U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Volkswagen JETTA problems and owner complaints

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: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
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.

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Tires

Electrical System:Ignition

Unknown Or Other

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Component breakdown data
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.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2016

2017

2023

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.

Complaint evidence

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 10037343 · 2003-09-06 (September 6, 2003)

STOP BRAKE LIGHT TOO DIM ON VW JETTA 1999 OLD BODY STYLE. I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD WITH A SAFE DISTANCE TO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME ( A JETTA 1999 OLD BODY STYLE) ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STOPPED AND I NEVER SAW ITS TAIL LIGHTS TURN ON. CONSEQUENTLY I REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF MY VEHICLE. INTERESTINGLY THE DRIVER IN THE CAR INFRONT OF ME TOLD ME THAT EVER SINCE HE HAD PURCHASED THIS CARD (ABOUT 2 YRS AGO) HE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED 3 TIMES BEFORE. TODAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN AND I NEARLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER JETTA OF THE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037343 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 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 10068345 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)

I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGON JETTA, WOLFSBURG EDITION. I'VE BEEN STRANDED A TOTAL OF 6 OR 7 TIMES (LOSING COUNT) ON THE INTERSTATE BY THIS VEHICLE. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS MYSTERIOUS PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. I WORK FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA, COMMUNTE INTO INDIANAPOLIS 5 DAYS A WEEK, I AM AN INTERSTATE TRAVELER. I HAVE FORGIVEN MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS HAD, BUT RECENTLY HAVE REACHED THE LIMIT. JUST LAST WEEK I WAS ONCE AGAIN STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR AND M…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068345 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10090322 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PIN PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THE WIPER SWITCH INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT SWITCH. *AK AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE SWITCH. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090322 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10297012 · 2009-12-27 (December 27, 2009)

I OWN A 1998 VW JETTA GL AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TWICE NOW BECAUSE, I AM TOLD, VW INCREASED THE TORQUE ON JETTAS OF THIS YEAR BY ADDING A 5TH GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE REVERSE GEAR AND RESULTS IN SEVERAL REVERSE GEAR TEETH CHIPPING, THUS RENDERING REVERSE INOPERABLE. AS I SAID BEFORE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION TWICE NOW DUE TO THE FAULTY REVERSE GEAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297012 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 726505 · 2000-08-03 (August 3, 2000)

PERSISTENT PROBLEMS W/AUTO TRANSMISSION. SEVERAL PARTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUE. SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF 4TH GEAR; STALLING; STRAINING, ETC. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726505 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 10111335 · 2005-02-10 (February 10, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111335 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10046630 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED ON A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA.*MR THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD ONLY REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER $380.00 DOLLARS. THE CONSUMER STATED A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THE ENTIRE AMOUNT WOULD BE REFUNDED FOR THE GAS TANK AND THE REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE CONSUMER TRAVELING 70 MPH WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. (FATHER NATHAN DOWNEY ON BEHALF OF HIS DAUGHTER MAURA DOWNEY WHO OWNS THE VEHICLE) *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 725735 · 2000-07-20 (July 20, 2000)

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT FREEWAY SPEED. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP THE TIRE RUBBED AGAINST THE FUEL TANK THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WORE A LARGE HOLE IN THE TANK. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE/EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE. POOR DESIGN OF THE PUTTING THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK SO CLOSE TO THE TIRE. VOLKSWAGEN CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POOR DESIGN. NEW MODEL VW JETTA DOES NOT HAVE SAME DESIGN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: MKHC TIRE SIZE: 195/60HR14 )

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725735 at NHTSA ↗