1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

29 complaints about Service Brakes, Hydraulic

29
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Service Brakes, Hydraulic Complaints (29)

Nov 24, 2009

BRAKE LAMPS WERE OPERATING CORRECTLY ON 11/22/2009 AND ON 11/23/2009 THEY CEASED WORKING. CHECKED WITH NHTSA TO SEE IF OPEN RECALL WAS OPEN NONE BUT WANTED TO MAKE KNOWN THE ISSUE SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN TWO RECALLS IN THE PASS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 126,425

Jan 15, 2004 Crash

2 DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASE THE CAR A BRAKE SHOE BRAKET CAME OFF AND WAS RUBBING THE REAR ROTOR. JULY, 3 WINDOWS WENT BAD, 2 WERE THE WIRING AND 1 WAS THE MOTOR. OCTOBER THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACED PLUS WHEEL ALIGNMENT. SEPTEMBER THE EXHUAST BROKE OFF BEHIND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER I HAD IT FIXED MYSELF. THE EXHUAST HAD ALSO BROKE OFF 6 MONTHS EARLIER IN FRONT OF THE MUFFLER BUT I FIXED IT. ONE WINDOW THAT THEY FIXED IN JULY 2002 WENT BAD AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2003 AND NEEDED FIXED. THE REAR BRAKE ON THE SAME WHEEL THAT THEY FIXED IN JANUARY OF 2001 HAS GONE BAD NOW. I'M DONE WITH THIS CAR. IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THEN I HAVE EVER HAD ANY CAR COMBINED. THANKS

Mileage: 53,000

Apr 17, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER STATED THE WIPERS WERE INCOMPATIBLE. THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER AND DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER SPEED IN WARM WEATHER. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAD FALLEN DOWN INTO THE DOOR, THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED, THE METAL TRIANGLE PIECES ON THE DOORS HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED FROM PURCHASE, AND THE FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WIPERS. (NO RECALL FOR WIPERS) MR SCC *JB

Dec 5, 2002

REPORTING UNKNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES SYSTEMS. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY WHEN ARE APPLIED IN SUDDEN STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Aug 4, 2002

MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NEARLY EVERY MONTH IN THE PAST YEAR (EXCEPT FOR 3 MONTHS WHEN IT WAS IN THE SHOP DUE TO ACCIDENT), THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD STICK ALMOST EVERY TIME IT WAS DRIVEN WOULD CONTACT DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REPORTING TO A COMPUTER. I FINALLY FIGURED OUT IF I PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PULL IT BACK OUT IT WOULD RELEASE, IT ONCE WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK MULTIPLE TIMES TO HAVE IT TAKEN DOWN TO DEALER STILL NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEN I WAS SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU AND THE CARE MADE A POPPING SOUND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST MY BRAKES BUT I PRESSED THEM AGAIN AND THEY WERE FINE. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. DRIVING HOME I TAPPED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE AND THE BRAKE STUCK AND THREW ME FORWARD LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I CALLED VW IMMEDIATELY AND TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT WANT MY CAR BACK UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. THE REP DROVE MY CAR FOR A WEEK AND OF COURSE NOTHING HAPPENED TIL THE MECHANIC DROVE IT. I HAVE HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE BOOSTERS REPLACED WHICH HAS SEEMED TO HELP THE BRAKE FROM STICKING BUT NOW MY ROTARS ARE RUINED AND VW DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE THEM BECASUE THEY ARE MAINTENANCE PARTS WHEN IT WAS A WARRANTY PART THAT MADE THEM GO BAD. RECENTLY DRIVING TO SAN DIEGO MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT KEEP MY CAR AT A SET SPEED, WOULD NOT PULL HILLS (HAD A FULLY LOADED SEMI PASS ME) WOULD DROP TO 40 MPH ON GRADES, HAD TO KEEP THE CAR PEGGED TO GO POSTED SPEED LIMIT ON STRAIGHT STRETCHES. WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN TWICE ON EACH SIDE, MIDDLE RESTRAINT IN BACK SEAT LOCKS UP AND HAS TO BE REPLACED, CUP HOLDER BROKE, BRAKE RELAY WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES (NO BRAKE LIGHTS ALMOST REAR ENDED). IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ON THIS WILL IT FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAWS. I WANT TO REPLACE IT DUE TO HIGH COST AND TIME SPENT GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER BUT I MORE THAN IT IS WORTH. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS?*AK

Jul 25, 2002

CONSUMER HAS HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES SINCE THE INITIAL LEASING OF THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED EIGHT TIMES WITH THE SERVICE STATION DOING ACTUAL REPAIRS FOUR OF THOSE TIMES. TEH PROBLEM LIES WITH THE CALIPER SUSPENSION THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKES. *JG *CB

Jul 25, 2002

THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS NO WARMING OF ANY BRAKE PROBLEM (SQUEAKING, SQUEALING), AND BY DESIGN VW HAS THINNER VENTED ROTORS THAT MAKE THEM RUN COOLER BUT WEAR OUT FASTER. *YH *NLM

Jul 9, 2002

REAR BRAKES WERE SQEUALING FOR MONTHS. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE NOISE. FINALLY REAR BRAKES WENT ALL TOGETHER AND HAD THEM REPLACED AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. DEALER SAID THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE AFTER JUST OVER 30,000 MILES SO VOLKSWAGEN COVERED HALF OF COSTS. ONE WEEK LATER PICKED UP CAR AS I WAS DRIVING HOME MALFUNCTION INDICATION LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP AGAIN. ALL THREE OXYGEN SENSORS HAD BLOWN. DAY AFTER PICKING UP FROM DEALERSHIP PASSENGER WINDOW FELL INTO DOOR AND IS CURRENTLY BACK IN BEING FIXED. I KNOW THESE ARE ALL COMMON PROBLEMS WITH 1999 JETTA. VW WAS SOMEWHAT HELPFUL ON COST BUT WILL DO NOTHING NOW BECAUSE THEY "HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOO KIND". THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. NOW I HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF AN EARLY LEASE TERMINATION FOR FEAR OF INJURY OR MORE $ FOR DAMAGE REPAIRS.*AK

Mar 26, 2002

TECHNICIAN NOTED DURING SERVICE THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND REAR ROTORS WERE WORN BELOW MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS, REAR PADS DOWN TO 1MM, DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS AND REAR ROTORS AND PADS. *TT

Mar 22, 2002

VACUUM LINE TO TURBO FAILED, CAUSING NEAR TOTAL LACK OF ACCELERATION -- ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT

Nov 30, 2001

AT 12000 MILES ROTORS WERE WARPED AND GLAZED. THEN, 14000 MILES LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE ROTORS BECAUSE THIS IS REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

Sep 18, 2001

ENGINE TRANSMISSION LIGHT FAILED AFTER 3 MONTHS, BOTH WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO DOOR, FRONT BUMPER HAS BEEN TORN OFF, ANTENA AND OTHER PLASTIC OBJECTS AROUND CAR HAVE FALLEN OFF,ABS SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON AGAIN, COVER FOR GAS TANK WILL NOT OPEN (I HAD TO PRY IT OPEN), CUP HOLDERS AND MIRROR COVERS HAVE BROKEN, INSIDE OF CAR STARTED TO BUBBLE AFTER 6 MONTHS, BECAUSE OF THE PLASTIC. ALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO COULD SAY WAS THAT I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO MANAGE CAR. I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TO TAKE A CLASS IN OPENING THE GAS COVER. ODDLY ENOUGH, MOST OF THESE THINGS STARTED TO BREAK AFTER MY TWO YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALL THEY HAD TO SAY WAS THAT "WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS". I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE

Jul 24, 2001

AT 30000 MILES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.ASKED DEALER TO CHECK ON ALIGHMENT PROBLEMS. DEALER NO ALIGNMENT NEEDED, BUT BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN 50% & ALSO NEEDED NEW ROTORS. DEALER INSISTED CAR OKAY TO DRIVE AND ADVISED TO COME BACK. 35000 SERVICE TO HAVE NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS INSTALLED, APROX. $600. AFTER SERVICE, I DROVE HOME ABOUT 50 MILES AND PROBLEM GOT WORSE, INCLUDING A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE. I CALLED DEALER, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO A DEALER CLOSER TO MY HOME, 3 DAYS AND 300 MILES LATER, 2ND DEALER ASKED HOW MANY TIMES I HAD CHANGED THE BRAKES, BECAUSE I NOW, NEEDED ROTORS, AND WORSE, ALL MY TIRES WERE "CUPPED. " I ALSO NEEDED A WHOLE NEW SET OF TIRES...I ASKED 2ND DEALER IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE, BUT RECOMMENDED CHANGING BRAKES, ROTORS AND TIRES @ A COST OF $1,100. DEALER ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE LACK OF ROTATING A BALANCING TIRES COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNEVEN WEAR (AKA: CUPPED TIRES). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE LOUD RUMBLING NOISE, WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY, SINCE THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED. THE 2ND DEALER INVOICED THE 1ST DEALER FOR THIS SERVICE CHARGE. 3 DAYS LATER, I WENT TO GOODYEAR TIRE SHOP (FOR 3RD OPINON) BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE TIRES MAY BE DEFECTIVE. GOODYEAR ADVISED ME THAT CUPPED TIRES RESULT FROM UNEVEN WEAR (USUALLY RECOMMEND ROTATING & BALANCING TIRES EVERY 10K MI.), IF NOT, PROBLEMS W/BRAKES & ROTORS. GOODYEAR COULDN'T DETERMINE WHY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED @ ONLY 30K MI. SUCH A PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AT ABOUT 60K MILES, BUT NOT ROTORS. GOODYEAR BALANCED & ROTATED MY TIRES & ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE WHEELWELL, CAUSING A LARGE GASH IN THE WHEELWELL. IN THE INTEREST OF CONSUMER PROTECTION, I SEEK YOUR PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING A POSITIVE RESOLVE TO THIS MATTER. MY CAR HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME @ DEALER SERVICE SHOP. VOLKSWAGEN MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD CRAFTSMANSHIP & POOR SERVICE ADVICE. PLEASE HELP!

Jul 24, 2001

30K SERVICE, REPORTED TO DEALER THAT STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES...ASKED DEALER TO CHECK ON ALIGHMENT PROBLEMS. DEALER NO ALIGNMENT NEEDED, BUT BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN 50% & ALSO NEEDED NEW ROTORS. DEALER INSISTED CAR OK TO DRIVE & ADVISED TO COME BACK @ 35K SERVICE TO HAVE NEW BRAKES & ROTORS INSTALLED @ APROX. $600. AFTER SERVICE, I DROVE HOME ABOUT 50 MI. & PROBLEM GOT WORSE, INCLUDING A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE. I CALLED DEALER & THEY REFERRED ME TO A DEALER CLOSER TO MY HOME, 3 DAYS & 300 MILES LATER, 2ND DEALER ASKED HOW MANY TIMES I HAD CHANGED THE BRAKES, BECAUSE I NOW, NEEDED ROTORS, AND WORSE, ALL MY TIRES WERE "CUPPED" & I ALSO NEEDED A WHOLE NEW SET OF TIRES...I ASKED 2ND DEALER IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE, BUT RECOMMENDED CHANGING BRAKES, ROTORS & TIRES @ A COST OF $1,100. DEALER ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE LACK OF ROTATING & BALANCING TIRES COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNEVEN WEAR (AKA: CUPPED TIRES). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE LOUD RUMBLING NOISE, WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY, SINCE THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED. THE 2ND DEALER INVOICED THE 1ST DEALER FOR THIS SERVICE CHARGE. 3 DAYS LATER, I WENT TO GOODYEAR TIRE SHOP (FOR 3RD OPINON) BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE TIRES MAY BE DEFECTIVE. GOODYEAR ADVISED ME THAT CUPPED TIRES RESULT FROM UNEVEN WEAR (USUALLY RECOMMEND ROTATING & BALANCING TIRES EVERY 10K MI.), IF NOT, PROBLEMS W/BRAKES & ROTORS. GOODYEAR COULDN'T DETERMINE WHY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED @ ONLY 30K MI. SUCH A PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AT ABOUT 60K MILES, BUT NOT ROTORS. GOODYEAR BALANCED & ROTATED MY TIRES & ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE WHEELWELL, CAUSING A LARGE GASH IN THE WHEELWELL. IN THE INTEREST OF CONSUMER PROTECTION, I SEEK YOUR PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING A POSITIVE RESOLVE TO THIS MATTER. MY CAR HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME @ DEALER SERVICE SHOP. VOLKSWAGEN MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD CRAFTSMANSHIP & POOR SERVICE ADVICE. PLEASE HELP!!

Jul 18, 2001

CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS NO POWER-BRAKES OR STEERING. *AK

Jun 25, 2001 Crash

CAR ACCELERATED FROM 5 MPH UNTIL HIT THE CAR IN FRONT.BRAKE DIDN'T WORK.THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. DEALER INSULTED DRIVER INSTEAD OF A FOLLOWUP. *AK

Apr 2, 2001

IN ADDITION TO ABOVE-KEY ENTRY SPORADICALLY WORKS, CAR UNDER COVER TORN OFF TWO TIMES PARKING IN REGULAR PARKING LOT, CHAIR WILL NOT STAY IN ADJUSTED POSITION AND DEALERSHIP REPRESENTED THAT EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED SAME AS FACTORY WARRANTY, WHICH IT DOES NOT. VERY DISSATISFIED WITH PURCHASE. BELIEVE CAR IS UNSAFE AND LOOKING TO REPLACE. BELIEVE CAR HAS SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO GIVE EXPLANATION FOR UNUSUAL BURNING OF OIL ETC.*AK

Feb 21, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING IN SNOW AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, BRAKES FROZE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Feb 19, 2001

ENGINE CONSUMES ABOUT 1+ QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,500 MILES. FRONT ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES, WHILE BRAKE PADS ARE LESS THAN 50% USED. REFRIGERANT IN AIR CONDITIONER GONE AT AROUND 30,000 MILES WITH NORMAL USE IN MILD CLIMATE.

Dec 4, 2000 Crash

WHILE DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN IN PREPARATION FOR A RIGHT HAND TURN. I TURNED ON MY SIGNAL, AND SLOWLY BEGAN TO HIT MY BRAKES. AS I HIT MY BRAKES, IT BEGAN TO TO ENGAGE AND THEN I FELT A "POP" IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HIT THE BRAKE A LITTLE HARDER AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. MY ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR FAILED AND I HIT A PARKED CAR AT 30MPH. MODERATE DAMAGE DONE TO PASSENGER FRONT AND QUARTERPANEL OF CAR. DOOR WEDGED INTO CAR BRAKING SOME GLASS ON PASSENGER SIDE. UPON IMPACT, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHATSOEVER. I HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH MY HEAD AND SPIDERED THE GLASS UPON IMPACT. IMPACT JOLTED THE CAR IN SUCH A WAY, IT SNAPED MY INSIDE MIRROR OFF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.*AK

Aug 26, 2000

THE BRAKE SENSOR CAUSED THE ENGINE TO THINK THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND LOSE POWER. THE BRAKE SYSTEM THEN FAILED WHILE DIRVING AND THE BRAKES WOULD JUST LOCK UP. IF THE 2ND PROBLEM HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY I FEAR I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. BOTH PROBLEMS COULD BE RELATD. THE SENSOR PROBLEM WOULD TRIGGER A DASH WARNING LIGHT FOR THE GLOW PLUG RELAY. IN GENERAL THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES FOR MOST OF THE SUMMER.

Aug 16, 2000 Crash

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CONSUMER PRESSED ON BRAKES TO SLOW, AND BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THIS HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A CURB. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

Mar 17, 2000 Crash

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.

Feb 21, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Feb 10, 2000 Crash

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. *AK

Feb 2, 2000

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 25 MILES. FRONT DISC ROTORS WORE OUT. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES CAR SHOOK TERRIBLY. *AK

Nov 24, 1999

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE TRAPPED IN THE SEAT, CONSUMER ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN MAKING A NORMAL OR GRAUDAL STOP, THE BRAKES TRAVEL TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF. *AK

Oct 21, 1999

WHILE ON I-95 BETWEEN TWO EXITS THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND PUNCTURED A WHOLE IN THE GAS TANK. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE THAT MUST HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING. *AK

Jun 22, 1999 Crash

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. *AK