1999 Volkswagen GTI Problems & Complaints

AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE-AIR-BAG ATTENUATOR ON MY 1999 VW GTI (NEW GTI) HAS NEEDED SERVICE. FIRST TIME WAS JUST AFTER CAR WENT OFF WARRANTY. VW REGIONAL AGREED TO PAY. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM -- HAD TO CALL VW REGIONAL TO MOUNT THE CASE FOR THEM TO PAY, AND THEY DID. 11 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP PAID FOR REPAIR SAYING IT WAS COVERED BY THEIR 12MO/12K MILE SERVICE WARRANTY. 11 MONTHS LATER -- SAME PROBLEM, DEALER PAID. NOW, 5 MONTHS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING SO I WENT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND COOLANT MIGRATION. THE COOLANT APPARENTLY MIGRATED THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE ENTIRE WIRE HARNESS AND PART OF MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOW INOPERABLE DUE TO THE MIGRATION. I WAS QUOTED A $3,800 ESTIMATE AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES. I PERFORMED ONLINE RESEARCH AND SEVERAL 1999 VW'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT THAT DRIPPED COOLANT OVER THE WIRE HARNESS. THERE IS EVEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FILED WITH THE NHTSA THAT INSTRUCTS VW HOW TO REPLACE TO MASSIVE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY WILL NOT HELP EVEN THOUGHT THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH 1999-2001 VWS AND A DESIGN DEFECT. NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS, WHICH APPARENTLY RUNS THROUGH MOST OF THE ENGINE AND CAR COMPONENTS AND MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER- A $3,800 REPAIR. RATHER THAN CORRECT THEIR DESIGN DEFECT, VW OFFERED ME $1,00 OFFER A NEW VW, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT OF MY 1999.5 VOLKSWAGEN GTI TRAPPED A PASSENGER IN MY CAR. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND WOULD NO LONGER RETRACT OR EXTEND, WHICH LEFT A PASSENGER STUCK IN MY CAR RECENTLY (IT WAS NECESSARY TO UNBOLT THE SEAT BELT TO FREE THE PASSENGER). THE UNIT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GOLF/GTI OWNERS IN THE 1999-2005 YEAR RANGE, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND HAS OCCURRED SPECIFICALLY. I BELIEVE THIS CLEARLY SHOWS PRODUCT DEFECT AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN OBTAIN AND SUBMIT PROOF THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SEVERAL OTHER GOLF/GTI MODEL VEHICLES IF NECESSARY, THERE IS A VERY LARGE VW FORUM ONLINE WHICH HAS SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS COMPLAINT STRETCHING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. *NM

SAFETY RECALL UU 1999-2000 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A GASOLINE ENGINE INSPECT FUEL SUPPLY MODULE FOR LEAKS AND INSTALL CONNECTOR ON FUEL LINE; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLE MODULE IF NECESSARY. *MR WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CONSUMER FELT A BUMP AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER THEN SMELLED GAS. THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, LINE AND FITTING ON THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED. RECALL CAMPAIGN #05V154000. *SC

THIS IS A KNOW PART FAILURE FOR ALL 1999.5-2001 VOLKSWAGENS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL.I'VE HAD 2 FAIL ON ME WITH IN A YEARS TIME. I NOW FEAR THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP WHENEVER I ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN.*AK

THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE NEW GOLF'S AND JETTA'S THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY VWOA. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH RPM WILL GO OVER 1500 AND ENGINE WILL DIE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS COIL PACK THAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. *AK