AI Damage1999 Volkswagen Volkswagen: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Volkswagen Volkswagen filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 60% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 20% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 20% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Visibility: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalls in the middle of traffic. This has occurred 6 or 7 times in the last 2 years. The dealer has been unable to remedy the problem.
I have a 1999 vw passat v6 with 94000 miles. Around 92000, in the summer of 2005, my abs lights started flashing and has been flashing since. After research on the internet it turns out the abs module is defective and causing premature malfunction of the abs unit.
I get a solid abs light & then a blinking brake light when I start the car and I have seen that there are many many volkvagen passat owners who have this problem.
Abs light stays on. Dealer says the module stopped communicating. Parts and labor approx. $1000.
The windows are all inoperable except for 1. I replaced on of the motors and the whole frame supporting the motor and that too became inoperable after some time. I have spoken with other jetta drivers with the same body style as mine, and they are having the same problems also.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Volkswagen has 5 complaints (21 years in the data). This year has 5, about average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Volkswagen Volkswagen?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine and cooling, visibility. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (20%), windows, sunroof (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Volkswagen Volkswagen?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Volkswagen Volkswagen from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.