1999 Jetta (new style) Problems
Hi all. I have been thinking a site just like this one was needed, and wow, here it is!
I have a 1999 VW Jetta GLS. As many on this board have expressed, I love driving the car, but all the other problems — my front passenger window has fallen out TWICE, just for starters — are INEXCUSABLE.
I firmly believe that there are rampant problems with the car that are model-wide.
Here are some of my Jetta peeves. Anyone else have similar experiences?
1) Car designed too low for U.S. road use:
– air dams break off or tear when front end protrudes over a curb
– I’ve lost my oil pan cover 3 times now!! (Once due to road snow.)
2) Peeling interior surfaces
– should use of dry skin cream on leg make console peel?
3) Substandard exterior paint
– peels and scratches if you just “”look”" at it
4) Defective control knobs
– my entire moonroof control panel had to be replaced!)
5) Malfunctioning electronic door locks
-anyone else have “”sticky”" door locks that don’t always lock the door when you hit the remote?
6) Faulty engine sensors/alarms.
– at 60k, my dash alarms started going off periodically and randomly for no apparent reason. Oil light flashing on for 30-45 seconds. Engine light another time. Then brake light. For a while, my brake warning light would turn on whenever I went around a tight curve. Dealer always blames me: “”oil light comes on because you let Jiffy Lube change oil and they use non-manufacturer oil filter.”" Then it was “”it’s probably a clog in your oil screen; that happens when you don’t change your oil often enough.”"
7) Electronic key w/remote that comes apart repeatedly. (Don’t people ever drop their keys on the floor in Germany?)
These are just a FEW problems I’ve had. Some others were corrected under an extended warranty I bought (thank goodness). But I’m fed up with the nonsense, repeated visits to the dealer, and with having the service representative blame me when things malfunction. Anyone else?
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Susan Said,
October 11, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
1999 Jetta (new style) Problems – Hey, Mike. Sorry to hear about your Jetta problems. It sounds like my 2000 golf. My moonroof control panel broke recently, too. And the interior surfaces are starting to peel. And I have battled the infamous check engine light for two years now.
Find yourself a private, trusted, foreign auto mechanic.
peterd1965 Said,
October 13, 2003 @ 12:00 pm
1999 Jetta (new style) Problems – Wow – I always loved VW’s and my early car buying days were in late 80’s – 90’s. Many of my friends had VW and I was amazed about the amount of problems. Truthfully I think there parents bought them thinking inexpensive BMW. I bought a used ‘89 Subaru and ran it deep into six figures. Oil change & timing belt then after a several accidedents(x-wife) bought a Nissan. Bottom line I never had an electrical problem, a bad window, poor starting, etc. I avoided vW until 2000 thinking the new models had the bugs worked out. Ironically my dealer told me I was lucky as the car I bought was one of the last coming from Mexico. Adding that Mexico had finally go their build bugs worked out BUT the newer ones were coming from Brazil – and “they are working some bugs out”.
WDSBarry Said,
October 16, 2004 @ 1:18 am
1999 Jetta (new style) Problems – Good afternoon; I just received a 1999 Jetta (as a gift) from a family memeber in distant state. It was delivered on a flatbed. When I went to take it out this morning, one of the lights on the dashboard stayed on. It looks like facucet with a lightning bolt driven through it. Its located between the battery warning light and the brake warning. The gift car has no manual. Any idea what that signifies? My test drive showed a car that bucked like a bronco,and stalled twice going around the block.
daniele Said,
October 16, 2004 @ 2:22 am
1999 Jetta (new style) Problems – Mike: I’ve been having the same problem with my door locks. My mechanic said it can cost $200+ for a new door lock. He said he has replaced 3 in the last month on the new VW Jetta’s. I had to replace my front spoiler because it got caught in the parking lots and then cracked in half. There is actually a class action for this exact problem. Also, my check engine light came on and off for about 6 months. I think I brought my car in a total of 4 times to the mechanic and was finally able to fix the problem. My oil light comes on quite frequently as well because my engine “consumes” a quart of oil every 750 miles. It was shocking when the light first came on and it had only been 1500 miles since my last oil change.