IllustrationWINDOW 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
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 reportsWHILE 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
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
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
WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE POWER RETURNED IN ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER UNLESS THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DISCOVERED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ONE HAD TO BE DRIVING TH…
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CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE POWER RETURNED IN ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER UNLESS THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DISCOVERED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ONE HAD TO BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IN MOVING TRAFFIC IF VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN IT COULD BE HIT FROM REAR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLICKERS ON AT VARIOUS TIMES. RETURNED TO REPAIR SHOP TWICE AND AS TOLD NO ERROR CODES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED BY THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS IN WET AND DRY WEATHER ALL DIFFERENT TIMES. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED THE INDICATOR LIGHT ALWAYS DOES GO OFF. I AM THE SOLE DRIV…
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FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLICKERS ON AT VARIOUS TIMES. RETURNED TO REPAIR SHOP TWICE AND AS TOLD NO ERROR CODES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED BY THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS IN WET AND DRY WEATHER ALL DIFFERENT TIMES. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED THE INDICATOR LIGHT ALWAYS DOES GO OFF. I AM THE SOLE DRIVER, ORIGINAL OWNER, ALWAYS SERVICED, NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR, AND NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
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
BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE. HOOD DAMAGED, BATTERY ACID RELEASED. *AK
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.