1999 Volkswagen Jetta vehicle speed control problems

“THE VW VEHICLE IS PROGRAMMED TO CRIPPLE THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND SPEED IN CASE OF AN EPC FAULT. ANY FAULT CAUSING A RICH OR LEAN CONDITION WILL CAUSE THIS "LIMP MODE". THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65-75MPH AND A 80,000 POUND TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND THEM AS ONE PERSON EXPERIENCED. THERE ARE TOO MANY NON-VITAL COMPONENT FAILURES TO LIST THAT CAN CAUSE THIS FAULT. I REFER TO NON-VITAL MEANING THE COMPONENT FAILURE WILL NOT HARM THE DRIVER OF THE CAR. THE FAULT LIGHT INDICATION ISN'T ENOUGH? NOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORCE YOU INTO A REPAIR SHOP AND BUY MORE VW PARTS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MONEY MAKING SCAM ENDANGERING OUR LIVES. WE DO NOT PUT A HALT ON THIS NOW- SOON ANY FAULT WILL CRIPPLE OUR CARS. IT'S NOT JUST VW (HYUNDAI DID A SIMILAR "LIMP MODE"). *TR”

“WHILE DRIVING ON RT. 495 NEAR EXIT 19, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND I FELT MY SPEED CONTINUE TO INCREASE. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND MY SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE. I DOWNSHIFTED AND WHEN I LET THE CLUTCH OUT WE REALLY TOOK OFF. DEPRESSING THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED, MANAGED TO PULL ON TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. AS I REACHED FOR THE KEY, THE ENGINE SHUDDERED AND DIED. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT WAS THAT THE ENGINE SELF-DESTRUCTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES IN THE ECM AND THE TPS SHOWED NO DEFECTS WHEN TESTED. *TR”

“WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, UNDER ANY ACCELERATION, ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILS AND THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND. ONCE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE E-WAY, VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING AS IF GAS PEDAL WERE NOT DEPRESSED AND I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OVER TO SHOULDER TO AVOID BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF E-WAY. ANOTHER TIME I PULLED OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED, NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BOTH TIMES, EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN DASH CLUSTER - I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE PROBLEM BY SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING ENGINE. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAILED VALVE IN THE THROTTLE BODY. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE REPLIED "WELL, NOT ALL OF THEM FAIL." TO ME THIS IMPLIES A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING A PART THAT CONTROLS THE THROTTLE - THIS SHOULD NEVER FAIL! VW ALSO WOULD NOT HELP ME WHEN I WENT THROUGH 3 BRAKE SWITCHES (PART NOW SUBJECT TO RECALL). VEHICLE NEEDS NEW THROTTLE BODY. PART IS APPROX. $800 + LABOR. WHY WOULD THE THROTTLE FAIL ON A VEHICLE WELL UNDER 100,000 MILES? PRIMARY SYSTEMS (BRAKING, ACCELERATING) SHOULD NEVER FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THIS…”

“WHILE IN NEUTRAL CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. CONSUMER APPLIED FORCE AND PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. *AK”

“WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS: THE VEHICLE LOSES SPEED CONTROL (ACCELERATION PEDAL NON-RESPONSIVE), THE EPC SENSOR LIGHT TURNS ON, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. WITHOUT SPEED CONTROL I MUST QUICKLY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID OBSTRUCTION OF FREE-FLOWING TRAFFIC. IF I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND TURN IT ON AGAIN, THE VEHICLE REGAINS SPEED CONTROL UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE (THERE IS NO PATTERN). MY MECHANICS HANDHELD COMPUTER HAS IDENTIFIED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH IS A BY-WIRE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. HAVING READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB, I SUSPECT THAT THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SPEED CONTROL DEVICE THAT COSTS ALMOST $700 TO REPLACE (EXCLUDING LABOR).*AK”

“WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THROTTLE SPEED SENSOR LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD FOR A MINUTE AND WENT OFF. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED CLEANING. *AK”