1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — Owner-Reported Problems
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 343 complaints · 7 recalls
Verdict & Safety Summary
Most-reported system: VISIBILITY (68 complaints · 19.8%)
Safety signals:
- Crashes 33
- Fires 7
- Injuries 28
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Component Problem Distribution
Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | 68 | 19.8% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| ENGINE | 57 | 16.6% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 32 | 9.3% | 2 crashes · 5 fires |
| AIR BAGS | 24 | 7.0% | 16 crashes · 0 fires |
| POWER TRAIN | 23 | 6.7% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 22 | 6.4% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| SEAT BELTS | 20 | 5.8% | 2 crashes · 1 fires |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 20 | 5.8% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| STRUCTURE | 17 | 5.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 269 | 78.4% | 25 crashes · 6 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Problem & Recall Timeline
Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time
- Campaign 02V026000 was reported 975 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 03V156000 was reported 1,598 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 04V096000 was reported 1,526 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 06V183000 was reported 2,350 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 14E007000 was reported 5,518 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 1999-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 1999-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 1999-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 1999-Q4 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2000-Q1 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2000-Q2 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2000-Q3 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2000-Q4 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2001-Q1 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2001-Q2 | Owner reports | 22 | |
| 2001-Q3 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2001-Q4 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2002-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2002-Q2 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2002-Q3 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2003-Q2 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2004-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2004-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2004-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2005-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2005-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2005-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2005-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2006-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2006-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2006-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2007-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2007-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2007-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2008-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2008-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2008-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2009-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2010-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2010-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2010-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2011-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 99V022000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 99V251000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 02V026000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 03V156000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 04V096000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06V183000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14E007000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE99007 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE00033 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA00028 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ03010 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ06004 |
Safety Recalls (7)
Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 02V026000
- Report date
- Component:
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- 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 VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 03V156000
- Report date
- Component:
- EQUIPMENT
- 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 1-800-893-5298.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 04V096000
- Report date
- Component:
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- 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.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 06V183000
- Report date
- Component:
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- 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 THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 14E007000
- Report date
- Component:
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Consequence:
- A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy:
- Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 99V022000
- Report date
- Component:
- STRUCTURE
- 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.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 99V251000
- Report date
- Component:
- STRUCTURE
- 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.
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Complaint Narrative Explorer
Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Showing 0 of 343 complaints · page 1 of 14
No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.