1998 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Passat years
- Far more complaints than other years 10th of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 331 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Volkswagen Passat. That ranks 10th out of 28 Passat model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (90 complaints, 27%), typically at around 82,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 4 fires, 12 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
- 331owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Volkswagen Passat problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension problems | 90 | 27% | 82,000 | “control arms” (41%) | $1,700 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 70 | 21% | 87,900 | “abs control” (16%) | $3,500 |
| Steering problems | 52 | 16% | 58,500 | “tie rod” (31%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 12% | 85,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 28 | 8% | 82,365 | — | — |
| Visibility | 27 | 8% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 17 | 5% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 | 5% | 223,434 | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 11 | 3% | 91,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 2% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 2% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2% | 60,770 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 2% | 52,050 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 1% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 1% | 113,884 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1% | 100,545 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 0% | 105,090 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 12,800 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 68,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Volkswagen Passat recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
Problem: 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.
Risk: Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the event of tire disintegration. Owner notification began june 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Problem: 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.
Risk: If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
Fix: Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine backfires during a cold-start, an air screen which is loosely seated in the air flow meter can become damaged.
Risk: Screen pieces could enter the intake air flow system and prevent the throttle plate from returning to its full idle position.
Fix: Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Stuck-open throttle (EA04017) — opened Jun 30, 2004, closed Feb 10, 2005, led to recall 04V495000.
- Passenger air bag lid failure (EA03020) — opened Oct 7, 2003, closed Apr 23, 2004.
- Passenger sir door mounting stud failure (PE03021) — opened May 23, 2003, closed Oct 7, 2003.
- Fuel tank puncture (EA00028) — opened Dec 28, 2000, closed Jan 29, 2002, led to recall 02V026000.
- Fuel tank puncture (PE00033) — opened Aug 10, 2000, closed Dec 28, 2000.
- Power brake booster vacuum by-pass (RQ99008) — opened Jun 1, 1999, closed Nov 14, 2000, led to recall 99V131001.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The timing chain system is defective and they know it. Why didn't they inform me of this.maybe because they have hands full with the emission cheating scandal. Or if they did them they would be liable for all the complaints before. Please putvoutca recall. This car is dangerous !!!!!
Driving back home from store and car just died out than smelt like gas.
Cabin smells like fumes for starters an gas gauge is off car says it has quarter of a tank an than i run out of gas almost had a accident because of this ! Also car has tons of electrical problems if it sits for more than three days battery dies but my main concern is my fuel gauge. *tr
Abs module appears to be faulty. Abs and brake light remain on/flashing. Loss of abs could cause collision, dealer wants $1000+ for the part and does not guarantee it will fix the problem. *tr
Fire in rubber boot housing between left rear door and car frame. Preceding events, left rear door speaker was not functioning, left rear window functioned sometimes. Door was closed after returning home and parking garage. Arcing was heard and smoke came from door. Owner removed many fuses from…
Other Volkswagen Passat years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Passat | 13 | 0 |
| 2021 Passat | 18 | 1 |
| 2020 Passat | 18 | 3 |
| 2019 Passat | 12 | 1 |
| 2018 Passat | 46 | 4 |
| 2017 Passat | 110 | 7 |
| 2016 Passat | 106 | 5 |
| 2015 Passat | 243 | 7 |
| 2014 Passat | 594 | 10 |
| 2013 Passat | 748 | 9 |
| 2012 Passat | 484 | 11 |
| 2011 Passat | 16 | 0 |
| 2010 Passat | 163 | 4 |
| 2009 Passat | 146 | 4 |
| 2008 Passat | 168 | 4 |
| 2007 Passat | 262 | 7 |
| 2006 Passat | 576 | 7 |
| 2005 Passat | 148 | 3 |
| 2004 Passat | 279 | 3 |
| 2003 Passat | 628 | 6 |
| 2002 Passat | 636 | 3 |
| 2001 Passat | 430 | 3 |
| 2000 Passat | 507 | 3 |
| 1999 Passat | 664 | 5 |
| 1998 | 331 | 4 |
| 1997 Passat | 37 | 0 |
| 1996 Passat | 40 | 1 |
| 1995 Passat | 93 | 1 |
See all Volkswagen Passat problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners most often report suspension, service brakes, hydraulic, steering problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 90 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Volkswagen Passat?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Volkswagen Passat a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Passat model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.