Your vehicle report
1998 Volkswagen Passat
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 331
- Received Jun 1998 to Oct 2017
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up75 complaints · 23% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps28 complaints · 8.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Tie rod ends break or come loose19 complaints · 5.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #02V026000On 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.
- Recall #99V248000Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals may not seal properly.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 6 crashes, 4 fires, 12 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1999 | 26 |
| 2000 | 41 |
| 2001 | 43 |
| 2002 | 41 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 49 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 331 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 75 | 23% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 28 | 8.5% | – | |
| Tie rod ends break or come loose | 19 | 5.7% | – | NHTSA recall #99V248000 |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 14 | 4.2% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 14 | 4.2% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 8 | 2.4% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 8 | 2.4% | – | |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 8 | 2.4% | – | NHTSA recall #99V248000 |
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 7 | 2.1% | – | |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 7 | 2.1% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 7 | 2.1% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 6 | 1.8% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 1.8% | – | |
| Power window regulator fails and window drops | 5 | 1.5% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 5 | 1.5% | – | NHTSA recall #02V026000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 5 | 1.5% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 5 | 1.5% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 4 | 1.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 4 | 1.2% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 4 | 1.2% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #02V026000January 25, 2002487,284 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #99V248000September 13, 199951,900 vehicles affected
steering: linkages: rod: relay: connecting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals may not seal properly.
If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the tie rods.
NHTSA recall #99V131001May 21, 199988,121 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold may not open or close fully at temperatures below -4 f under certain driving conditions.
This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
Remedy
Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.
NHTSA recall #98V134000June 22, 199819,800 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: cooling system
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine backfires during a cold-start, an air screen which is loosely seated in the air flow meter Can become damaged.
Screen pieces could enter the intake air flow system and prevent the throttle plate from returning to its full idle position.
Remedy
Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN