1998 Volkswagen PASSAT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
295 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 127 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 295 complaints (9.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 86 | 29.2% |
| Steering behavior | 30 | 10.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 29 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 27 |
| Suspension:Front | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 22 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 22 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light | 11 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm: 29; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 27; Suspension:Front: 27; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 22; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 22; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 19; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 47 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 47; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 8
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 168 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 | 41 |
| 2001 | 43 |
| 2002 | 41 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 49 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2000: 41; 2001: 43; 2002: 41; 2003: 28; 2004: 49; 2005: 47; 2006: 18; 2007: 9; 2008: 12; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 86 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 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 10045574 · 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF SPORATICALLY ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT. DEALER SAYS ABS CONTROL UNIT (VW PART NO. 8E061411Q) HAS GONE BAD. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO COVER IT EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT COST IS ABOUT $2500.00. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049528 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
THE CAR IS A 1998 VW PASSAT 1.8. THE CAR HAS 61,000 MILES. ABS/ BRAKE LIGHT INCLUDING THE WARNING CHIMES TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE ALARM TURNS OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GOES AGAIN. MY MECHANIC TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AT $1,800. NO OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED WITH ABS HAS EVER HAD THIS KIND OF FAILURE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 60,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007671 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AND LOWER INK ARM-N AND LOWER CONTROL ARM-N CAUSED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION AND MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030763 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
CAR CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER STEERING FLUID. PRIOR TO REALIZATION TO CHECK IT WITH EVERY GAS FILL UP CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, ALMOST CAUSING A SERVERE ACCIDENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 41,001 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054573 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. FINALLY AFTER TRYING AGAIN IT DID AND BROUGHT TO MECHANIC. PROBABLY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TOWED TO DEALER. FROM THEN ON ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN), JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY GET A CALL THAT SOMETHING ELSE NEEDS REPLACING. WAS TOLD THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW CENSOR NEEDED REPLACING AND WAS COVERED. GAVE APPROVAL. WEEK LATER GOT CALL THAT ITS NOT COVERED (ANY OTHER STORE WOULD HAVE TO HONOR THE INCORRECT PRICE TAG AND EAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054942 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)
1998 VW PASSAT 20V GLS SEDAN VIN: [XXX] ABS FAULT INDICATED BY ABS AND BRAKE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS FLASHING AND INSTRUMENT ALARM SOUNDING. 1 FAULTS FOUND: 01203 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 03-10 - NO SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE. SAFETY ISSUE - ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL: "IF ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT LIT UP TOGETHER, IT IS POSSIBLE REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK-UP EARLY UNDER HARD BRAKING. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY BE DUE TO THE ELECT…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100466 · 2004-11-24 (November 24, 2004)
LIKE MANY, MANY OTHERS, MY 1998 VW PASSAT 2.8 LITER WITH TIPTRONIC (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1) ABS LIGHT ON (ABS NOT WORKING); 2) BRAKE LIGHT ON (BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER ALL ROTORS & PADS WERE REPLACED AND FLUID CHANGED); 3) TACHOMETER NOT WORKING; 4) OIL LIGHT ON (BUT OIL LEVEL AND PRESSURE ARE OKAY). THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR BUT IS NOW ALMOST CONSTANT. ALL PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE CAUSED BY A BAD ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS ALSO USED IN AUDI A4 MODELS (PART # 8E0 614 111R). VW DE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001169 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL SWITCH. ENGINE WORK VERY SLOWLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002615 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
STARTER COIL FAILURE - FOR OVER A MONTH THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE THE MUFFLER FELL OFF, BUT WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPLAINABLE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 556846 · 2000-10-24 (October 24, 2000)
CONSUMER NOTICED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PUMP FUEL, THE DEALER FOUND THE HOSE LEADING DOWN TO THE TANK HAD COLLAPSED AND THE WHOLE TANK AND HOSE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, ALSO THE GAS TANK DOOR WAS RE-ALIGNED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T CLOSE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 559528 · 2001-02-07 (February 7, 2001)
THE ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 559528 at NHTSA ↗