Airbag Warning Light On
The worst 1998 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Visibility42
- Electrical41
- Tires20
- Engine15
- Body14
- Transmission14
- Steering12
- Brakes11
- Fuel system10
- Airbags9
- Suspension9
- Acceleration8
- Lights7
- Wheels5
- Seat belts3
- Locks1
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
Power windows 12Wipers 9Headlights 8Check engine light 7Airbag light 6Fire or smoke 6Stalling 6Tire blowout 6
Recalls 2
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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).
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 03V156000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 02V026000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
Defect investigations
Fuel tank puncture
EA00028
Fuel tank puncture
The office of defects investigation opened this investigation on august 10, 2000 based on 9 reports regarding punctured fuel tanks involving the jetta, passat, and cabrio models.the reports indicate additional reports in its response to the preliminary evaluation.this investigation has been upgraded for further study.
PE00033
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta 74
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- Update model year applicability to include 2023.
- Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger
- Tool number added to table
- Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
- The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
- Alternative method for radio code retrieval.
- Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standards
1998 Volkswagen Jetta fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4‑cyl Diesel | FWD | 33 | 44 | 37 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19-21 | 26-28 | 22-24 |
| 2.8L 6‑cyl | FWD | 16-17 | 23-24 | 19 |
What 1998 Volkswagen Jetta owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The vehicles' anti theft had went haywire. Went to start, beep sound went off. Then was locked inside car. With the alarm going off. Was only able to exit vehicle by having passerby unhook battery, while I held the unlock button. This was over 2 weeks ago. When hooking battery back up, the alarm still goes off. I am unable to drive. The battery was purchased new in june. Nothing has been added to vehicle. Please advise to how this matter will be resolved & if anyone else has had a similar problem.
To yo proxies four inner im assuming tire bands? Failed causing a bulge on the iner part of my passenger side front tire. Never struck any object I was just driving and started to notice a wobble I thought it was a front end issue so didn't check tire but had front end looked at and tire still wasn't noticed because of the placement of failure was difficult to see however now is very apparent. Had to replace front shocks on 98 vw jetta as well as front end bushings and passenger a arm
Late in april, 2013 I installed a passenger side control arm on a 1998 vw jetta tdi. The control arm was purchased from autozone ( their part # 520-782) as an assembly with the ball joint installed. The car ran fine for about 2 weeks. Then while driving it began pulling to the right. On examination, 2 of the 3 bolts which hold the ball joint on the control arm were missing, and the third was easily removed by finger. When it was installed all 3 were in place. The one bolt remaining did not have any locking compound, nor did it have a mechanical locking device, such as a lock washer or lock nut. I installed 3 hardened bolts with locking compound, and the car has been fine for the past 5 days. If the third bolt had fallen out, the vehicle would have been impossible to control, and the probable result would have been a crash.
I have been trapped inside the front seat of this vehicle. Both front doors will occasionally not open from inside or outside the car, even with the doors unlocked. This is an intermittent and unpredictable problem that I feel is quite dangerous. These vehicles should have been recalled and had the door locking mechanism replaced.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 volkswagen jetta gl. The contact stated that the gear shift lever would not release out of park because the brake sensor failed. Each time the brake pedal was depressed, the gear shift would not move out of park. The contact called the dealer who stated that she would have to repair the vehicle at her expense. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Totally rusted out area around gas intake pipe. Volkswagen jetta 1998.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 15 MPH the vehicle hit a pot hole and sustained a flat tire. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to replace the tire with the spare and the jack broke. The dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that the jack was not covered under warranty and it would be the contacts responsibility to replace it. The jack was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Request for complete consumer copies re safety report on 1998 volkswagen jetta.
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.
Compare the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
Is the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
Owners have filed 192 complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta, fewer than a typical Jetta model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta?
Windows, wipers and visibility, with 42 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles. Next is electrical (41).
How many recalls does the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta have?
2 recalls, covering equipment and fuel system, gasoline.
What year does the Volkswagen Jetta have the most visibility problems?
The Volkswagen Jetta model years with the most visibility complaints are 1999 (81 complaints), 2000 (77 complaints) and 2001 (71 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta get?
Official estimates for the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta range from 19 to 37 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.9L 4-cyl diesel, FWD) gets 33 city and 44 highway.
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