10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
14 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,667 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1999 Volkswagen Jetta seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1999 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments

problem #18

Nov 162004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My friend had an automoble accident last week and his car's airbags did not deploy he did hit the guardrails head-on and the air bags never deployed he wanted me to check to see if there has been a recall about this his car was a VW Jetta '99 I'm sure the car was totaled in this wreck.

- Candler, NC, USA

problem #17

Dec 012002

Jetta

  • miles
While traveling about 50mph on the highway without prior another vehicle made a sudden stop and the vehicle in front caused a chain of reaction. Please provide additional information dealer is aware of the problem.

- Winnetka, CA, USA

problem #16

Oct 202002

Jetta

  • miles
Consumer states that the vehicle was involved in a frontal and a rear collsion by hitting a ditch at 40-50 mph. Vehicle spins on two occasion and hit the right rear tail light and neither air bag deployed. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #15

Oct 112002

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle was involved in a collision at 40mph, and the airbags failed to deploy.**.

- Arvada, CO, USA

problem #14

Apr 231999

Jetta Diesel

  • miles
I purchased my '99 Jetta new. After apprx 7 days the airbag warning illuminated for no reason. I took the car back to the dealer for service. They had a difficult time diagnosing the problem. They did get the light to go off, but after a week it illuminated again. I took the car back a second time, and this time the kept it for 2 weeks. They decided it was a sesor, then changed their minds and said it was the wiring harness. After 2 weeks they told me it was fixed. Several mechanics warned me against driving it when the airbag light is on, citing a possible defect. The light stayed off untill about the 20,000 mile mark. It went on and I took it in, they fixed it without much explaination. Now at 54,000 it is on again. I am worried about a possible defect which might prevent my airbag from deploying in case of an emergency. Before now, it was under warranty. The only cost was time and effort. Now I must pay to have it diagnosed, a rental car and to actually have it repaired, once again. I have talked to others that have been through the same thing with little help from Volkswagen or the dealer. I was hoping to get the word out that there may be a possible defect with the electrical sensor, wire harness or the airbag itself. Thank you.

- Portland, ME, USA

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problem #13

Jul 222000

Jetta

  • miles
The car was involved in a high-speed, front end collision and the airbags did not deploy. The car was traveling at 70 mph when it was clipped from the side and spun out of control. It crashed headlong into a van going approximately 40-50 mph. The impact sent the car backward approximately 30 feet before it spun 180 degrees and came to a halt. The front end of the car is severely damage--$7,000--and the engine may have been displaced as much as 2 inches. I called Volkswagen customer relations to report the problem and to ask for assistance to guarantee that the airbags would perform properly once the car was repaired and back on the road again on 7/27/00. On 8/1/00 I received a message from "david." I phone back on 8/2/00. After explaining the details of the accident to david, he told me in advance that his "product liason team" would probably conclude that the crash did not meet the criteria required to deploy the airbags and there was nothing they could do for us. I expressed my dissatisfaction with this, especially since no one from Volkswagen had examined or planned to examine the vehicle. He told me that we could take it to the dealer ourselves (it is not driveable) and they could analyze the computer data onboard re. The crash conditions. This was all they could offer us. All we were seeking was an explanation as to why the airbags did not deploy under such severe crash conditions, and a guarantee that whatever needed to be done to assure they would function properly in the future would be taken care of by Volkswagen or its dealer. Bottomline, in a high-speed, front end collision, the airbags did not deploy.

- Claremont, CA, USA

problem #12

May 281999

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have experienced 4 part failures, each on my airbag system on my Volkswagen Jetta. The first part failure occured on May 28, 1999 and subsequent part failures occured as follows: 7-30-1999, 2-23-2000 and 7-11-2000. With the most recent occurance, my car was delivered to the dealership on July 11, 2000 and the maintenance was not completed until August 4, 2000 due to the unavailibility of the part from the manufacturer. Due to the severity of this defect, and given the fact that my dealership has exhausted their efforts in trying to identify the problem, I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. With the information provided, I feel that my vehicle meets the qualifications of the "lemon law". at this time I am requesting that I receive a replacment vehicle. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me if more information is needed.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #11

Jun 242000

Jetta

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Consumer was involved in a collision in which seat belts did not lock up upon impact, and driver's/passenger's air bags did not deploy. Cause unknown, also steering rack and pinion was damaged. Passenger window fell off twice.

- Palm Springs, CA, USA

problem #10

Feb 022000

Jetta

  • miles
Consumer was traveling in intersection and another vehicle ran a red light, and rammed into consumer's vehicle from side.car was completley turned around into the street, and had to be towed away. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy.

- Huston, TX, USA

problem #9

Mar 172000

(reported on)

Jetta

  • miles
While trying to reduce speed by depressing brake pedal, vehicle continued to travel causing consumer to lose control, and resulting in a collision. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further infortmation.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #8

Dec 061999

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It was raining and consumer slid into rear end of another car at 25mph. Hood bent and came through the windshield, the whole front of the car had to be repaired. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy.

- Maryland Heights, MO, USA

problem #7

Jan 102000

Jetta

  • miles
Left front brakes grabbed. Other three failed to work. Took vehicle to dealer at least 7 times. Each time brakes were replaced/repaired. Also, air bags failed to deploy after hitting a deer on left front side of vehicle. Front grill was crushed. Insurance company indicated vehicle was repairable.

- Sherburne, NY, USA

problem #6

Oct 091999

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was involved in frontal collision at 35-40 mph. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified.

- New Hartford, NY, USA

problem #5

Aug 141999

Jetta

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, after being rearended by another vehicle and the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is being repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer will be notified.

- West Islip, NY, USA

problem #4

May 201999

Jetta

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a head-on collisi0N, impact at approximately 30 mph. ABS brakes failed to operate, causing vehicle to slow down but not stop. Seat belt on driver's side failed to lock in place, causing consumer to sustain a head injury from hitting windshield. Also, air bags did not deploy. Dealer / manufacturer notified.

- Catlettsburg, KS, USA

problem #3

Jun 091999

Jetta

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 40mph and airbags did not deploy. Driver sustained minor injuries. Manufacturer has been notified.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

problem #2

Jan 171999

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Crossing an intersection another vehicle ran a red light & broadsided Volkswagen.driver's side and passenger's side air bags did not deploy. Investigator & Volkswagen personnel inspected vehicle. Vehicle below threshold for air bag deployment. Driver and passenger sustained multiple injuries.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

problem #1

Jan 171999

Jetta

  • miles
While vehicle was moving from a green light another vehicle crossed the red light, stricking consumer's vehicle on the right front passengers side where none of the air bags deployed, not protecting passenger and

- Carrollton, TX, USA

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