1999 Volkswagen Golf Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 8%of 64 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 51,622miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1999 Volkswagen Golf, 8% of the 64 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 51,622 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This car has had a failure of the brake light switch 3 times in 2 years. This leaves the vehicle with no brake lights when the brake pedal is pressed. Obviously, this is a serious danger to anyone in the vehicle and other vehicles around it as there is no warning when slowing down.he switch has been replaced all 3 times by roseville vw ($136.62 each time). There is a service note dated 10/18/2001 which explains that if the brake switch is installed incorrectly it can/will lead to a failure of the switch. …”
NHTSA complaint #10025911, filed 2003-07, 28,245 miles“These 2 items concerned me greatly as to the safety of the vehicle. The plastic fuel line failed due to cold weather, below zero, and being hit by slush ball from a truck. Had the fuel line been metal, there would have been no failure. The second item, the headlights is more critical. They failed to work on low beam. This failure happened unannounced and is very dangerous. I drove the rest of the way home with my high beams on.”
NHTSA complaint #729319, filed 2000-08Related recalls
- 07V063000Feb 20, 2007On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed…Covers: Volkswagen Golf 1999–2006, GTI 1999–2006, Beetle 2001–2007 +3 more
Related service bulletins
- 10158533Feb 18, 2019Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. TB updated to include model year 2019 applicability.
- 10121257Mar 27, 2015Technical Bulletin: Condensation and or water droplets becomming visible on inside of exterior light lenses issue is discussed in this document
- 10239592Jun 4, 2014Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10120169Jun 4, 2014Technical Bulletin (Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation): This document informs of the Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. The…
- 10243011May 19, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242349May 19, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10239591Mar 6, 2014Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10124287Mar 6, 2014Technical Bulletin (Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation): Exterior light assemblies (headlights, taillights, fog lights, turn signals) are vented and may collect moisture on…
- 10243002Jan 27, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10239590Feb 14, 2011Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 9% |
| 2021 | 1 | 14% |
| 2020 | 1 | 17% |
| 2018 | 2 | 7% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 6% |
| 2011 | 3 | 3% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 11% |
| 2004 | 1 | 4% |
| 2003 | 1 | 4% |
| 2002 | 11 | 15% |
| 2001 | 15 | 13% |
| 2000 | 3 | 3% |
| 1999 | 5 | 8% |
| 1998 | 2 | 11% |
| 1995 | 3 | 7% |
Other parts of the 1999 Volkswagen Golf
16 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Volkswagen Golf
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology