RecallRepo

1999 Volkswagen Jetta Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1999 Volkswagen Jetta has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,623,805 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 488 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06V183000 2006-05-24 646,246 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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 OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 04V096000 2004-02-20 377,130 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence

IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

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THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183.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.

EQUIPMENT 03V156000 2003-04-23 9,811 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

UNDER INFLATED TIRES CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING, AND DRIVING WITH SUBSTANTIALY UNDER INFLATED TIRES PUTS THE CONSUMER AT A RISK FOR A CRASH.

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 UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VW AT…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 02V026000 2002-01-25 487,284 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

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 EVENT OF TIRE DISINTEGRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR…

STRUCTURE 99V251000 1999-09-17 67,076 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT THE CLIP FROM BREAKING ON IMPACT AND RESULT IN LESS DEFORMATION IN THE IMPACTED AREA AND A HIGHER DECLERATION OF THE HEAD FORM, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TRIM COVER FROM EACH OF THE B PILLARS AND INSTALL A NEW COVER.

STRUCTURE 99V022000 1999-02-05 36,258 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MATTING MATERIALS FROM INSIDE THE B-PILLAR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE.

Complaints by component

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
59
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
25
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
20
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
19
1crashes1fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
18
14crashes12injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
17
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
17
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
16
3crashes4injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12
Total complaints488

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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”

ENGINE · reported 2013-05-01

“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”

SUSPENSION · reported 2013-05-01

“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”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2013-05-01

“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 bellowing from beneath the steering column. The smoke disappeared after some time. The contact then…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2013-03-17

“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 bellowing from beneath the steering column. The smoke disappeared after some time. The contact then…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2013-03-17

“The transmission on my jetta takes long to shift ## vin passed ## volkswagen,jetta,1999 ## *kb”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2011-11-25

“The transmission on my jetta takes long to shift ## vin passed ## volkswagen,jetta,1999 ## *kb”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · reported 2011-11-25

“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…”

ENGINE · reported 2011-08-12

Defect investigations

Investigation EA00028 Opened 2000-12-28 · closed 2002-01-29

FUEL TANK PUNCTURE

Investigation PE00033 Opened 2000-08-10 · closed 2000-12-28

FUEL TANK PUNCTURE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

Investigation PE99007 Opened 1999-01-29 · closed 1999-02-08

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE

IN ITS LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 4, 1999, VOLKSWAGEN STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL APPROXIMATELY 23,600 REDESIGNED 1999 JETTA AND GOLF 4-DOOR VEHICLES, OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY 11,000 HAVE BEEN SOLD TO CUSTOMERS, TO CORRECT A DEFECT THATMAY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE PASSENGEER COMPARTMENT AFTER A VEHICLE COLLISION.A SOUND…

Investigation RQ03010 Opened 2003-12-17 · closed 2004-03-01

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH

THE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND MANUFACTURER FAILURE REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING AND OR INACCURATE INFORMATION.THE INJURY NOTED ABOVE WAS MINOR.ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. (VW) SUBMITTED A DEFECT NOTIFICATION (PER 49CFR573) TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY…

Investigation RQ06004 Opened 2006-02-28 · closed 2006-08-07

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246…

Investigation RQ06004 Opened 2006-02-28 · closed 2006-08-07

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.