The blinker on my car is failing. It is in the unit on the steering column. After turning a corner it will not automatically shut off. When driving it will drop down and come on sometimes. It sometimes does not want to come on and I have to push it hard. The vehicle is a 1999.5 vw jetta. I have read on the forums also that this is a very common problem and a very expensive fix.
1999 Volkswagen Jetta lights problems
20 complaints (6% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 83,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 20
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- typical mileage
- 83,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Brake lights: switch9
- Turn signal3
- Headlights2
- Turn signal: switch1
- Turn signal: flasher unit1
- Tail lights: switch1
- Hazard flashing warning lights: switch1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Volkswagen Jetta lights problems in other years
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
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
- Risk
- If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
- Remedy
- This recall has been superceded by 06v‑183. Owners who have had a remedy performed under this recall should return to their dealer for the redesigned remedy. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 04V096000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Brake light switch failure
By letters dated may 24, 2006 and august 4, 2006, volkswagen (vw) notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (the federal safety agency recall no 06v‑183) involving model year (my) 1998-2002 volkswagen new beetle and 1999-2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles equipped with cruise control.volkswagen?s recall covers 646,246 vehicles.previously, vw recalled these vehicles to replace a defective brake light switch (recalls 03v‑265 and 04v‑096) that was unique to vehicles with cruise control.volkswagen reports that the brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during recalls 03v‑265 and 04v‑096.volkswagen will install a new design brake light switch.based on volkswagen's safety recall action, this investigation is closed.
RQ06004
Brake light switch
The number of duplicates between odi and manufacturer failure reports cannot be determined due to missing and or inaccurate information.the injury noted above was minor.on february 26, 2004, volkswagen of america, inc. (vw) submitted a defect notification (per 49cfr573) to the federal safety agency advising that certain model year (my) 1999 - 2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles manufacutured with the same brake light switch as recalled under 03v‑265 (my 1998-2002 new beetle) are affected by a safety defect.specifically, if the brake light switch malfunctions, the brake lights could fail to illuminate when the brakes are applied, or could stay illuminated continually even when the brakes are not applied.either condition results in the inability of the brake lights to notify other motorists of vehicle braking, thus increasing the risk of a rear end collision and occupant injury.accordingly, volkswagen is recalling jetta vehicles manufactured from may 1998 to november 2001 to inspect and replace free of charge any affected brake light switches.the recall program, vw code wx, will commence in april 2004.
RQ03010
What 1999 Volkswagen Jetta owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* - the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that there were two safety recalls 06v183000 and 99v251000. , one recall was for the brake lamp switch assemble and the other was for the b pillar mounting clips. The contact stated that the vehicle was in a crash while going 40 MPH the person that hit the contact's vehicle said that he hit him because the brake lights did not turn on, and then he fled the seen. The contact stated that a police report was taken, and a complaint made to the insurance company. The contact was not sure if he got a ticket or not for not having brake lights. The contact stated that he was coming off of the expressway at 40 MPH, the weather was clear, and the incident took place in daylight. The contact had to pay for the repairs. The contact had been pulled over by the police before because of the brake lights. The contact stated that he switched the bulbs and thought everything was alright. The contact's complaint was that he received a safety recall months later on the brake lamp switch after he paid for everything. The contact will be able to get the police report and an insurance report. The failure and current mileage were both 117392.
My brake light switch has malfunctioned causing total loss of exterior brake lights on my 99 jetta passenger vehicle. This malfunction has been recalled by the federal safety agency on many other 99 vw jettas, however my particular vehicle did not fit in the VIN number range of the safety recall. I suggest this safety recall should be extended to include other models because evidently it is a problem and it is a serious safety hazard.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving the brake light switch failed. A the federal safety agency recall, #06v183000 was performed on the vehicle concerning, the brake light switch however, the recall did not remedy the problem. The dealership would not offer a second repair without charge under the recall.
I drive a 1999 vw jetta, standard transmission. I was informed by a police officer that my brake lights were not operating. After searching the internet, I learned from the federal safety agency web site that there was a recall issued may of 2006 for certain vw cars that had their brake light switch replaced for an earlier recall. I called the dealership and they told me my car was serviced under the last recall, but it does not qualify for the recall. I had the brake light switch replaced and the problem has been corrected. The old part is not available.
Turn signals and flashers not blinking as described in recall id number: 04v584000 which calls for the replacement of the hazard flasher switch, however the 1999 new jettas are not covered by the recall.
Dt: the contact owns a 1999 vw jetta. The contact was having problems with the brake light switch. She started having problems with the switch on 9-2-05. It caused the brake lights to become inoperable or to come on and stay on even though the vehicle was parked. The consumer could not get the car out of park and this problem was in some way tied into the brake light switch failure. A the federal safety agency recall 04v096000 was issued. The consumer bought the car used from an individual who received a recall notice in 4-04. The notice did not indicate a VIN. *ak
The parking light switch is locking up. The car is stalling in the middle of the traffic because I was not able to shift from parking to any other gear. The parking light lit and will unlit about 30 minutes later. As of now, the light lit constantly and I have to disassemble the battery and the light would still re-appear once I put the battery back in. The car is not drive able.
The checking engine light illuminated and the engine began to hesitate. *nm the mechanic found service code stored for fuel trim. *sc the mechanic replaced a defective mass air flow sensor. The signal light bulb was replaced, because it blinked very fast.
Recall notice for check/ replace brake light switch.*mr the faulty brake light switch caused the emergency brake light to remain on. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop three times but they were unable to fix the problem (volkswagen jetta). The dealer was finally able to identify the problem and informed the consumer it would cost $6000. The consumer took the vehicle elsewhere for repairs because the service dealer's staff suddenly became rude.
Questions about the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta lights
Does the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta have lights problems?
Owners have filed 20 complaints about the lights of the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, 6% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Jetta lights problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 83,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Volkswagen Jetta lights?
Yes, 2 recalls: 06V183000, 04V096000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Volkswagen Jetta have the most lights problems?
The Volkswagen Jetta model years with the most lights complaints are 2001 (80 complaints), 2002 (51 complaints) and 2011 (42 complaints).
Other 1999 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Visibility 81Engine 80Electrical 44Brakes 31Airbags 30Transmission 30Acceleration 26Body 25Seat belts 24Fuel system 13Suspension 12Steering 8Seats 7Tires 4Driver assistance 2Locks 2Wheels 1
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