Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Volkswagen Passat, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic184
- Suspension118
- Engine and engine cooling86
- Steering76
- Electrical system58
- Service brakes, air35
- Visibility32
- Vehicle speed control32
- Power train29
- Fuel system, gasoline24
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Volkswagen Passat failed the safety check 1.93% of the time — 9% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 122,985 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Volkswagen Passat cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp), 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp) and 1.9 diesel (81 kW, 109 hp), out of 7 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 96 |
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 38 |
| 1.9 diesel | 81 kW 109 hp | 37 |
| 1.8 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 35 |
| 2.3 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 31 |
| 2.8 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 26 |
| 1.9 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
298 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 7% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen139
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde94
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect93
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm75
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af70
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm65
- Band onvoldoende profiel51
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling51
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
244 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,421 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 505 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 58% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 22.0% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 17.2% | 13.1% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 14.1% | 9.3% |
| Brakes | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| Steering | 6.5% | 3.7% |
| Tyres | 6.1% | 4.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
401 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 352,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
29 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 79% arrived as used imports, 14% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 10.0–12.8 L/100 km (about 18–24 mpg US), CO₂ 230–294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.5 | 8.1 | 10.0 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 12.9 | 8.3 | 10.8 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 8.9 | 11.3 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.9 | 8.9 | 12.2 |
| Passat Syncro · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.3 | 9.7 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Volkswagen Passat.
| 2008119 9 Apr 2008 | Fuel System On certain Passat and Passat Four Motion vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, an underbody heat shield may become damaged. If this occurs, the hea… |
| 2002103 3 Mar 2001 | Steering On certain vehicles the tie rods of the steering assembly may be inadequately sealed to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mec… |
| 1999195 29 Oct 1999 | Steering On certain vehicles, the steering assembly tie rod seals do not seal properly. If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel… |
| 1999095 19 May 1999 | Brakes On certain vehicles, a control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold may not open or close fully at temperatures below -4… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL LINE (1.8T ENGINES ONLY) OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE.
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAN SUFFER ABRASION DAMAGE IF THE REAR TIRE GOES FLAT AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TIRE DISINTEGRATES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 1999 Volkswagen Passat: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 626970 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTION. *SLC |
| 621623 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT |
| 621617 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WITH NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TT |
| 621613 | SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT |
| 615888 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT FLOOR MAT FASTENER DAMAGE. *TT |
| 610161 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO THE SUNROOF SLIDING HEADLINER, REPLACING SLIDES. *TT |
| 608346 | INFORMATION ON RADIO SERIAL NUMBER/CODE, STICKER LOCATION ON VEHICLE'S BEGINING WITH VIN #'S: GOLF/ JETTA (1999, 2000, 1H_XM215697), NEW GOLF/ NEW JETTA (1999,2000 ALL), NEW BEETLE (1999-2000-1C_WM024452), CABRIO (1999-2000- 1 H _XM215697), PASSAT (1999,2000 ALL). MJS |
| 608343 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLE'S EXHIBITING FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION ON PASSAT WITH 1.8L 5V TURBO VEHICLES FROM 1998-1999 UP TO VIN #XE000100. *MS |
| 607937 | CONDITIONS WITH POOR AM RECEPTION. *TT |
| 607922 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL CAPACITIES. *TT |
| 606632 | IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING NEW VEHICLE WINDSHIELD, REAR AND SIDE GLASS, SCRATCH, STRESS CRACK AND DISTORTION SURVEY FORM. *TT |
| 606257 | SUBJECT REGARING ENGINE MISFIRE. *TT |
| 605990 | CONCERNS WITH INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER, WIPES ACROSS WINDSHIELD ONCE THEN STOPS. *TT |
| 10243011 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242998 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242996 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242349 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242336 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10241340 | Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard VW 502 00/505 00/505 01 and VW 504 00/507 00 |
| 10241266 | Squeaks, Rattles, Noise, Repair Materials |
| 10241265 | Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults |
| 10241177 | Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards |
| 10240876 | Please contact VW Helpline before attempting repair |
| 10240873 | Please contact VW Helpline before attempting repair |
| 10240872 | Please contact VW Helpline before attempting repair |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ALLEGED PREMATURE TIE ROD FAILURE
STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE
PASSENGER AIR BAG LID FAILURE
PASSENGER SIR DOOR MOUNTING STUD FAILURE
FUEL TANK PUNCTURE
FUEL TANK PUNCTURE
POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM BY-PASS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation