1998 Volkswagen Passat Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Volkswagen Passat, 21% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 87,900 miles. The words owners use most often: “abs control” (16% of reports).
- 70service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- 87,900median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $3,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- ABS control: mentioned in 11 of 70 complaints (16%)
- Anti lock: mentioned in 6 of 70 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the 1998 Volkswagen Passat at $3,500, and half of them between $3,200 and $4,300.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2008), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 46 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 70 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Volkswagen Passat service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Passat | 2 | 2% | 27,505 |
| 2016 Passat | 1 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2015 Passat | 3 | 1% | 3,800 |
| 2014 Passat | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2013 Passat | 2 | 0% | 62,506 |
| 2012 Passat | 1 | 0% | 32 |
| 2009 Passat | 1 | 1% | 3,785 |
| 2008 Passat | 1 | 1% | 1,500 |
| 2007 Passat | 4 | 2% | 30,000 |
| 2006 Passat | 26 | 5% | 21,526 |
| 2005 Passat | 3 | 2% | 20,000 |
| 2004 Passat | 11 | 4% | 22,000 |
| 2003 Passat | 28 | 4% | 26,628 |
| 2002 Passat | 47 | 7% | 54,000 |
| 2001 Passat | 48 | 11% | 68,400 |
| 2000 Passat | 160 | 32% | 72,500 |
| 1999 Passat | 184 | 28% | 87,000 |
| 1998 Passat | 70 | 21% | 87,900 |
| 1996 Passat | 1 | 3% | 76,279 |
| 1995 Passat | 11 | 12% | 136,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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
The abs light comes on,followed by the brake light blinking the engine oil light comes on and the tachometer goes to 0 and stops working even though i am accelerating. There are many others with this same issue it can be researched on…
Abs module failure. Was driving shortly after having front end work done and light when on. This happens intermittently while driving. Braking is affected. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Volkswagen Passats have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 70 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat (21% of the 331 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Volkswagen Passat service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?
The median reported mileage is 87,900 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,500 (half paid between $3,200 and $4,300), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Volkswagen Passat?
The most frequent phrase is “abs control”, in 11 of 70 complaints, followed by “anti lock” (6).
Other 1998 Volkswagen Passat problems
- Suspension problems (90)
- Steering problems (52)
See all 1998 Volkswagen Passat problems or service brakes, hydraulic problems across all Passat years.