1999 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT SMOKE WAS BELLOWING FROM BENEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE DISAPPEARED AFTER SOME TIME. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,144.

THE VW VEHICLE IS PROGRAMMED TO CRIPPLE THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND SPEED IN CASE OF AN EPC FAULT. ANY FAULT CAUSING A RICH OR LEAN CONDITION WILL CAUSE THIS "LIMP MODE". THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65-75MPH AND A 80,000 POUND TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND THEM AS ONE PERSON EXPERIENCED. THERE ARE TOO MANY NON-VITAL COMPONENT FAILURES TO LIST THAT CAN CAUSE THIS FAULT. I REFER TO NON-VITAL MEANING THE COMPONENT FAILURE WILL NOT HARM THE DRIVER OF THE CAR. THE FAULT LIGHT INDICATION ISN'T ENOUGH? NOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORCE YOU INTO A REPAIR SHOP AND BUY MORE VW PARTS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MONEY MAKING SCAM ENDANGERING OUR LIVES. WE DO NOT PUT A HALT ON THIS NOW- SOON ANY FAULT WILL CRIPPLE OUR CARS. IT'S NOT JUST VW (HYUNDAI DID A SIMILAR "LIMP MODE"). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS SET OVERHEATED, MELTED 10-15 WIRES TOGETHER, AND SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HE PAID OVER $3,000 TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS SET. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 123,000.

1999 VOLKSWAGEN DEVELOPED A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH WIRING AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE STARTED SOLENOID SHORTED OUT AND BURNED THE MAIN POWER WIRES FROM THE STARTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COMPLETE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AS WELL AS THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT AND FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS AND MELTED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE SHOWED SMOKE DAMAGE. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS REFUSED SERVICE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TC

HAZARDS WILL CEASE TO FLASH AFTER BEING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE. MUST TURN OFF THEN ON AGAIN, BUT STILL STOPS WORKING. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, YET.*AK

BATTERY EXPLOSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK

MY 1999 JETTA IV (GLS VR6) NEEDED A NEW COIL PACK AT 75,000 MILES (ROUGH OPERATION IN WET WEATHER; ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY TURNED-ON). I HAVE READ THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COIL PACK ON THE 1999 JETTA'S IS EXTREMELY COMMON. A RECALL ON THIS PART HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES, BUT NOT FOR THE 1999. I ALSO READ THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY BE IN PURSUIT OF OBTAINING LEGAL ACTIONS TO RESOLVE MATTERS. THE PART AND LABOR IS EXPENSIVE. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHETHER A RECALL FOR THE 1999 COIL PACK OF JETTA VEHICLES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED?*A

THE COIL PACK ON THE 1999 JETTA'S ON MORE THAN A NUMBER OF VEHICLES HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A RECALL ON THIS PART HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES. MORE THAN A DOZEN OF INDIVIDUALS I HAVE PERSONALLY SPOKEN TO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 JETTA AND MAY BE IN PURSUIT OF OBTAINING LEGAL ACTIONS TO RESOLVE MATTERS. THE PART AND LABOR CAN EASILY COST OVER $600 TO REPLACE. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHETHER A RECALL FOR THE 1999 COIL PACK OF JETTA VEHICLES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED?*AK

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY HEADLIGHTS, DASHLIGHTS, HEATER/DEFROST, ALL WENT OUT AND MY E-BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. DO TO THE CONDITIONS AND THE COLD, MY WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP EXTEMEMLY QUICKLY AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE, ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS. I FIGURED OUT LATER ON, THAT BY MOVING THE IGNITION SWITCH AROUND, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS DUE TO MY MILITARY SCHEDULE. I AM DEPLPYED RIGHT NOW AND AM PLANNING TO CONTACT THE DEALER IN FARGO AS SOON AS I RETURN.*AK

IGNITION COIL PACK ON VW JETTA, '99 NEW BODY. HINTS OF FAILURE BEGAN LONG BEFORE CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP BUT DID NOT WARRANT A SERVICE. (IE, JERKS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING HEAVY RAIN) AFTER ROAD TRIP, PROBLEM GREW IN SEVERITY, BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, AND REALIZED COIL PACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *LA

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CAR RUNS ROUGH WHEN WET. HAS ALWAYS. BRING IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAY IT IS THE IGNITION COIL PACK. IT WAS REPLACED AND THE DAY AFTER SERVICE IS COMPLETED ON THE WAY TO WORK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. BRING IT BACK IN AND AFTER ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC HOOK UP AND ANOTHER $72 LATER NOW THEY SAY THERE ARE 2 MORE FAULTS. THE IGNITION WIRES NEED REPLACING AND THE LONG TERM FUEL TRIM IS RUNNING LEAN. I DO SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FIND OUT VW HAS HAD IGNITION COIL PROBLEMS AND HAD RECALLS ON 2001 AND 2002 MODEL YEARS AFTER A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS FILED. I CONTACTED VW BEFORE I KNEW ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND THE PROBLEMS VW HAS HAD WITH THE IGNITION COIL PACKS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T ASSIST ME. GO FIGURE. A COMPANY WHO HAS HAD THESE VERY SAME PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH OTHER MODELS AND YEARS ISN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH VW SERVICE, BOTH AT THE DEALER AND THERE HEADQUARTERS FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM AND FOR NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS AN ATTORNEY WHO IS DOING A CLASS ACTION INVESTIGATION INTO THE IGNITION COIL PAK PROBLEM. IT IS GG&D, GIRARD, GIBBS, AND DE BARTOLOMEO. THEY ARE BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO AND HAVE A WEB SITE. YOU CAN EMAIL THEM IF YOU'VE HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR IGNITION COIL PACK NEEDING REPLACING. I THINK IT IS HORRIBLE THAT VW WON'T ADMIT OF ANY LIABILITY IN THIS MATTER ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'VE HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT ALREADY FOR OTHER YEARS. IT IS JUST TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT OTHERS ARE STILL EXPERIENCING IGNITION COIL PROBLEMS. SO FAR, I HAVE SPENT OVER $1600 TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. I GUESS I WON'T BE BUYING ANYMORE VOLKSWAGENS. *LA

VEHICLE'S ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED WHILE DRIVING AND THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS REDUCED FROM 60 MPH TO 20 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO LAUNCH AN INQUIRY. *NLM *JB

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS: MAIN COMPLAINT 1. FAILURE OF WINDOW REGULATOR, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE - SEVERAL TIMES ON EACH SIDE 2. THE CAR IS A 1999 AND I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE ONCE IN 2000 (BLEW UP) AND ONCE RECENTLY (8/2003) AND NOW STARTER MOTOR AND ALTERNATOR ARE FAILING. SOMETIMES THE GAS GAUGE WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, SOMETIMES THE KEY LOCK/ALARM WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T AND HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY - ALL PROBLEMS SINCE 2000. THE CAR IS KNOWN TO LOCK/UNLOCK ITSELF. THE FENDER LINER AND FRONT GRILLS FELL OFF IN 2000. THE SUNROOF COVER AND THE SUNROOF HAVE BOTH FAILED ONCE. THE GAS TANK COVER FAILED TWICE. THE FRONT CLUTCH DROPPED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT 24500 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WORK WITH ME ON EXPENSES ($600 TO FIX). THE VW SYMBOL ON ALL 4 TIRES HAVE FALLEN OFF (ONLY IN PLACE WITH ADHESIVE).*AK

ALL THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

THE VEHICLES SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COIL WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS MADE AWARE THAT VW/AUDI RECALLED VARIOUS VEHICLES DUE TO FAULTY/DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS AND THAT THE COILS EXPERIENCED HIGHER THAN NORMAL FAILURE RATES. CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. * MR *AK *NLM

CAR HAS SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HAVE ALREADY SPENT ABOUT $1000 ON VARIOUS IGNITION RELATED REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP. PART OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, TRUNK CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *JB

THE IGNITION COIL FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL.*JB

MY CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON THREE TIMES SINCE LATE NOVEMBER. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS A CRACKED VACUUM HOSE. THE SECOND TIME (WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF FIXING THE FIRST PROBLEM) IT WAS THE MASS AIR METER. THE THIRD TIME, IT CAME ON 5 HOURS AFTER I WAS REAR-ENDED JANUARY 6TH BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY SAID IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE SERVICEMAN I SPOKE WITH AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID HE HAS NOTICED THAT THIS MODEL SEEMS SENSITIVE, CAUSING THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON SO FREQUENTLY. I'M FRUSTRATED THAT NONE OF THIS IS UNDER WARRANTY AND WITH THE FREQUENCY OF THESE OCCURRENCES.

CONSUMER ON BEHALF OF DAUGHTER. THERE ARE TWO PARKING LIGHTS OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SYSTEM. *JG

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM B- PILLER. AFT VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND INSPECTED BYDEALER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT RELAY DID NOT TRIP, CAUSING WIRING HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE. AFTER INVESTIGATION THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK.

DUR TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS BURNT FROM A & B PILLARS TO THE DASH, NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS., NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE BURNING OF THE WIRING OR THE CAUSE OF THE SHORT. ONE MONTH AFTER THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEMS, ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED. DEALER REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND FIRST WORK. FIRST DEALER ALSO FELT INTERIOR FIRE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. SECOND REPAIR BILL WAS FOR $872 AND THAT DEALER WROTE ON THE BILL "ONCE THE CAR IS REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA REPAIRS CAN BE REIMBURSED". CAR IS REGISTERED IN UTAH, SEE NO REASON STATE OF REGISTRATION SHOULD EFFECT THE WARRENTY. CALLED VW OF AMERICA 800-822-8987 AND THEY TOOK THE COMPLAINT, BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO THIS DATE AND HAVE PROVIDED NO REASONABLE EXPLAINATION FOR WHY WORK WOULD BE COVERED IN ONE STATE BUT NOT ANOTHER. CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF INTERIOR FIRE IF THERE ARE WIRING DEFECTS IN THE CAR. VW OF AMERICA RFEFUSED TO PROVIDE HISTORY OF WIRING FIRES FOR JETTAS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AT NIGHT RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERED. THEN, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. AT THE SAME TIME ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALER DETERMINED WIRING LEADING TO HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *TS

WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE BATTERY BLEW UP UNDER HOOD. COULD NOT GET HOOD UP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE THE DASHBOARD, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN WHERE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL NEEDED A SUPPLEMENTAL WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED IN THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTOR AS SHIPPED FROM THE FACTORY, CONSUMER IS UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS FOR THIS CONDITION. *TT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,BATTERY,DIMMING HEADLIGHTS AND HORN TO FAIL. *YH

ENGINE SPUTTERS WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN DAMP (RAIN, ETC.) CONDITIONS. SPARKS APPEAR AT SPARK PLUG CONNECTIONS (IGNITION COIL). VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY VW DEALER WHEN THE PROBLEM HAD INITIALLY OCCURRED. THEY INDICATED A FAULTY IGNITION COIL, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT PRESENT THAT AFTERNOON. PROBLEM RECURRED WHEN IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DAMP, ETC. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT TELL ANYTHING. I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR A TUNE-UP BACK TO THE DEALER WHO LOOKED AT IT INTITIALLY. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR THE CONDITION OF THE IGNITION COIL, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FINE. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR EARLIER VWS. *AK

FAILURE OF STARTER RELAY 109 COMMON ON JETTA TDI'S, SOURCE FROM DEALERS AND VW NEWSGROUPS ON THE INTERNET. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE (VWOA) SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY UNTILL THEY ANALYZE THE PROBLEM. CASE NUMBER 104-85-703. *AK

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS (BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING, DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS FELL DOWN AND STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, REMOTE DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND FLUCTUATES WITH OUTDOOR TEMP, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILED, TAIL LIGHT FLICKERS, THE CD LIGHT FLASHES). NLM

AFTER THE CAR WAS SITTING FOR 3 HOURS THE VEHCILE SPONTANIOUSLY COMBUSTED. VW HEADQUARTER IS BEING VERY SHADY WITH THE CAUSE OF INCIDENT. THERE IS NO FRONT END TO VEHICLE BUT THE BATTERY IS STILL INTACK. NOT CAUSED BY BATTERY EXPLOSION. UNKNOWN HOW CAR CA

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING, THE CAR ALARM TO GO OFF AT IGNITION, THE CAR HAS UNLOCKED ITSELF DURING THE NIGHT, REARVIEW MIRROR CANNOT BE ADJUSTED AND COMPLETE POWER FAILURE OF ALL DOORS. NLM

THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS BURNS OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. DEALER HAS REPLACED ONE HEADLIGHT SOCKET, AND OTHER HEADLIGHT IS CURRENTLY NON-FUNCTIONAL.*AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS TO GO ON AND OFF, AFFECTING VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK