1999 Volkswagen Jetta Seat Belts Problems
18 owner-reported seat belts complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (18)
THE MIDDLE REAR SEATBELT LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THE SEATBELT LOCKING MECHANISM IS LOCATED IN THE SEAT IN AN INACCESSIBLE LOCATION AND IS ALSO NOT AVAILABLE TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT. *TR
1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAS BECOME TIGHTENED TO THE POINT THAT IT WON'T RELEASE. IT SEEMS THAT EACH TIME THE SEAT BACK WAS LOWERED TO INCREASE THE CARGO AREA OF THE TRUNK, THE BELT TIGHTENS MORE. *TR
IN MY 99.5 VW JETTA GLS THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT HAS TIGHTENED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAVE HAD THEM WORK ON IT AND NORMALLY THEY CAN GET IT TO RELEASE. HOWEVER ONCE IT IS RELEASED, IT CAN'T BE USED B/C THE NEXT TIME I GO TO USE THE SEAT BELT AND PULL IT OUT IT LOCKS AGAIN. THE SEAT CAN'T BE USED. IT HAS ALSO MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LAY DOWN THE BACK SEATS, OR ONCE I LAY IT FLAT THE SEAT CAN'T BE RETURNED TO THE UP RIGHT POSITION. *TR
THE REAR MIDDLE SHOULDER BELT OF MY 1999 JETTA IS CONSTANTLY BROKEN. EVERY TIME I FOLD THE MIDDLE SEAT DOWN IN THE BACK THE SEATBELT GETS TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THIS HAPPENS UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE BELT IS TOO TIGHT FOR ME TO EVEN FOLD THE SEAT DOWN ANY LONGER AND I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO BE WORKED ON. APPARENTLY IT IS SOME "BUTTON" THAT IS BREAKING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TRY TO FOLD THE SEAT DOWN AND AS A RESULT I AM NOT ABLE TO SAFELY SECURE PASSENGERS IN MY MIDDLE SEAT. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THIS BUTTON REPLACED 3 TIMES. *JB
1) SEAT BELT!!! CENTER SEAT BELT IN BACK SEA DOES NOT WORK. VW REFUSED TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! 2) MUSTY SMELL FROM A/C!! IT HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER. I TREAT IT WITH LYSOL BUT THAT ONLY LASTS A WEEK. HAS IT DONE PROFESSIONALLY, THAT ONLY LASTED ONE MONTH. 3) WINDOW REGULATORS NOT WORKING. DRIVER SIDDE WINDOW WILL ONLY GO ALL THE WAY UP OR ALL THE WAY DOWN. NOTHING IN BETWEEN. 4) GLOVE BOX LATCH BROKE. 5) RUBBERCOATING IS RUBBING OFF OF ALL HANDLES.*AK
THE CENTER REAR SEATBELT LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE, WAS TOLD BY DEALER AND VW CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON, I WAS ADVISED I CAN EITHER PAY THE $200 + TO GET IT REPAIRED OR ELSE CUT IT AND NOT USE IT. *AK
REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. AFTER PUTTING THE SEAT IN THE RECLINING POSITION A PIN BROKE WHICH CONTROLLED THE RELEASING OF THE SEAT BELT, SAID THE DEALER. *AK
I OWN A 1999 1/2 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST OF MY OWN. THE PIECE THAT BROKE WAS THE BUCKLE WHERE THE BELT GETS INSERTED INTO. I WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW IF SEATBELTS HAVE LIFETIME WARRANTY WITH CARS. IF NOT, DOES THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HAVE A HISTORY OF SEAT BELT FAILURES? THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS TRAVELING WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15-25 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN I STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO CAN IN FRONT, ALTHOUGH MY HOOD AND BUMPER WAS DENTED. ALSO, MY DRIVER''S SIDE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE'WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, I SAW A FIRE HAD IGNITED BY THE DRIVER''S SIDE SEAT BELT'(THIS STATEMENT WAS MADE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE AT THE TIME) WITHIN 10 TO 15 MINUTES, WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE ENTIRE CAR BURNED UP. I CONTACTED VW AFTER SEEING THE RECALL ON YOU WEBSITE AND NOTIFIED THEM THAT NO ONE HAD EVER CONTACTED BE ABOUT THE RECALL, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT SINCE THE CAR WAS ALREADY 3 TO 4 YEARS OLD. I''VE PASSED ON ALL THE INFORMATION TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND HOPING THEY WILL SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM VW.
MIDDLE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE. AFTER LOWERING AND RAISING THE REAR SEAT THE SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RELEASE.*AK
CENTER REAR SEATBELT LOCKS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION MAKING THE SEATBELT INOPERATIVE. THE SAME PART HAS NOW FAILED TWICE. *AK
CENTER REAR SEATBELT LOCKS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION MAKING THE SEATBELT INOPERATIVE. THE SAME PART HAS NOW FAILED TWICE. *AK
REAR MIDDLE SEATBELT IS IN LOCKED POSITION, CONSUMER UNABLE TO USE IT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE RACKET MECHANISM WHIS IS DESIGNED TO CATCH IN AN ACCIDENT BUT BE FREE TO MOVE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HAS LOCKED AND THE BELT IS TIGHT AGAINST THE SEAT BACK, THIS PREVENTS THE MECHANISM FROM RELEASING. *JB
AFTER I PUT DOWN THE REAR SEAT (TO OPEN UP THE 60/40 SPLIT) THE CENTER SEATBELT LOCKS. I HAVE LOOSENED THE SEATBELT TO ENSURE SLACK BUT IT STILL LOCKS MAKING THE CENTER SEATBELT UNUSABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED IN ORDER TO MAKE IT USABLE AGAIN.. I DO PLAN TO SEND THIS COMPLAINT TO VW AS WELL AS PAUL FORD CLARK.*AK
SEAT BELT ANCHOR BROKE. *AK
CENTER REAR RESTRAINTS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING OCCUPANT (S) TO BE UNRESTRAINED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE 4 TIMES. *AK
UPON FOLDING REAR SEAT DOWN, THE MIDDLE SAFT BELT LOCKS IN PLACE AND BECOMES INOPERABLE. I'M AWARE OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH 1999 JETTA THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE SHOULDER AND LAP BELT DISENGAGED OR UNBUCKLED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED COMPLETE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WHICH HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE BUCKLE CONTINUES TO UNLOCK. *AK.ET.