1999 Volkswagen Golf: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 64 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (23% of complaints); the 1998 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2014
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“White metal used in front and read windshield wipers and also rear hatch door latch flake apart and crumble making wipers and latch unusable. Replaced front wiper assembly june 2012, rear wiper does not work, same with rear door latch. Front wipers stopped working suddenly while in a summer downpour causing a major safety problem.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Jun 2012
“This started to occur about 2009, about 6 years ago. When I pushed up the rear seats, I discovered that the center seat belt was tight and would not release. I couldn't even push the rear seat back down because the seat belt was so extremely tight. Within a year or two later, all of the rear seat belts locked up. The rear seats are now unsafe for passengers.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Sep 2009
“Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen golf. The contact stated that the valve in the fuel causes the vehicle to stall without warning. The valve becomes clogged with the fuel. He has researched several complaints regarding this failure and stated that volkswagen is aware, but does nothing to rectify the issue. On separate occasions, the contact has been stranded in cold weather and faced near death experiences due to the stalling. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 126,900.”Owner report · Fuel System, Diesel · Jan 2009
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen golf. The vehicle has douglas & lomason (19570r14) tires. While driving 65 mph, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle. He pulled over, noticed a flat tire, and replaced it with a spare. The dealer stated that the case separated. The failure was duplicated with both front tires and the rear driver side tire. The failure mileage was 124,000 and current mileage was 125,000.”Owner report · Tires · Jul 2007
“Recall 00v280000, while driving at highway speed consumer lost steering control. Dealership did not repair free of charge because the VIN was not included. *ak”Owner report · Steering · Nov 2004
“While driving, a banging noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. The consumer was able to drive it to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the motor mounts inside of the engine needed to be replaced. Please fill in additional information. *jb”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 2004
“Fuel pump began leaking again june 11, 2003 at @ 30,000 miles. Fuel pump had already been replaced after severe leakage due to cracked plastic housing september, 2000 at @ 19,000 miles. Fuel pumps should not routinely fail in such hazardous fashion each 15,000 miles -- under warranty or no. *nlm”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jun 2003
“My 1999 volkswagen golf has 35,000 miles on it. I had my dealership order a part back in august of 2003 while my extended warranty still covered it they never ordered it and now want me to pay for this part. I have the document saying they would order the part. Plus my car has had defective problems since I purchased it 5 years ago. My window washer bottle doesn't hold fluid even after they told me it was fixed.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2003
“Four year old car with 42,822 miles. Check engine light flashed a few time on accelerating thursday night. Check engine light went solid friday morning, and on my way to the dealer the engine siezed. Vw tells me the engine is completely dead.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2003
“The body of the door struck the main body of the vehicle when closed, which caused damage to the main body of the vehicle, and also caused loud hinge noises.*jb”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2002
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Remedy: 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.
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 PRE-TENSIONER IGNITER IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE FRONT OR SIDE COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MATTING MATERIALS FROM INSIDE THE B-PILLAR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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 SHOULD BE 2.5 BAR (36.3 PSI). THE LABEL RECOMMENDS 2.4 BAR (34.8 PSI = 35 PSI).
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Golf by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
NHTSA has 64 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Volkswagen Golf. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (23% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Golf problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 71,000 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Volkswagen Golf have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.