Electrical 1st the dealer charges for eveything they look at, and the work is never under warranty or recall. I have had two headlamps go out intermittently. My A/C switch when out, now the whole unit has gone out. The cost for repairs are outrageous. And they always rig their cars with special tools, so you cannot gpr elsewhere for service.
1999 Volkswagen Beetle: headlights failing or too dim
10 of the 174 complaints about the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle describe headlights failing or too dim.
- owner complaints
- 10
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 8 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Headlights failing or too dim by model year
What owners say
Dealer had to replace headlights 7 times this year. Consumer states vehicle is not longer under warranty so she had to pay $60.oo for each head lamp.
1)driver's side window had difficulty going up since vehicle purchase, have to push with hand to assist. 2) just a few months after purchase sensor behind brake pedal failed, vehicle would shift from park, replaced. 3) air bag came on and then engine light soon after, catalytic converter replaced. Both warning lights off and replaced. 4) headlights are constantly blowing out, evidence of a short when replaced. Burn marks, and exposed wiring because plastic on connectors got brittle and cracked off. 5) air bag light on again, two weeks later engine light on. Told two sensors on mass air flow and some others are malfunctioning and now been replaced. Told there is a broken clock spring in steering column along with bad wiring harness, both affecting air bags. Also, told air bag is now bad and needs to be replaced because other defective components have shorted igniter in air bag out. I am a college student and cannot continue to fund repairs to this vehicle. Cannot sell either because of these problems, and now reputation of beetle for problems. Vehicle has never been in an accident, even so much as bumped. Meticulously maintained. Dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis----------------770755. *ak
The consumer stated that 18 months after the purchase of the vehicle, the vehicle needed to be jump started. The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer and was told that it was a computer malfunction. The consumer had taken the vehicle in for an inoperative speedometer but it ended up being the instrument cluster. The low beam lights wouldn't work because of an error with the electronics.
Electrical system had a failure in fuse box which caused some fuses to melt. One fuse shorted out a wire to the relay box which also sustained a short. Head lights, defogger, horn, turn signals etc, became inoperative. Please describe details.
Consumer has been having alot of problems with electrical features. Consumer has replaced 2 batteries/ 1 cd changer/ 4 headlight bulbs, and air conditioner outlet didn't work. Dealer stated vehicle had too many miles. Problems existed since day 1.
At 1 1/2 months of ownership the check engine light came on "with no fault found" took 1 1/2 years and 6 service visits to fix. The car often goes forward while in reveres and has shifting problems, have had the transmission "adjusted" 3 times still has problems. Oil light doesnt go on when oil is low. Battery light doesnt go on when the batter is dying. Wiring to headlight keeps "loosening" causing the headlights to fail. Had rear and front brakes replaced due to low ground clearance and snow getting lodged in them and freezing.
Three months prrior to the engine fire, a battery blew up in this car after turning the ignition key. Prior to that the headlights have been replaced three times and the A/C condenser replaced. We believe this car has some serious electrical problems. Vw decided it was an "insurance" issue, because of the mileage of the car. In short, they are saying that it is ok for the engine to burn up on a 1999 car with 44,000 miles.
Vehicle caught fire on inside of ignition switch box. There was a bad connection in the ignition switch. Fire meleted wires inside the box which caused shutdown in dashboard ie/ headlights/ windshield wipers, and etc. Dealer's remedy was to tighten the wires in ignition box, but the electrical portion of dashboard would periodically go down.
Speedometer/odometer cluster has failed 3 times. Works properly if headlight switch is on, but malfunctions when switch is off.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses
- Technical Bulletin: Condensation and or water droplets becomming visible on inside of exterior light...
- Technical Bulletin (Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation):
- Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- VW Elsa Newsletter
- Technical Bulletin (Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation): Exterior light assemblies (headlights,...
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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 not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 06V183000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle headlights
Is headlights failing or too dim a common problem on the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle?
10 of 174 owner complaints about the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle (6%) mention headlights failing or too dim. The model year with the most reports is 1998.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle?
There is 1 recall and 8 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle
Fire or smoke 13Check engine light 11Airbag light 9Stalling 7Won't shift 6Won't start 6ABS 5
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1999 Volkswagen Beetle?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history