1998 Volkswagen JETTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
145 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
81,282 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 145 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 11.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 11.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 31 |
| Tires | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 31; Tires: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Electrical System: 6; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 6; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 107 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 27 |
| 2001 | 28 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 27; 2001: 28; 2002: 18; 2003: 23; 2004: 21; 2005: 8; 2006: 6; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000740 · 2003-01-05 (January 5, 2003)
THE FRONT DISK BRAKE ROTORS WERE UNDERSIZED IN DIAMETER. THIS ALLOWED THE DISC BRAKE PADS TO WEAR IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWED THE PADS TO CONTACT OUTSIDE OF THE ROTOR AND RESULT IN REDUCED PRESSURE ON THE ROTOR. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PROBLEM ARE AVAILABLE. BRAKE FADING AND LOSS OF BREAKS FROM OVERHEATING ON MOUNTAIN ROADS THEN OCCURRED. THE CAR MODEL IS A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI MODEL YEAR 1998. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED BUT IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY THAT THE DISK ROTORS WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 80000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002791 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VR6 HAS HAD SECOND IGNITION COILPACK FAIL, CREATING A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION AND RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 58,000 ON JAN. 13TH., 2003 AND REQUIRED IGNITION COILPACK REPLACEMENT. IGNITION COILPACK WAS ALSO REPLACED ON 06/26/2000 WHEN VEHICLE HAD 34,119 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE MANAGER AGREES THAT THIS FAILED PREMATURELY, BUT CUSTOMER COMPLAINT CENTER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXISTS. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL AND SPUTTER IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THUS CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005025 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
I OWN A 1998 VOLKWAGEN JETTA GL. THE CAR BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE IN OPERATION. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE BATTERY IF REQUESTED. IT DIDN'T SEEM NORMAL AND SO I FIGURED I'D FILE A REPORT.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005239 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AT 20,000 MILES AND JUST RECENTLY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED BY CABLE IN MOTOR SNAPPING
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005750 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
FAILURE OF DOOR WIRING HARNESS. DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE CAR - THE ENGIN WILL NOT ENGAGE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC FAILURE OF THE DOOR WIRING HARNESS. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY TO OVERRIDE THE ELECTRONIC FAILURE SO THAT I CAN DRIVE IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009175 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED LIMITED VISIBILITY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010787 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
TWO OF THE WINDOWS ON MY 98 JETTA HAVE GONE OUT. MANY OF MY FRIENDS WHO ALSO DRIVE JETTA'S HAD THEIR WINDOWS GO OUT ALSO. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014507 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN I HEARD A CRASH AND MY CAR STOPPED MOVING. THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD FALLEN OFF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 74,698 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014507 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V026000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Reported: 2002-01-25 (January 25, 2002)
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.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V156000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L VR6 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE PUBLISHED ON THE LABEL FOR TIRES OF THE SIZE 205/50 R15 86H IS 0.1 BAR (1.45 PSI) TOO LOW. IT SHOULD BE 2.5 BAR (36.3 PSI). THE LABEL RECOMMENDS 2.4 BAR (34.8 PSI = 35 PSI).
Consequence: UNDER INFLATED TIRES CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING, AND DRIVING WITH SUBSTANTIALY UNDER INFLATED TIRES PUTS THE CONSUMER AT A RISK FOR A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS, OR A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL IF THE OWNER WISHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 29, 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 VW AT 1-800-893-5298.
NHTSA campaign record ↗