1998 Volkswagen Passat problems
NHTSA has received 476 complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen Passat, and 22% of them involve brakes. After that come suspension (21%) and steering (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 476 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 12 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 155 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 25 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 41 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 47 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 22 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 155 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (65 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 12 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 82% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Volkswagen Passat with enough data (255 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
This is the second time sunroof mechanisms fractured. This time they struck the driver while driving (pulling out of the driveway). In both failures, there were fractures of the mechanism. The second occurrence resulted in pieces flying off the car and striking the driver in the right shoulder.
While driving at about 40 MPH another vehicle ran a red light an hit consumer on front right passenger's side. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy. Car is now at body shop.
Ongoing dispute with vci and VW over lease payments and recall and damages. No safety defects mentioned in summary.
While cruising at highway speed in my 1998 volkswagen passat, 3 events occurred simultaneously: a 'pop' sound from the engine area, copious white smoke (not steam) from under the hood, and the engine check light activation. Immediately pulled over, and white smoke increased substantially from (closed) hood, followed within 5 minutes by open flames from the passenger front wheel well. Fire crews were on scene within 10 minutes, but the entire vehicle was engulfed and a total loss.
Consumer disappointed with denial for reimbursement of repairs on 2004 VW-passat control arm. Recall campaign; NHTSA campaign id number : 99v248000. The consumer made repairs to the vehicle for a defective steering and control mechanisms. The consumer was denied reimbursement because she did not provide proof of the 40,000 mile maintenance.