Visibility. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports9 fire reports21 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

78 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE CENTER OF THREE LANES AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR FROM THE CENTER LANE. SHORTLY AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE A TRACTOR TRAILER STRUCK THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE TOTALLY DESTROYING THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #718323

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 91 ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 21ST WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE EXIT AND THINKING THAT I MAY NOT HAVE HAD ENOUGH DIESEL ADDITIVE, I NURSED IT TO A TRUCK STOP AT THE BASE OF THE EXIT AND ADDED ENOUGH ADDITIVE FOR 75 GAL. AFTER 3 MINUTES THE CAR DIED AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. IT WAS TOWED TO A VW DEALER AND THEY CONTACTED VW. THE VW REP SAID THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT AND DIRECTED THE DEALER TO DRILL OUT THE CHECK VALVE ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON WEDNESDAY THE 19TH AND DROVE IT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. ON FRIDAY, I HAD DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR ON INTERSTATE 91 AND THE CAR DID THE SAME THING. I COASTED TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND THE CAR STALLED. ONCE AGAIN IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. IT WAS TOWED TO GENE LANGAN VW IN GLASTONBURY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER CANNOT SAFELY NEGOTIATE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 21ST, THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE GETTING HUNDREDS OF CALLS ABOUT THE 1999 DIESELS JUST DYING AFTER PROLONGED PERIODS OF DRIVING. APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN JUST MY VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 JETTA DIESELS. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718079

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO BROKEN BOLT. DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853669

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH OIL BURNING (ONE QUART) EVERY 750 MILE.; DEALER NOTIFIED ON SEVEN OCCASIONS. TESTS WERE PERFORMED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND, AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. SEEKING NHTSA FOR INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851145

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherVisibility

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON, INDICTATING A DEFECT. VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN, CASUING A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. ALSO, WHEN SLIGHTLY OPENING REAR WINDOWS, VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850663

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE AND IT PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN, ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848055

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNNG, ENGINE FAILED, AND CONSUMER LOST POWER. CONSUMER WAS IN THE THIRD LANE, AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN . ALSO, ENGINE VALVES DROPPED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ENGINE ON THE OTHER SIDE WHILE IN MOTION, AND VEHICLE VIBRATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847670

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY. MIL AND GENERATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK TWO TRIES TO START ENGINE AGAIN, THEN VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN A WEEK AND A HALF. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702652

Official recalls

06V183000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

May 24, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

Consequence & remedy

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.

04V096000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

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.

03V156000 · Equipment:other:labels

Apr 23, 2003

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).

Consequence & remedy

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.

02V026000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Jan 25, 2002

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAN SUFFER ABRASION DAMAGE IF THE REAR TIRE GOES FLAT AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TIRE DISINTEGRATES.

Consequence & remedy

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.

99V251000 · Structure:frame And Members

Sep 17, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE HEAD INJURY CRITERION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE UPPER RETAINER CLIP NEAR THE BP1 IMPACT LOCATION IS DESIGNED TO BREAK WHEN IMPACTED BY THE HEAD FORM. IN SOME CASES, THE MATERIAL OF THE TRIM PART MAY BE MORE IMPACT RESISTANT AS A RESULT OF VARIATIONS IN THE MOLDING PROCESS.

Consequence & remedy

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.

99V022000 · Structure:frame And Members

Feb 5, 1999

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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ06004 · Brake Light Switch Failure

Opened Feb 28, 2006 · Closed Aug 7, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

RQ03010 · Brake Light Switch

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Mar 1, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

THE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND MANUFACTURER FAILURE REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING AND OR INACCURATE INFORMATION.THE INJURY NOTED ABOVE WAS MINOR.ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. (VW) SUBMITTED A DEFECT NOTIFICATION (PER 49CFR573) TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) ADVISING THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACUTURED WITH THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AS RECALLED UNDER 03V-265 (MY 1998-2002 NEW BEETLE) ARE AFFECTED BY A SAFETY DEFECT.SPECIFICALLY, IF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD STAY ILLUMINATED CONTINUALLY EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF A REAR END COLLISION AND OCCUPANT INJURY.ACCORDINGLY, VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING JETTA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 1998 TO NOVEMBER 2001 TO INSPECT AND REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE ANY AFFECTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES.THE RECALL PROGRAM, VW CODE WX, WILL COMMENCE IN APRIL 2004.

EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

No summary supplied.

PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

PE99007 · Passenger Compartment Fire

Opened Jan 29, 1999 · Closed Feb 8, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

IN ITS LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 4, 1999, VOLKSWAGEN STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL APPROXIMATELY 23,600 REDESIGNED 1999 JETTA AND GOLF 4-DOOR VEHICLES, OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY 11,000 HAVE BEEN SOLD TO CUSTOMERS, TO CORRECT A DEFECT THATMAY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE PASSENGEER COMPARTMENT AFTER A VEHICLE COLLISION.A SOUND INSULATION MATERIAL ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE OF THE B-PILLAR TRIM PANEL COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION SEVERE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER, THE HOT EXHAUST GAS FROM THE PRETENSIONER COULD IGNITE THE INSULATION MATERIAL IF IT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE PRETENSIONER.VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSULATION MATERIAL FROM THE B-PILLARS.