RoadVitals

1999 Volkswagen Jetta Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
81
Latest Jul 20, 2009
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.
23%
of 349 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 81 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 81, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Jul 20, 2009

VW WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK IN TO BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10277474
Incident
Jul 18, 2009
Mileage
136,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 16, 2008

WINDOW REGULATOR GOING BAD. RESEARCHED YOUR SITE AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. JUST PURCHASED CAR USED AND WAS UNAWARE OF PROBLEM AND OF COURSE IT IS TOO LATE FOR ANY EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECONCILED REGARDLESS OF TIMEFRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245649
Incident
Oct 1, 2008
Mileage
109,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 6, 2007

I OWN A 1999.5 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IV GLS. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO RECALL THEM. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A 7-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE PART. I HAVE HAD TO GET THE REGULATOR REPLACED ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW TWICE, DUE TO WINDOW FALLING INTO DOOR. THIS WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW (WHICH I HARDLY EVER USE) HAS FALLEN INTO THE DOOR. I AM NOW OUTSIDE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME $500 TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND $500 I DO NOT HAVE ON A PART THAT IS KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED TO BE FAULTY. THIS DEFECTIVE PART POSES SEVERAL DANGEROUS POSSIBILITIES. FOR EXAMPLE I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING WITH PLASTIC WHERE THE WINDOW SHOULD BE TO SECURE THE CAR FROM WEATHER AND INTRUDERS. I CAN HARDLY SEE THROUGH IT; THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, IT IS A HUGE BLIND SPOT. IF THERE IS AN ATTACKER I CAN NOT SHUT THE WINDOW. I CAN NOT SECURE THE CAR. IF THE WEATHER WAS BAD DRIVING WOULD BE DIFFICULT. SOMETIMES THE FAULTY REGULATORS MAKE THE WINDOWS STUCK CLOSED. IF THERE WAS A WRECK SOMEONE COULD GET TRAPPED INSIDE. PLEASE PUT PRESSURE ON VOLKSWAGEN TO DO A FULL RECALL ON THIS PART. EVERYONE WHO HAS A RECENT VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXPERIENCED THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND NEGLIGENT FOR VOLKSWAGEN NOT TO RECALL THIS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10184355
Incident
Mar 6, 2007
Mileage
91,650 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 12, 2005

IN MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, ALL FOUR POWER WINDOWS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE LAST 5 YEARS AND NOW ANOTHER HAS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A VERY SHODDY PRODUCT FROM WHAT USED TO BE A GREAT CAR COMPANY. I'VE BOUGHT THREE VW'S BUT NEVER AGAIN. SHAME ON VOLKSWAGEN! *JB

NHTSA ID
10144986
Incident
Dec 11, 2005
Visibility
Filed Sep 23, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JETTA OLD BODY STYLE. 4 DOOR SEDAN WITH 2. 0 LITER ENGINE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 1998. THE CAR HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM; 4 WINDOWS FELL DOWN DUE TO FAULTY WINDOW REGULATORS AND OR HOLDING CLIPS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEALER, WHO OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS OFFERED 4 TIMES .THEY REPAIRED THE WINDOWS 4 TIMES. CUSTOMER STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10137434
Incident
Sep 23, 2005
Visibility
Filed Apr 30, 2005

1999, VOLKSWAGEN, JETTA WOLFSBURG EDITION. FRONT AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT GO DOWN; BACK DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO DOOR. PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION COULD REPRESENT A HAZARD SHOULD THERE BE A WRECK AND THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE LET DOWN. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR WAS A SECURITY RISK, NOT ONLY FOR BEING ABLE TO SECURE THE CAR, BUT FROM SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO ENTER THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. VOLKSWAGEN HAD A SERVICE ORDER TO REPAIR THE KNOWN DEFECTIVE MECHANISM IN THE LATE MODEL 1999 CARS AND LATER, BUT IT DID NOT COVER THE EARLY 1999 MODELS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND DEFECTIVE PARTS. NEITHER THE DEALER ON LORAIN AVENUE IN NORTH OLMSTED CLEVELAND, OHIO NOR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL REPAIR THE DEFECT WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118762
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Mileage
86,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 24, 2004

MY 1999 VW JETTA WOLFSBURG HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MECHANISMS. 3 OF THE 4 WINDOWS HAVE FAILED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN, AND VW WILL ONLY COVER THE FRONT 2 WINDOWS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10088463
Incident
Jul 3, 2004
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2004

THE WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON 5 OCCASIONS. TWICE ON THE SAME TWO WINDOWS AND NOW TWO DIFFERENT WINDOWS ARE DEFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10087941
Incident
Mar 12, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 6, 2004

CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10087337
Incident
Aug 6, 2004
Visibility
Filed Aug 3, 2004

POWER WINDOW ON DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO DOWN DUE TO BAD REGULATOR AND POSSIBLE MOTOR. THIS IS THE 4TH WINDOW TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. INOPERABLE WINDOW, COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF ANY PERSON(S) IN VEHICLE. EXAMPLE:IN CASE OF FIRE THEY MAY NOT GET OUT, EXAMPLE : IN CASE OF ASSAULT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ROLL WINDOW UP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10086076
Incident
Aug 3, 2004
Mileage
84,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 27, 2004

WINDOW REGULATOR ON 1999 1/2 VW JETTA BROKE TWICE, AND DEALER CHARGED $87.00 FOR PART THAT MAY LAST ANOTHER 2,000MILES. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FOR GOOD.*AK

NHTSA ID
10082789
Incident
Jul 25, 2004
Mileage
63,024 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 29, 2004

DRIVERS WINDOW FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR WHILE THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR CHANGING OIL, FILTER, ETC. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH INSPECTION OF THE FAILED PART CLEARLY INDICATES INADEQUATE DESIGN......PLASTIC CLIPS FAILED RELEASING THE CHANNEL GUIDES AND ALLOWING THE WINDOW GLASS TO FALL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10079028
Incident
Jun 26, 2004
Mileage
96,445 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 1, 2004

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. IT WAS A NICE DAY SO I HAD THE FRONT WINDOWS OPEN PART WAY. WHEN I HIT THE EXPRESSWAY, I DECIDED TO PUT THE WINDOWS UP. WHEN I HIT THE SWITCH FOR THE PASSENGER WINDOW, I HEARD THE SOUND OF PLASTIC BREAKING. I LOOKED OVER AND SAW THE PASSENGER WINDOW FALL INTO THE DOOR. I DROVE HOME AND REMOVED THE PANEL TO FIND A COUPLE OF BROKEN PLASTIC CLIPS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED VOLKWAGEN YET, BUY APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10074634
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
117,700 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed May 21, 2004

I OWN A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON 2 OCCASIONS. A QUICK SURVEY OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072970
Incident
May 21, 2004
Visibility
Filed Apr 8, 2004

BOTH MY PASSEGER SIDE WINDOW AND THE REAR WINDOW OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK - I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT I CAN NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10065755
Incident
Jan 4, 2004
Interior & seatsExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Mar 12, 2004

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY HEADLIGHTS, DASHLIGHTS, HEATER/DEFROST, ALL WENT OUT AND MY E-BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. DO TO THE CONDITIONS AND THE COLD, MY WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP EXTEMEMLY QUICKLY AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE, ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS. I FIGURED OUT LATER ON, THAT BY MOVING THE IGNITION SWITCH AROUND, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS DUE TO MY MILITARY SCHEDULE. I AM DEPLPYED RIGHT NOW AND AM PLANNING TO CONTACT THE DEALER IN FARGO AS SOON AS I RETURN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10062053
Incident
Jan 12, 2004
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
10070800
Incident
Oct 15, 2002
Mileage
53,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 4, 2003

POWER WINDOWS ARE WINDING DOWN BY THEMSELVES AND HAPPENED TWICE (10/3/03-10/04/03). I GO OUTSIDE AND ALL THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN. IF SOMEONE STEALS MY CAR , THEN VW WILL HAVE TO BUY BE ANOTHER! *LA

NHTSA ID
10041230
Incident
Oct 3, 2003
Mileage
72,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 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 SUNROOF COVER AND THE SUNROOF HAVE BOTH FAILED ONCE. THE GAS TANK COVER FAILED TWICE. THE FRONT CLUTCH DROPPED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT 24500 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WORK WITH ME ON EXPENSES ($600 TO FIX). THE VW SYMBOL ON ALL 4 TIRES HAVE FALLEN OFF (ONLY IN PLACE WITH ADHESIVE).*AK

NHTSA ID
10033051
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Mileage
26,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 21, 2003

FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS FALLEN INTO THE DOOR AND WILL NOT COME UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10028718
Incident
Jul 20, 2003
Visibility
Filed Jul 13, 2003

REGULATOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKE AGAIN. RECENTLY REPAIRED CUP HOLDER FELL APART AGAIN. CAR SELF-LOCKS (LOCKS ME OUT OF MY CAR BY ITSELF) PLUS I PAID FOR NUMEROUS OTHER COMMON PROBLEMS LISTED BY OTHERS. VOLKSWAGEN NEVER TAKES CARE IF THEIR KNOWN PROBLEMS. CONSUMERS NEED TO GET TOGETHER & FILE CLASS ACTION SUITS!!!! *AK

NHTSA ID
10025992
Incident
Jul 13, 2003
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Jun 27, 2003

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED BECAUSE CEL ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FAILURE OF SAME. AFTER SOME TESTING, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING APPROXIMATELY 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BEGAN ARCING. REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT SIGNAL BULB DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP ON THE BULB. ALSO REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY. RIGHT OUTER CV BOOT WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING GREASE ON 5/22/2002 AND AGAIN ON 4/29/2003; IN BOTH CASES IT WAS REPLACED. BATTERY DIED ON 3/10/2003. ON 7/9/2002, THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN ITS RETRACTOR AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. ON 10/1/2001, THE DRIVER'S FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AFTER THE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10023910
Incident
Nov 14, 2002
Visibility
Filed Jun 22, 2003

THE AUTO UP FEATURE OF MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS NOT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE TIME, THE WINDOW DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. INSTEAD, IT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTS. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER IN FARGO ND DURING THE TWO YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE CAR. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE THE CAR WAS IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023555
Incident
Nov 15, 1999
Mileage
100 mi
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+3 more
Filed Jun 20, 2003

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL RECALLS/ AND SEVERAL PROBLEMS: DOME LIGHT, VANITY MIRRORS, EMISSIONS PROBLEMS, ETC... *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH: THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS, INTERIOR TRIM HAD COME LOOSE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE PASSENGER VANITY MIRROR LIGHT DID NOT SHUT OFF, THE CUP HOLDER WAS JAMMED AND HAD BROKEN, THE DRIVER WINDOW SOUNDED AS IF AIR WAS COMING IN THE VEHICLE, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HINGES HAD BROKEN, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE RADIO WAS TURNED OFF, THE SENSORS NEVER SEEMED TO WORK, THE OIL DIPSTICK HAD GIVEN ABNORMAL READINGS(SHOWING LOW WHEN OIL WAS JUST CHANGED), THE LEAN OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT BUT STAYED ON, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO NOISE WHICH ENDED AFTER THE REPAIR(THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME BACK ON). *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10022531
Incident
Mar 16, 2003
Visibility
Filed Apr 21, 2003

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW (FIRST FRONT, THEN 1 WEEK LATER REAR) REGULATORS FAILED. CAR WAS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD AT TIME. COST ME ALMOST $1,000 THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016244
Incident
Jul 16, 2001
Mileage
28,500 mi

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 .