1999 Volkswagen Jetta Lights Problems
14 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Lights Recalls (2)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
Fix: 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.
Fix: THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183.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.
Owner Complaints (14)
THE BLINKER ON MY CAR IS FAILING. IT IS IN THE UNIT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER TURNING A CORNER IT WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. WHEN DRIVING IT WILL DROP DOWN AND COME ON SOMETIMES. IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT WANT TO COME ON AND I HAVE TO PUSH IT HARD. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999.5 VW JETTA. I HAVE READ ON THE FORUMS ALSO THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO SAFETY RECALLS 06V183000 AND 99V251000. , ONE RECALL WAS FOR THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLE AND THE OTHER WAS FOR THE B PILLAR MOUNTING CLIPS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH WHILE GOING 40 MPH THE PERSON THAT HIT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SAID THAT HE HIT HIM BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT TURN ON, AND THEN HE FLED THE SEEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND A COMPLAINT MADE TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF HE GOT A TICKET OR NOT FOR NOT HAVING BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS COMING OFF OF THE EXPRESSWAY AT 40 MPH, THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN DAYLIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE BEFORE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED THE BULBS AND THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. THE CONTACT'S COMPLAINT WAS THAT HE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL MONTHS LATER ON THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AFTER HE PAID FOR EVERYTHING. THE CONTACT WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE POLICE REPORT AND AN INSURANCE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 117392.*AK
MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 99 JETTA PASSENGER VEHICLE. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN RECALLED BY THE NHTSA ON MANY OTHER 99 VW JETTAS, HOWEVER MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE DID NOT FIT IN THE VIN NUMBER RANGE OF THE SAFETY RECALL. I SUGGEST THIS SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE OTHER MODELS BECAUSE EVIDENTLY IT IS A PROBLEM AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. A NHTSA RECALL, #06V183000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.
I DRIVE A 1999 VW JETTA, STANDARD TRANSMISSION. I WAS INFORMED BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I LEARNED FROM THE NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED MAY OF 2006 FOR CERTAIN VW CARS THAT HAD THEIR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED FOR AN EARLIER RECALL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS SERVICED UNDER THE LAST RECALL, BUT IT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHERS NOT BLINKING AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL ID NUMBER: 04V584000 WHICH CALLS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH, HOWEVER THE 1999 NEW JETTAS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VW JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. SHE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SWITCH ON 9-2-05. IT CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE OR TO COME ON AND STAY ON EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND THIS PROBLEM WAS IN SOME WAY TIED INTO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. A NHTSA RECALL 04V096000 WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 4-04. THE NOTICE DID NOT INDICATE A VIN. *AK *MR
THE PARKING LIGHT SWITCH IS LOCKING UP. THE CAR IS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARKING TO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE PARKING LIGHT LIT AND WILL UNLIT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER. AS OF NOW, THE LIGHT LIT CONSTANTLY AND I HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE BATTERY AND THE LIGHT WOULD STILL RE-APPEAR ONCE I PUT THE BATTERY BACK IN. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVE ABLE.
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V096000 CONCERNING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. AFTER HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON.*AK
RECALL NOTICE FOR CHECK/ REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.*MR THE FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT TO REMAIN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM (VOLKSWAGEN JETTA). THE DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WOULD COST $6000. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THE SERVICE DEALER'S STAFF SUDDENLY BECAME RUDE. *NM
TURN SIGNAL HANDLE BROKE , CAN'T USE TURN SIGNAL. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
BRIGHT LIGHTS STAY ON. CONSUMER CANNOT ADJUST THEM. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES AND STAYS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE DUE TO AFTER MARKET RADIO INSTALLATION. YH
HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED INCORRECTLY. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR NIGHT TIME OPERATION. DRIVER CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO DRIVE PROPERLY. FIRST IT WAS ONLY ONE LIGHT, NOW SINCE DEALER HAS REPAIRED, PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH OTHER HEADLIGHT. *AK