Most common 1998 Volkswagen Passat problems
Share of the 331 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Passat complaints by model year
Best Passat years: 2011, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2012, 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
1998 Volkswagen Passat recalls (4)
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.
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…
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 1998 Volkswagen Passat:
Power brake booster vacuum by-pass
There is no summary currently available
Passenger sir door mounting stud failure
Odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-021) based on two reports of failed bolt studs that attach the passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) door cover to the instrument panel (ip) on the Volkswagen (vw) passat (model years 2000, 2002).vw has indicated to odi that it has no additional reports.vw implemented a process change on March 1, 2002.this process change consisted of changing the bolt…
Fuel tank puncture
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.
Stuck-open throttle
Vwoa has recalled approximately 28,300 my 1998-99 a6 vehicles in cold weather states that experienced the highest rate of throttle icing incidents in the subject vehicles (04v-495).the failure rate in the a4 and passat vehicles is much lower than in the recalled vehicles.odi will continue to monitor the experience in the a4 and passat vehicles.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA…
Passenger air bag lid failure
This investigation involves the Volkswagen (vw) passenger supplemental inflatable restraint (psir) lid utilized in my 1998-2002 vw passat.the psir lid May detach from the instrument panel during air bag deployment.the office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) opened the preliminary evaluation on May 23, 2003 to determine whether alleged psir lid detachment…
Fuel tank puncture
What 1998 Volkswagen Passat owners say
Brakes all 90 →
Earlier this month (10/2004), the ABS brake failure warning (light and sound) on our 1998 vw Passat gls started coming on sporadically. On oct. 20, I took the car to wheaton service center, a vw-only independent shop. They hooked the unit up to the diaganostic computer and got no signal. They also got not signal when they tried to access to engine computer, indicating that the ABS computer has a short (the engine computer worked fine after they disconnected the ABS computer.) I confirmed this diagnosis over the phone with ftizgerald vw in frederick, md. I later tested the braking on a wet road -- there was no ABS, although the conventional brakes worked fine. The 1998 car, which we have owned since new, has been scrupulously maintained, as the regional vw factory rep can attest (from a drivetrain warranty repair done 5,000 miles ago). The car now has 69,000 miles on it. …
I owe a 1998 vw Passat gls( 77,000 miles). ABS and brake light came on a month ago. I contacted vw dealer and they asked me to bring the car in. But before I did that I almost had an accident with that car because of the ABS problem. It was raining and I had to brake so the ABS turned on. It blocked brakes and steering wheel and the car kept sliding. ABS was clearly not working. The car kept sliding for about 30 yards and I almost ran trough the red light and hit another vehicle because I had absolutely no control over the vehicle. When the car finally stopped I've noticed that the car had shut itself down. Seven month pregnant wife and my two year old daughter were with me in the car and we almost lost our lives because of this problem. I took the car to the dealer and I was told that the ABS module must be replaced and that it would cost me about $2000.00. …
Suspension all 90 →
Had a creaking sound in the front end of my 1998 vw Passat 1.8t. Took it in to the dealer and was told the left front upper control arm tie rods were bad (and dangerous) and had to be replaced at my cost. Did this and 6 weeks later the upper control arm on the right front side failed while driving and caused me to have an accident. Dealer "fixed" this problem at no charge and now 4 months later the same sound is back and now the dealer tells me that the majority of the front suspension must be replaced and expects me to pay for it.
I am the second owner of a Passat that had been driven 72000 miles. At that time the following defects were noted and had to be repaired: 1. Outer tie rod and cv boot. 2. Cooling system: all cooling hoses, oil cooler, water pump, radiator, & associated items. Vw of America refused to reimburse for the cost of these untimely repairs that were due in part to faulty information in the owners manual, that states that the cooling system was sealed and did not need any maintenance. These enormous and costly repairs at a mileage when comparable cars of other manufacturers need little or no repairs up to and way past 100,000 miles, are excessive in my opinion. (the first owner gets a warranty of 100,000 miles and 10 years, something that for the second owner is reduced to 50,000 miles/5 years. …
Steering all 52 →
The timing chain system is defective and they know it. Why didn't they inform me of this.maybe because they have hands full with the emission cheating scandal. Or if they did them they would be liable for all the complaints before. Please putvoutca recall. This car is dangerous !!!!!
I am the second owner of a 1998 Volkswagen Passat VIN #[redacted], which has a safety recall for the tie rod ends. The local Volkswagen dealer(s) have acknowledged that the front tie rods do need to be replaced, however, they will not honor the safety recall. The reason is that there is no record of factory recommended service checks. I have had the vehicle serviced on a regular basis by a couple of independent mechanics, however, I cannot produce the paper work for the recommended service checks between 35,000 miles and 60,000. I called Volkswagen headquarters and they acknowledged that although it is a safety recall, they will not honor the repair unless I can provide proof of compliance. The symptoms have presented themselves for 3/4 years on an intermittent basis. I am in the process of having my current independent mechanic replace the ball joints.
1998 Volkswagen Passat engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 5-speed manual | FWD | 32 / 45 / 37 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 39 / 31 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 24 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 26 / 19 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Volkswagen Passat a good car?
Based on 331 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Passat rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Passat at the same age. It is one of the Passat years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Volkswagen Passat?
The brakes — 90 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the suspension (90) and steering (52).
How many recalls does the 1998 Volkswagen Passat have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat, the most recent from January 25, 2002 (filler pipe and cap). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Passat?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2012, 1999 and 2002. See the full Volkswagen Passat years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Volkswagen Passat problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.