPON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD TO INDICATE GASKET PROBLEMMY SISTER WHO OWNS THE SAME CAR IN CALIFORNIA HAD MADE ME AWARE OF THE SAME SITUATION WITH HER JETTA AND TOLD ME HER DEALER APPROACHED HER AND SHE CONFIRMED THEIR QUESTIONS OF LOOSING OIL. THEY INITIATED AND COMPLETED SATISFYING HER AS A CUSTOMER BY RESOLVING THE SITUATION. I HAVE INCLUDED THE INVOICE OF HER REPAIR TO HER JETTA. ITEM 3REALIZING MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SAME MILEAGE RANGE, AND CONCERNED THAT FURTHER AND WORSE DAMAGE COULD BE DONE, I PERUSED THE ISSUE WITH MY LOCAL DEALER "DAY APOLLO" IN MOON TOWNSHIP, PA. RELEVANT CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON INVOICES FROM THEM. APOLLO DID AN OIL CHANGE AND FOLLOWED UP WITH "OIL CONSUMPTION WATCH" FOR THE NEXT 3000 MILES THAT TOOK FROM MAY 12, 2006- AUGUST 28, 2006 TO COMPLETE THOUGH IRREGULAR INTERVALS FROM 82,856 MILES TO 84,920 MILES = 2,064 MILES IT WAS DOWN QUART OF OIL. AT 85,860 MILES- 3002 MILES FROM THE START, AND ONLY ANOTHER 904 MILES FROM THE PREVIOUS CHECK, THE OIL WAS LOW A FULL QUART OF OIL.= 1 QT IN 1610 MI. OITEM SET 4 - ARE COPIES OF THE STUDY. OITEM 5 LETTER FROM VW CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATES .85 QT. OIL LOSS IN 1000 MILES = 2.55 QT. OIL LOSS IN 3000 MILES. ??CONSULTING SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS I WAS VEHEMENTLY TOLD THAT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE OIL LOSS IN THAT AMOUNT OF MILES. APOLLO VW DEALER, HOWEVER, IN THEIR RHETORIC, AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A LADY ALONE, STATED THAT IT IS WITHIN THEIR STANDARDS. THE STANDARDS ARE LOW ENOUGH TO COVER THEIR BACKS THAT A BICYCLE COULD BE WITH IN THE "SPECIFICATIONS". *JB
BEGAN OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY MAY 2006 BUT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE PRIOR AND PRESENT. THIS IS A COPY OF SOME INFORMATION I SENT TO VWOA A. I WENT THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOO. VWA CONTINUES TO DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM, IT IS IN SPECIFICATIONS BUT DO NOT TELL ME WHAT IS ABNORMAL OIL USAGE. I HAD A RECALL SO WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE SERVICE WITH MY EDITORIAL SIGN ON THE JETTA, THAT I HAD SENT TO MR. WITTER - VWA- THE DEALER HAS NOW REFUSED ANY FURTHER SERVICE OF MY VEHICLE THERE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES, AND THEY HAVE SHUT THE DOOR WITH THE VAGUE "WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS" RHETORIC. I AM TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE TO BURN A QUART OF OIL IN 1000-3000 MILES NOT EVEN REGISTER ON THE DIP STICK, IS WITH IN THE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. IT HAS 85,000 MILES AND HAS THE EXTENDED 120,000 MILE / 10 YEAR WARRANTY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CONTINUED ON NEW COMPLAINT *JB
1999 JETTA'S OIL PAN THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND DRAIN PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS *NM
COOLANT LEAKING FROM COOLANT RESERVOIR BOTTLE WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAMINATES THE WIRING HARNESS. *NM
FITZGERALD OF ANNAPOLIS FAILED TO REPLACE THE STRETCH BOLTS WHEN THEY CHANGED THE TIMING BELT AT 40K MILES. AT 130K MILES, THE BOLTS GAVE AND THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF THE CAR. I REPAIRED THIS AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR. AT 140K THE MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE ENGINE BLOCK SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE FELL OUT AGAIN. THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE TWICE IN WHICH THEY HAVE CLEANED THE THROTTLE . THIS PROVIDED A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITHIN AN HOUR. A MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.*AK
THE CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE. *NM THE MECHANIC FOUND SERVICE CODE STORED FOR FUEL TRIM. *SC THE MECHANIC REPLACED A DEFECTIVE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE SIGNAL LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE IT BLINKED VERY FAST. *JB
UPON STARTING VEHICLE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE RAN FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN STALLED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING. A "TOO RICH CODE," AND THE PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR ATTEMPTS FOR THE VACUUM LEAKS, OXYGEN SENSORS, THE RICH RUNNING OF THE ENGINE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND CONNECTOR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK. THERE WAS A VACUUM LEAK AND THE INTAKE BOOT HAD COME OFF, THE DOOR HINGES WERE LOOSE, AND NOISE HAD COME FROM THE STARTER MOTOR DUE TO AN INTERNAL SHORT. *SC
O2 SENSOR & MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WERE REPLACED AS PART OF A COMPAIGN AFTER THEY WENT BAD. LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER, O2 SENSOR HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. VW REFUSES TO REPLACE SAYING IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. COMPLAINED THAT SENSORS WERE REPLACED AT THE VERY START OF THE COMPAIGN LONG BEFORE LETTERS WERE EVER SENT OUT AND THAT I COULD HAVE RECEIVED THE OLD SENSOR. VW WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY PROOF THAT THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS WERE THE UPDATED SENSORS AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR. NEW SENSOR LASTED LESS THAN 2 YEARS/40000MILES.*AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY COMES ON DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF O2, MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS. *AK
THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE. THIS PART HAD TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT COOLANT LOSS. I HAD TO PURCHASE THE PART AND PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED.*AK
I HAVE A NEW 1999 VW JETTA TDI AND I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BREAKING OIL PANS. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GROUNG CLEARANCE WITH THE CAR. I AM ON MT 3RD OIL PAN AND GOING ON THE 4TH. *AK
2 DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASE THE CAR A BRAKE SHOE BRAKET CAME OFF AND WAS RUBBING THE REAR ROTOR. JULY, 3 WINDOWS WENT BAD, 2 WERE THE WIRING AND 1 WAS THE MOTOR. OCTOBER THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACED PLUS WHEEL ALIGNMENT. SEPTEMBER THE EXHUAST BROKE OFF BEHIND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER I HAD IT FIXED MYSELF. THE EXHUAST HAD ALSO BROKE OFF 6 MONTHS EARLIER IN FRONT OF THE MUFFLER BUT I FIXED IT. ONE WINDOW THAT THEY FIXED IN JULY 2002 WENT BAD AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2003 AND NEEDED FIXED. THE REAR BRAKE ON THE SAME WHEEL THAT THEY FIXED IN JANUARY OF 2001 HAS GONE BAD NOW. I'M DONE WITH THIS CAR. IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THEN I HAVE EVER HAD ANY CAR COMBINED. THANKS
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 THIS.FIXED. MAYBE, HOPE. NOW, CAR DIES ON HIGHWAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON ABOVE SPEEDS OF 50+, MOMENTARILY, AND THEN STARTS AGAIN. THE DRINK HOLDER HAS NOW BROKEN, SON HAS TO PUT AA BATTERY ABOVE CASSETTE TO HAVE SOUND COMING FROM ALL SPEAKERS. EMERGENCY FLASHERS STARTED MAKING CRACKING NOISES, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS?, NOT MY VW. AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING 1 MONTH AGO. WENT TO MECHANIC TODAY, HE SAYS COMPRESSOR. HAVE YOU PRICED A COMPRESSOR? $840. DEALER ONLY PART,GO FIGURE, AREN'T THEY ALL. WIPERS ARE NOT GOOD, REPLACED 2 TIMES. SO GLAD I DON'T HAVE POWER WINDOWS AND AUTO TRANS. I READ WHAT SOMEONE WROTE, "I LOVE MY CAR". IT'S A [XXX] SHAME ISN'T IT ,THAT WE PUT THIS MUCH CONFIDENCE INTO A CAR DEALER TO BE THIS DISAPPOINTED. ALL VW JETTA'S SHOULD READ "MADE IN MEXICO" EMBLAZENED - I DON'T KNOW WHERE. IF CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED, POST HERE. I GOT A LEMON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. DEALER DID ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE. CONSUMER HAS DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THIS AND OTHER SAFETY ISSUES IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
FOR THE SECOND TIME THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE CRACKED AND BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT ON VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS UNAWARE OF WAY IT KEEPS OCCURRING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR *CB
CONSUMER NOTICED THE EPC LIGHT CAME WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, POWER FAILURE ON DOOR LOCKS AND ALARM. *NLM
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.
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