Model year record

1999 Volkswagen GTI recalls & problems

The 1999 Volkswagen GTI has 2 safety recalls and 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints8filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingFeb 20, 2007

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 07V0630001,002,000 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. 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.

Fuel system, gasolineApr 19, 2005

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 05V15400030,708 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND DOUBLE-LAYER FUEL TANKS, TENSION ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE TO CRACK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LEAK.
Risk: LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FOR TENSION, AND INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE FOR CRACKING. IF NECESSARY THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

GTI

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

GTI

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

GTI

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition; Wiring	3	—
VisibilityPower window devices and controls	2	—
Vehicle speed control	1	—
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system	1	—
Unknown or other	1	—
Seat beltsRear/other	1	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	—
Air bagsSide/window	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags › Side/window
AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE-AIR-BAG ATTENUATOR ON MY 1999 VW GTI (NEW GTI) HAS NEEDED SERVICE. FIRST TIME WAS JUST AFTER CAR WENT OFF WARRANTY. VW REGIONAL AGREED TO PAY. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM -- HAD TO CALL VW REGIONAL TO MOUNT THE CASE FOR THEM TO PAY, AND THEY DID. 11 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP PAID FOR REPAIR SAYING IT WAS COVERED BY THEIR 12MO/12K MILE SERVICE WARRANTY. 11 MONTHS LATER -- SAME PROBLEM, DEALER PAID. NOW, 5 MONTHS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Oct 1, 2007
Electrical system › Wiring
I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING SO I WENT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND COOLANT MIGRATION. THE COOLANT APPARENTLY MIGRATED THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE ENTIRE WIRE HARNESS AND PART OF MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOW INOPERABLE DUE TO THE MIGRATION. I WAS QUOTED A $3,800 ESTIMATE AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES. I PERFORMED ONLINE RESEARCH AND SEVERAL 1999 VW'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT THAT DRIPPED COOLANT OVER THE WIRE HARNESS. THERE IS EVEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FILED WITH THE NHTSA THAT INSTRUCTS VW HOW TO REPLACE TO MASSIVE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY WILL NOT…
May 21, 2007 · 67,380 miles
Seat belts › Rear/other
THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT OF MY 1999.5 VOLKSWAGEN GTI TRAPPED A PASSENGER IN MY CAR. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND WOULD NO LONGER RETRACT OR EXTEND, WHICH LEFT A PASSENGER STUCK IN MY CAR RECENTLY (IT WAS NECESSARY TO UNBOLT THE SEAT BELT TO FREE THE PASSENGER). THE UNIT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GOLF/GTI OWNERS IN THE 1999-2005 YEAR RANGE, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND HAS OCCURRED SPECIFICALLY. I BELIEVE THIS CLEARLY SHOWS PRODUCT DEFECT AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN OBTAIN AND SUBMIT PROOF THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SEVERAL OTHER GOLF/GTI MODEL VEHICLES IF NECESSARY, THERE IS A VERY LARGE VW…
Jul 6, 2006 · 118,861 miles
Unknown or other
SAFETY RECALL UU 1999-2000 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A GASOLINE ENGINE INSPECT FUEL SUPPLY MODULE FOR LEAKS AND INSTALL CONNECTOR ON FUEL LINE; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLE MODULE IF NECESSARY. *MR WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CONSUMER FELT A BUMP AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER THEN SMELLED GAS. THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, LINE AND FITTING ON THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED. RECALL CAMPAIGN #05V154000. *SC
Aug 1, 2005
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
THE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL.I'VE HAD 2 FAIL ON ME WITH IN A YEARS TIME. I NOW FEAR THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP WHENEVER I ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN.*AK
Aug 1, 2001
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
THIS IS A KNOW PART FAILURE FOR ALL 1999.5-2001 VOLKSWAGENS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Oct 1, 2001
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE NEW GOLF'S AND JETTA'S THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY VWOA. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
Nov 1, 2000
Electrical system › Ignition
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH RPM WILL GO OVER 1500 AND ENGINE WILL DIE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS COIL PACK THAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. *AK
Dec 19, 2000

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

FUEL PUMP LEAKSClosedLed to recall 05V154000
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004, BASED ON FIVE CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP.BY LETTER OF APRIL 14, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (VOLKSWAGEN) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 35,000 GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN WOLFSBURG GERMANY FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN MARKET.THE RECALLED VEHICLES ARE IN MODEL YEARS 1999 AND 2000 AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES.VOLKSWAGEN HAS IDENTIFIED A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FROM THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (PUMP) TO THE FUEL FILTER MAY COME UNDER TENSION. IN THIS CONDITION THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN A GASOLINE LEAK.VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR TENSION ON THE FUEL LINE AND CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE.IF TENSION IS FOUND IN THE LINE, IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED LINE.IF THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE IS CRACKED, THE LINE…
PE04079 · opened Nov 29, 2004 · closed Apr 19, 2005