1999 Volkswagen Golf problems
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Volkswagen Golf. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 20% of complaints. Next are electrical system (16%) and fuel system (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 76 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 25 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 25 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 72,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 1 injury reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 20 model years of the Volkswagen Golf with enough data (57 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving at 65 MPH vehicle spinned out of control, hitting a guardrail head-on. Upon impact, neither passenger's nor driver's air bag deployed. But the side air bags did once the side of the vehicle struck the guardrail. Dealer has not been contacted.
See [link removed] and search for 'relay 109' for reports. Definitely recall material, hazard to drivers when engine dies in traffic.
Vehicle experienced intermittent stalling while driving.this condition occurred on several occasions. Vehicle has been at repair shop on two occasions. Dealer informed consumer that problem could not be found. Manufacturer notified.
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.
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.