1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
280
Owner Complaints
7
Recalls
4
Service Bulletins
2
Investigations
Overview of the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
The 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE has received a total of 280 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. 4 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls (16 complaints), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (15 complaints), and Air Bags (14 complaints).
Recalls for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, potentially affecting up to 841,352 vehicles.
Recall 14E007000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
| 50 vehicles affected
Defect: The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold...
Consequence: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
View full details →Recall 09E012000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 16,270 vehicles affected
Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
View full details →Recall 08E050000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 1,921 vehicles affected
Defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
View full details →Recall 06V183000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
| 646,246 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 06E060000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 87,745 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
View full details →Recall 06E049000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 27,176 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
View full details →Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
280 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CONSOLE WAS MELTING. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,500.
MY CAR- 1999 VW BEETLE WAS NOT FULLY INSPECTED BEFORE I GOT THE CAR FROM DEALER. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS LONG LIST OF PARTS NEED REPLACEMENT TO REPAIR AND I FELT THAT IT WASN'T REAL SAFE BECAUSE OF STRUT SHOCK AND POWER STEERING ALSO CV JOINTS ARE GETTING BAD IN THE UNDER OF HOOD. I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS NO PANEL SKID FOR PREVENT FROM WETTING ON MOTOR PARTS AND GOT BAD ACID ON IT. I HAS TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR MY CAR AND HASN'T DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS BY SO FAR. BY RIGHT I DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.
MY CAR- 1999 VW BEETLE WAS NOT FULLY INSPECTED BEFORE I GOT THE CAR FROM DEALER. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS LONG LIST OF PARTS NEED REPLACEMENT TO REPAIR AND I FELT THAT IT WASN'T REAL SAFE BECAUSE OF STRUT SHOCK AND POWER STEERING ALSO CV JOINTS ARE GETTING BAD IN THE UNDER OF HOOD. I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS NO PANEL SKID FOR PREVENT FROM WETTING ON MOTOR PARTS AND GOT BAD ACID ON IT. I HAS TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR MY CAR AND HASN'T DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS BY SO FAR. BY RIGHT I DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.
MY CAR- 1999 VW BEETLE WAS NOT FULLY INSPECTED BEFORE I GOT THE CAR FROM DEALER. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS LONG LIST OF PARTS NEED REPLACEMENT TO REPAIR AND I FELT THAT IT WASN'T REAL SAFE BECAUSE OF STRUT SHOCK AND POWER STEERING ALSO CV JOINTS ARE GETTING BAD IN THE UNDER OF HOOD. I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS NO PANEL SKID FOR PREVENT FROM WETTING ON MOTOR PARTS AND GOT BAD ACID ON IT. I HAS TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR MY CAR AND HASN'T DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS BY SO FAR. BY RIGHT I DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED NEAR THE LEFT PART OF THE DASHBOARD CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE NATURE OF THE SMOKE, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE LANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V063000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 06V183000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING).THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MONTHS AGO AND WAS TO PROVIDE FURTHER TESTING TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT KEPT CALLING, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
View all Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 4 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
Edition70 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VW Elsa Newsletter
0603 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1176 IS STORED IN DTC MEMORY (NEW BEETLE 1.8T, ENGINE CODE APH). *NM
0501 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MIL IS ON AND OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS RATTLING. *SC
9904 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
INFORMATION REGARDING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CODING. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE.
Investigation RQ06004 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Closed
Opened:
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE
Investigation PE02084 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Closed
Opened:
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OPERATION
Other Model Years of the VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
- 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 289 complaints
- 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE (current)
- 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 373 complaints
- 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 291 complaints
- 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 231 complaints
- 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 405 complaints
- 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 469 complaints
Other VOLKSWAGEN Models
- VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — 13,715 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 10,288 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 3,104 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS — 2,635 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GOLF — 1,991 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GTI — 1,916 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 — 1,568 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN CC — 1,356 total complaints