IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNDER THE DASH FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE LOCAL FIRE DEPARMENT ARRIVED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
1998 Volkswagen Jetta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Jetta years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 38 of 192 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
192 reportsORIGINAL GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, REAR LEFT AND REAR RIGHT TIRES BLEW OFF WHILE ON THE ROAD. YH
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE HEAD-ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IMPACT ALSO CAUSED SEAT BELTS NOT TO RETRACT. *AK CONSUMER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURIED.
WHEN TRYING TO PUT AUTOMOBILE IN REVERSE IT POPS OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLS BACKWARDS, DEPENDING ON THE ANGLE IT IS IN. *AK
VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL AND IGNITION CABLE THAT HAD SHORTED OUT DID NOT RECTIFY PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERMITTENT ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *MJS
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE PART ON THE LEFT SIDE RAIL THAT WAS NEEDED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT MANUFACTURE. *AK
2ND BLOW-OUT ON RELATIVELY NEW CAR, BOTH W/GOODYEAR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES, ONLY ONE PRIOR BLOW-OUT IN OVER 400,000 MILES AND 42 YRS OF DRIVING( DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJDR37 TIRE SIZE: HR1956014 )
TIRE SIDEWALLS CONTINUALLY LOOSING AIR DUE TO CRACKING. MJS
FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURES. TRUNK LID CAUSES ALARM TO BE TRIGGERED; SETTING OFF ALARM HORN AND LIGHTS.
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING CAR I NOTICED IT WAS USING EXCESSIVE OIL, IN THE WORST INSTANCE IT USED APPROX. A QUART AND A HALF IN 1500 MILES. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AND BOTH SAID IT WAS NORMAL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE NEVER HAD OR HEARD OF NEW VEHICLES USING SUCH AN AMOUNT IN SO LITTLE MILES. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM AT 14000 M…
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SHORTLY AFTER BUYING CAR I NOTICED IT WAS USING EXCESSIVE OIL, IN THE WORST INSTANCE IT USED APPROX. A QUART AND A HALF IN 1500 MILES. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AND BOTH SAID IT WAS NORMAL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE NEVER HAD OR HEARD OF NEW VEHICLES USING SUCH AN AMOUNT IN SO LITTLE MILES. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM AT 14000 MILES WITH A THROTTLE SURGE ON THE MORNING STARTUPS. TACH WOULD READ VARIOUS RPM'S WHILE THIS WAS OCCURING. THEN WHEN I WOULD START TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY THE ENGINE WOULD STILL SURGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO "BUCK" VIOLENTLY! THIS CONDITION IS VERY UNSAFE SINCE IT IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING AT 41000 MILES AND HAS TAKEN OVER 6 DAYS IN THE SHOP WITH NO DIAGNOSIS. DEALER THOUGHT THE TIMING BELT WAS THE PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD STRECHED SO FAR OUT THE TIMING COULDNT BE RESET. I WILL PAY TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT REPLACED BUT THAT DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM. IN 1998 VOLKS WAGEN RECCOMENDED THAT ON THE DIESEL ENGINE THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 60000 MILES BUT THE RECCOMENDATION HAS CHANGED FOR THE YEAR 2000 TO 40000. THIS CHANGE HAS TO BE DUE TO EARLY MALFUNCTION PROBLEMS WITH THE BELT BUT VOLKSWAGEN DENIES ANY PROBLEMS AND WILL NOT COVER THE BELT UNDER WARRANTIES EITHER. IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY , IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE THERE WOULD BE NO POWER STEERING AND OR BRAKES NOT TO MENTION IF IT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP. THIS ENGINE HAS BIG PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED... THANK YOU
Official recalls
203V156000 · Equipment:other:labels
Apr 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 & 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.
02V026000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jan 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 & 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
2EA00028 · 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.