THE POWER WINDOWS ON MY 1998 VW JETTA III FAILED. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS OCCASION 4 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD MY CAR. CURRENTLY BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE POWERS WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. I HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPAIRED SINCE ITS A VERY EXPENSIVE RAPAIR. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND IT S…
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THE POWER WINDOWS ON MY 1998 VW JETTA III FAILED. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS OCCASION 4 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD MY CAR. CURRENTLY BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE POWERS WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. I HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPAIRED SINCE ITS A VERY EXPENSIVE RAPAIR. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF 1998 VOLKSWAGON JETTA OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE VOLKSWAGON DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TYPE OF CAR I HAVE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10098262
79,000 miles · Oct 16, 2004
Visibility
WINDOW FAILURE, FALLS INTO DOOR. 1998 VW JETTA. LEAVING A FRIENDS HOME THE DRIVERS REAR WINDOW JUST DROPS INTO THE DOOR. UNABLE TO AFFORD REPAIR WINDOW STILL NON USABLE, WINDOW TIED OFF IN THE UP POSITION. I HAVE READ ITS DUE TO THE PLASTIC CLIPS. I DON'T KNOW BUT WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10095874
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2004
Visibility
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 REPLACE…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10090322
103,000 miles · Sep 1, 2004
Visibility
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOWED LOWERED ABRUPTLY AND WOULD NOT RAISE UP. 4 YEAR OLD SON IN CARSEAT WAS NEXT TO WINDOW. HAD TO PULL OFF ON BERM AND CALM HIM DOWN. WINDOW WOULD NOT LIFT UP. SUBSEQUENT VISIT TO DEALER THAT DAY RESULTED IN A CHARGE OF $500 TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATOR. VW DEALER STATED THA…
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DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOWED LOWERED ABRUPTLY AND WOULD NOT RAISE UP. 4 YEAR OLD SON IN CARSEAT WAS NEXT TO WINDOW. HAD TO PULL OFF ON BERM AND CALM HIM DOWN. WINDOW WOULD NOT LIFT UP. SUBSEQUENT VISIT TO DEALER THAT DAY RESULTED IN A CHARGE OF $500 TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATOR. VW DEALER STATED THAT THEY SEE A LOT OF THESE FAILURES IN VW'S. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088950
106,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004
Visibility
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICL WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FELL DOWN. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS EARLIER REAR DRIVER'S WINDOW FELL DOWN.. THE WINDOWS WERE CURRENTLY TAPED UP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10087270
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2004
Visibility
I HAVE ALREADY HAD 3 REGULATORS REPLACED, NOW I NEED ONE MORE REPLACED AND HAVE ANOTHER WINDOW REGULATOR ON IT'S WAY OUT. WINDOW STOPS OPERATING, YOUR LUCKY IF IT STOPS IN THE "UP" POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL JETTA'S FROM VARIOUS DEALERS / REPAIR FACILITIES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072800
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2004
Visibility
WE HAVE A 98 JETTA AND IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC WINDOW MECHANISMS. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, HOWEVER THEY ONLY REPAIR THE DEFECT ON 99 AND NEWER MODELS. WHY? THE DEALER AGREES THAT IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WE STARTED TO REPLACE THE MECHANISM OURSELVES, HOWEVER THE ONLY REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE WAS THE SA…
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WE HAVE A 98 JETTA AND IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC WINDOW MECHANISMS. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, HOWEVER THEY ONLY REPAIR THE DEFECT ON 99 AND NEWER MODELS. WHY? THE DEALER AGREES THAT IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WE STARTED TO REPLACE THE MECHANISM OURSELVES, HOWEVER THE ONLY REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE WAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. THE CABLE SAWS THROUGH PARTS WITHIN THE MECHANISM WHICH BINDS THE MOTOR CAUSING IT TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, OVERHEAT, BLOW FUSES, ETC. WE HAVE TO JUST LEAVE THE WINDOWS UP AND NOT USE THEM AT ALL. WE NOTICED AN IRREGULARITY WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DEALER TOLD US THAT IT WAS A PROGRAMMABLE CONTROL AND WE WOULD HAVE TO LEARN TO USE IT. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10068088
18,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
StructureTiresUnknown Or Other
THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PAIN IN THE A-- ALMOST SINCE PURCHASE. THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS HAVE INVOLVED WHAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE WIRING WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. THESE HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENCE CITED ABOVE,TO THE TUNE OF $250, THE LAST TIME BEING 6 MONTHS AGO. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A NEW…
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THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PAIN IN THE A-- ALMOST SINCE PURCHASE. THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS HAVE INVOLVED WHAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE WIRING WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. THESE HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENCE CITED ABOVE,TO THE TUNE OF $250, THE LAST TIME BEING 6 MONTHS AGO. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A NEW MOTOR ASSEMBLY TO THE TUNE OF $650 PARTS AND LABOR! OTHER ASSORTED DOOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN: DOOR MOLDINGS FALLING OFF (THIS MUST BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH '98 JETTAS, BECAUSE I'VE NOTICED THAT MOST OF THOSE THAT I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE MISSING MOLDINGS). BOTH FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER AFTER AN INAPPROPIATELY SHORT USAGE. MUCH LOWER GAS MILEAGE THAT ORIGINALLY PROMISED. MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS STARTED WELL WITHIN WARRANTY.
NHTSA ODI #10070704
77,000 miles · Oct 8, 2003
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10042521
92,000 miles · Aug 30, 2003
Visibility
ALL 4 OF MY ELECTRIC WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, 3 OF THEM FALL DOWN AND 1 WILL NOT MOVE.*AK
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.
PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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.
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