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1999 Volkswagen Jetta Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, and owners have filed 349 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
349
owner complaints to NHTSA
33 / 9
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–38
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 06V183000 Reported 646,246 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

    On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v-265 or 04v-096.

    Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall…

  2. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 04V096000 Reported 377,130 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

    On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.

    Remedy: This recall has been superceded by 06v-183. Owners who have had a remedy performed under this recall should return to their dealer for the redesigned remedy. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

  3. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 03V156000 Reported 9,811 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.8l vr6 engines fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the recommended cold tire inflation pressure published on the label for tires of the size 205/50 r15 86h is 0.1 bar (1.45 PSI) too low. It should be 2.5 bar (36.3…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with corrected labels, or a dealer can install the label if the owner wishes. Owner notification began september 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed…

  4. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 02V026000 Reported 487,284 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates.

    Remedy: Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the…

  5. Frame and members (structure)

    NHTSA 99V251000 Reported 67,076 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles do not comply with the head injury criterion requirements of FMVSS no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." the upper retainer clip near the bp1 impact location is designed to break when impacted by the head form. In some cases, the material of the trim part may…

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.

  6. Frame and members (structure)

    NHTSA 99V022000 Reported 36,258 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The sound absorbing mat attached to the inside of the b-pillar side trim panel could have been improperly installed. Surface and edges of the mat could have been damaged during the assembly process. It could ignite when exposed to the exhaust gas of the seat belt pre-tensioner igniter in the…

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the matting materials from inside the b-pillar on both sides of the vehicle.

349 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta have filed 349 complaints with NHTSA; 33 describe a crash and 9 describe a fire. Reports cite 29 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,688 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 69 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 18, 2013 · Engine

“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, smoke began to fill the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle and saw that smoke was bellowi”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 2, 2013 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta (New Jetta). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–38 mpg
City / Highway16–35 / 23–44
FuelDiesel, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 1.9/2/2.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Volkswagen Jetta model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Jetta model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1980 Volkswagen Jetta10
1981 Volkswagen Jetta30
1982 Volkswagen Jetta10
1983 Volkswagen Jetta10
1984 Volkswagen Jetta11
1985 Volkswagen Jetta313
1986 Volkswagen Jetta214
1987 Volkswagen Jetta318
1988 Volkswagen Jetta719
1989 Volkswagen Jetta428
1990 Volkswagen Jetta522
1991 Volkswagen Jetta531
1992 Volkswagen Jetta230
1993 Volkswagen Jetta417
1994 Volkswagen Jetta5117
1995 Volkswagen Jetta4220
1996 Volkswagen Jetta131
1997 Volkswagen Jetta154
1998 Volkswagen Jetta2192
1999 Volkswagen Jetta6349
2000 Volkswagen Jetta4439
2001 Volkswagen Jetta6668
2002 Volkswagen Jetta5702
2003 Volkswagen Jetta2456
2004 Volkswagen Jetta2231
2005 Volkswagen Jetta4248
2006 Volkswagen Jetta4580
2007 Volkswagen Jetta4201
2008 Volkswagen Jetta4188
2009 Volkswagen Jetta6888
2010 Volkswagen Jetta4852
2011 Volkswagen Jetta7607
2012 Volkswagen Jetta5500
2013 Volkswagen Jetta4517
2014 Volkswagen Jetta4386
2015 Volkswagen Jetta7194
2016 Volkswagen Jetta4161
2017 Volkswagen Jetta6159
2018 Volkswagen Jetta231
2019 Volkswagen Jetta11549
2020 Volkswagen Jetta653
2021 Volkswagen Jetta469
2022 Volkswagen Jetta143
2023 Volkswagen Jetta043
2024 Volkswagen Jetta044
2025 Volkswagen Jetta229
2026 Volkswagen Jetta16

Checking a specific 1999 Volkswagen Jetta

How do I know if my 1999 Volkswagen Jetta has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V026000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Volkswagen models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.