1999 Volkswagen Jetta 99.5 Mk4 GL review from North America

One radiator fan.

Clutch hose.

Coil pack.

ABS pump & wheel sensors.

E-brake cable tubes.

Glove box door.

Arm rest.

Rear ashtray.

Dash cupholders.

I got a good deal on this car used. I had no illusions that it had a hard life, given the cheap purchase price, but the bodywork was immaculate black, so the repairs that followed weren't (to me) a big deal.

Well I'm deep into repairs. I have heard horror stories for the 99.5+ yr (Mk 4) Jettas and some are legitimate. The interior components that have failed (glove box, armrest, rear ashtray) are VERY common failures, and thus are very hard to find parts for.

The other parts I've replaced have just been ignored by neglect, most of which have never been replaced before... a testament to VW quality. I question the quality of the 3rd party parts I've bought to replace them, but being knowledgeable in vehicle repairs, I can keep an eye on them.

The ABS system has failed, which is not a big deal as it reverts the brake system back to old school non-ABS. But there's an annoying flasher warning on the cluster that has to be dealt with as $1000 for a new ABS pump is unacceptable.

I am happy with the comfort of this vehicle, but the Mexican build quality is not as good as German (or even Brazilian) builds.