1st Mar 2008, 17:24

When it works it works well, when it's not working properly Satan is involved. Yes it's a 99 Jetta GLS, no surprise there.

Simple front bumper cover replacement leads to stupid Anti Theft system lockdown. I'm assuming the body shop techs disconnected the battery while doing work. The remote no longer unlocks or locks the car or seems to work. Alarm triggers instead of car starting. And I was concerned with my CEL coming on again for the 35th time. I've had luck with adding 2 bottles of injector cleaner to the tank when it's at 1/4 full. That seems to clean the O2 sensors and get the light to go off. I'm not falling for the dealership butt monkeys replacing the sensors again only to have the light come on again 6 weeks later.

Don't park your VW under or near pine trees if you have the moon roof. The pine needles work their way into the rain gutter at the front of the moon roof assembly and stop up the drain holes (Hey VW, how about a screen over the hole). This situation will lead to a very wet interior and nasty water in the headliner. The dealer techs told me to use compressed air to cleat the drain tube. Do not do this unless you want to hear a thumping sound in your door jam/front kick panel. That will be the sound of the drain tube (Finger sized) coming out of the grommet the exits the car's body in the lower front door jam (both sides). Now you have cleared the sludge and rerouted the drain into the cars interior. The hose and grommet can't be reconnected without removing the hose from the other end.

26th Apr 2008, 08:28

April 26,2008 I purchased 1999 Jetta Wolfsburg new and have had nothing but troubles. After 35,000 miles I needed a brake job which cost me $1700. I was told that even the calipers were broken on it. I wrote Volkswagen, and was told that it was normal to have to replace the brakes. Well it's not going on the third brake job. 3 of windows do not work. Same thing with engine light coming on and off. It is a piece of crap. I will never buy Volkswagen again.

30th Apr 2008, 21:32

Hello, there's a 1999 Wolfsburg Edition in the family now. Black, automatic w/102K and an inoperative sunroof.

After reading your comments the following tasks will be added to the fluids/filters/plugs and wires ritual.

#1 - Clean the throttle body.

#2 - Listen to, tighten and or lube the door and window hardware.

#3 - Clean the window switches.

#4 - Inspect/refresh vacuum hoses.

#5 - Clear any body drain passages.

#6 - Maybe 5-56 each light socket.

A QUESTION: Is there a tech website where you all go? I'm much better off for reading these posts. I feel we could benefit greatly from a more hands-on forum.

FEEDBACK WELCOME: Thank you, George Dignam, gmdignam@ix.netcom.com

18th Jul 2008, 15:03

I have just purchased a 1999 W.E. Jetta. The lady I bought it from had bought it new, & she cried when I handed her the money for the car. She says it is the best car she has ever owned. It has never left her stuck, stranded, or failed to start & go for 9 years. It has 117k miles on it & I plan on running another 50-60k on it.

I have a 2000 beetle TDI, & it's a great car. 160k miles & she still gets 50MPG & runs strong. One thing I did long ago is find a good INDEPENDENT mechanic that specializes in German cars. The dealerships are a JOKE... never use them for repairs... they are parts changers & guess at what they do.

The best mechanics have always been at the INDEPENDENT shops... They make lots more money as NON dealer mechanics. WHo makes the money at the dealerships is the owners... not the mechanics... Bye the way... for those of you who do not work on your own cars... GET OUT of the house, buy a manual & fix something... turn off the cable, computer, X-BOX, playstation..ect...and get dirty. Its good for you...HAHA.

19th Jul 2008, 21:36

I too have a VW Jetta Wolfsburg edition. What a nightmare of a car. I loved it when I first bought it until I drove down the road, shut it off and wouldn't start again. It got progressively worse.

The windshield leaks badly, so much so that the whole inside is soaked. Needless to say it wouldn't start again and had been sitting all winter.

The other day my SO decided to "try" starting it and it ran... this is at least 4 months later. I have brought it to a dealership and they are at a loss as to what the issue is.

Unfortunately I'm in a major family crisis with my daughter dealing with bone cancer, and this car is so unpredictable and unreliable to make her treatments 3 hours away. Any thoughts or suggestions on what the issue is with this car? I doubt I'll get my money back out of it "if" I can ship it through the auction.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Never again would I purchase such a piece of junk.

paintedhorses@550access.com

19th Jul 2008, 22:36

After reading all the comments above, I just pushed my 99 Wolfsburg down my steep driveway into the woods... bye bye you P.O.S!!!

12th Aug 2008, 11:38

OH BOY!

What I wouldn't do to go back in time and NOT buy this car. My 1999 VW Jetta Wolfsberg is Satan.

I have only owned the car for approx. 1.5 years. In this time.. I have had thousands of dollars of work done to it. I want to mention there was only 1 owner before me and he took immaculate care.

1. Ignition coil. I noticed other people were mentioning this problem, but maybe did not know what it was. The ignition coil cracked. Any time water touches the coil... the car stalls and dies. I had this replaced.. mechanic said he'd never seen an ignition coil do that.

2. Right Rear Window - Motor went out. Im not even going to spend the money to fix that one.

3. Speakers. Same as all of the other complaints.

4. I am having serious problems with my rear suspension. They keep putting brand new struts on the back right side... and they break, every single time. Its fine about a week, then it breaks again. It has to go into the shop every other week!!! for one week, then I get it back.. do it again.

5. My cars key sensor is broken. It constantly thinks the key is still in the car! And will never completely shut off.

6. Reverse lights and left side MPH lights work intermittently.. usually not at all. Sometimes if I hit a good bump it will come back.. until I turn the car off.. and we start all over.

7. Valve cover cracked on engine.. I hope I get that part name right. It was leaking oil all over the engine.

There is more, but just listing this has made my head hurt.

I know everyone that has posted here has had extremely similar problems. I won't buy a VW ever again.