We found the following complaints for VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (1998)
Read complaints for VOLKSWAGEN JETTA (1998)
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.
Recurring issue - air bag warning light stays lit after starting.takes dealership a long time to diagnose and fix.we have lost over 2 weeks of use of the vehicle so far.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 60mph, and the airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries. Manufacturer has been notified.
No deployment of both air bags (driver/passenger) during frontal collision. Mjs
Was traveling about 30-35 mph whenconsumer's vehicle hit another automobile head-on, and air bags did not deploy.impact also caused seat belts not to retract. Consumer was slightly injuried.
While driving atapproximately 25 mphand after applying brakes rearended a mid-sized truck. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy which could have caused injuries.
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.
Air bag warning light illuminated, indicating malfunction within the system, cause unknown.please give any further details.
Like others, i have had the ignition coil replaced. This happened after the warranty expired, of course. I have also had electrical problems with the windows (regulator and motor) for all of them. Now, my check engine light is flashing and the car is sputtering. I know the secondary air intake valve needs replacing but it did not cause problems. Now i'm wondering if something new is wrong??? also, i was having problems with losing coolant and had to continuously replace antifreeze. After fixing what i thought was a small leak the entire system will not produce cool air! this car has been nothing but problems and vw should look into all of these complaints.
The vehicles' anti theft had went haywire. Went to start, beep sound went off. Then was locked inside car. With the alarm going off. Was only able to exit vehicle by having passerby unhook battery, while i held the unlock button. This was over 2 weeks ago. When hooking battery back up, the alarm still goes off. I am unable to drive. The battery was purchased new in june. Nothing has been added to vehicle. Please advise to how this matter will be resolved & if anyone else has had a similar problem.
While driving headlights were dim. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer. Consumer found there were alot of complaints regarding the headlights. Consumerhad to replace the bulb with higher waltage. There was also a problem with the passat. However, the problem was electrical.
Vehicle has experienced two electrical system failures.
When turning the ignition on electrical components do not work. The headlights don't come, and heater doesn't work.consumerbelieves it isan electrical problem. *mr
I have been trapped inside the front seat of this vehicle.both front doors will occasionally not open from inside or outside the car, even with the doors unlocked.this is an intermittent and unpredictable problem that i feel is quite dangerous.these vehicles should have been recalled and had the door locking mechanism replaced.
If battery is overfilled or leaks and drips onto the power steering reservoir the resevoir will fail.this failure is catastrophic in nature and can cause the loss of power steering, vehicle control and extensive damage to the power steering pump.the loss of fluid occured on my vehicle with only 9 months of service.fortunately the car was parked and the power steering pump was not impacted.the dealer support at randy hiley volkswagen in arlington texas was immediate and thorough.after discussion, volkswagen refunded all but the towing charges for this repair through randy hiley volkswagen in arlington, texas.on the 1999 model the part has been moved from underneath the battery.dealership service department personnel indicated that this was not the 1st time this failure had to be repaired at their franchise.my concern is that this repair cured the immediate symptom but what happens if acid contacts this component again during routine maintenance, later life battery changeout etc.the part is still located beneath the battery.the material of construction is unchanged.can this part be replaced in a recall with a material that is better suited for contact by acid?
Battery acid leaked on reservoircausingreservoir to leak fluid, which could cause loss ofsteering.dealer contacted.
I own a 1998 volkwagen jetta gl. The car battery exploded while in operation. I have digital photos of the battery if requested. It didn't seem normal and so i figured i'd file a report.
Battery exploded while starting the engine.hood damaged, battery acid released.
Battery exploded while starting the engine.after researching on line, i've determined that this may be a larger problem.
The battery exploded.nlm
Battery failed to have an acid release hose.acid had dripped onto power steering reservoir & ate through it. This caused a loss of steering fluid, power steering, andcontrol of vehicle.
Horn uncontrollably honks on and off.also the steering wheel column has a sparkling noise., and a burning smell comes from the steering column .
My lights, wipers and heat wouldn't work, discovered it was the ignition switch.contacted vw, and dealer, they want to charge me too much to fix it.i know 3 other people with jettas that had the same problem.obviously vw is installing defective ignitions.my emergency brake wasn't releasing, took it to dealer and they informed me that i had a torn brake cable boot that was allowing moisture to get in and freeze my cable.the 2 yr/24,000 mile warranty was expired.my check engine light started going on and off, when i took it to the dealer, it took them 3 times to figure out it's the rear oxygen sensor.this is the first brand new car i have ever purchased and i have had more things wrong with it than i ever had with previously owned vehicles.
I own a 1998 volkswagon jetta, wolfsburg edition. I've been stranded a total of 6 or 7 times (losing count) on the interstate by this vehicle. Purchased this vehicle from a private owner less than a year ago and have experienced numerous mysterious problems ever since.i work for the state of indiana, communte into indianapolis 5 days a week, i am an interstate traveler.i have forgiven most of the problems this car has had, but recently have reached the limit.just last week i was once again stranded on the interstate during rush hour and my car suddenly stopped running and smoke began to rise from my steering column.this situation terrified me.not only did i have to urgently coast to the shoulder of the interstate, but i was in fear that the car would be on fire due to seeing this smoke. The car was towed and the ignition coil was replaced; although the service man didn't think that was the source of the smoke from my steering column.i know from reading other complaints that the bad ignition coil in these vehicles is a common problem.there are existing recalls on some volkswagon ignition coils.this seems unjust considering they used the same ignition coil in the 1998 that they did in other vehicle years.this repair cost me $400, which is just icing on the cake for me right now. Now my airbag light is on and the serviceman who replaced the ignition coil says all is connected and he thinks the smoke in the car was coming from the airbag wiring.he said there's no way to disconnect the airbag (to stop any chance of it exploding out on me while driving). If it comes out while driving..i am dead.if it fails in an accident.i could be dead.i am afraid to even have my family in the car. I honestly think it's entire electrical system is wired incorrectly.please assist me in getting justice served.i've heard of so many others who are mistreated and ignored by volkswagon. This vehicle's repeated failure should be noted. I appreciate anything you can do.
Ignition coil problem .dealer notified.
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
Glow plug control unit fails on 1998 vw jetta tdi, but there is no part for the last 5+ months available from volkswagen. Also, there is no estimate of when volkswagen will have a part available. This is nationwide. The control unit is essential for the starting of the car.
Total failure of lights and door buzer.
I have spoken with vw and the dealership a number of times.. No one will help.
1998 volkswagen jetta vr6 has had second ignition coilpack fail, creating a dangerous driving condition and rendering the car inoperable.car currently has 58,000 on jan. 13th., 2003 and required ignition coilpack replacement. Ignition coilpack was also replaced on 06/26/2000 when vehicle had 34,119 miles.volkswagen service manager agrees that this failed prematurely, but customer complaint center refuses to acknowledge a problem exists.this problem caused vehicle to stall and sputter in highway traffic, thus causing a dangerous situation for my family and surrounding vehicles.
Ignition switch failed.yh
Ignition switch failed.yh
My 1998 volkswagen (vw) jetta has an ignition switch problem. When driving, it falls back, turning off the electrical system (including lights and windshield wipers). Vw has identified this as a problem in the 1996 and 1997 jettas (and sent out a recall on the part) but does not recognize it as a problem for the 1998 models.i have been told by a vw service person that the 1998 models use the same ignition switch as the 1996/1997's. Vw representatives claim that they do not see a problem with the 1998's. This is a dangerous problem and should be addressed by vw. *la
The ignition switch in my car is getting worse. The first time it malfunctioned was on a cold and snowy night.i was driving along and all of a sudden the lights went out, the wipers stopped, the defroster fan stopped and the abs light went on. It was a little unsettling. The vw dealer told me it was a bad ingnition switch and it would cost about $300.oo dollars to replace. When i asked the parts department if they had the switch in stock he laughed and said "oh yeah". I am now driving my car only in the daytime while i save the money to replace the switch. I have owned over 30 cars and have never had an ignition fail.
1.driving2.lights went out, fan went out and windshield wipers stopped working.
Ignition switch.i have a faulty ignition switch.with the car running, there have been occasions when my headlights have turned off, and the brake light came on.i have seen approximately 5 postings on different message boards with the same problem.*la
While driving over a bump andkey moved allhead lights turned off becauseof electrical wiresshorting outthroughignition system.manufacturer had been contacted, and they said just to movekey andhead lights will come back on.
The vehicles ignition switch failed and caused the headlight to shut off while driving on a dark country road.the dealer was notified.*nlm
Starter failed in oct, 99.new part replaced by dealer.starter failed again may, 2000.new part is needed again.
The e brake light, and the airbag light stay on once the car is started. Today this problem has included the heater fan not working, the headlights will not come on, and the wipers will not work. If i leave the light switch on, and leave the wiper switch on, i have found i can pull the high beam switch, and the wipers come on.
Electrical systems are suspect.these two problems have been into the dealer, but the window, even after being replaced, continues to have problems
A fire started inengine compartment while driving 45 mph.dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Security remote,door locks, and panic button failed.
The brake lights spontaneously ignited while the car was parked in an apartment parking lot.
Vehicle was parked for over four hours whenit suddenly caught onfire. Fire department was called, which determined that brake lights housed withintail light assemblyshorted out, meltingwire and caught on fire. Consumer has contacted manufacturer, which sent out a factory representative. Please provide any further details.
While driving over a bump andkey moved allhead lights turned off becauseof electrical wiresshorting outthroughignition system.manufacturer had been contacted, and they said just to movekey andhead lights will come back on.
Vehicle experienced an under the dash fire while traveling at 25 mph.consumer extinguished the firebefore local fire deparment arrived. Manufacturer notified.
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
Like others, i have had the ignition coil replaced. This happened after the warranty expired, of course. I have also had electrical problems with the windows (regulator and motor) for all of them. Now, my check engine light is flashing and the car is sputtering. I know the secondary air intake valve needs replacing but it did not cause problems. Now i'm wondering if something new is wrong??? also, i was having problems with losing coolant and had to continuously replace antifreeze. After fixing what i thought was a small leak the entire system will not produce cool air! this car has been nothing but problems and vw should look into all of these complaints.
My 98 jetta tdi engine blew approximately 11,000 past its warranty.this would be the equivent of 5 months driving at the rates i drive per year.the dealership (av nissan/vw) told me they couldn't find what caused it and that it would require a replacement engine.the dealership told vw of america, a different story then either had been related to me (that the car had been driven with warninglights on & with damage).unfortunately when talking to vw of a. They related the story back to a non-existent employee of the dealership.i paid for the troubleshooting and towed the vehicle to a local service center (ted's service and repair) that specializes in german vehicles. He noted that the valve seat dropped into the cylinder, which caused the valve to break in the cylinder doing massive damage to the engine.he noted that when seats drop they are typically due to manufacturer defect.vw refused to cover any damages due to the recently expired warranty.help!
Leaking coolant from the coolant overflow bottle migrated up the electrical low indicator sensor wires, causing damage the relay control board and alarm sensor module. This problem is known to volkswagen as a "coolant migration" problem.
Radiator hose failed.nlm
In october of 2001 our engine light came on in our 1998 jetta volkswagen diesel.we immediately took it into srp automotive in batavia, wi, a certified volkswagen mechanic.over $2,000 and 4 months later the engine light still came on and now the car had no pickup.it would take about 7 miles to reach 60 mph.i picked it up and took it to motorville in sheboygan, wi, around the beginning of march.they are a volkswagen dealer, service and repair business.i explained to the mechanic where we had it and gave him his name and number if he had any questions on what he had already tried.he spoke to steve at srp and obtained all pertinent information.within a few weeks they had identified the problem that it was carbon buildup under the heads, a $696.31 fix.warren the mechanic at motorville also stated to my husband that he thought, valve seals didn't quite fit right but that was what volkswagens part number gave them and they should be fine, bring it back in if you have any problems.
Oil leaking since first day of purchase, part not installed at time of manufacturer.nlm
Continual problems, some undiagnosed. Unsympathetic dealership. Reoccuring problems. Most problems occurring after lease/warranty were up. Too many problems for a car that is only about 2 and a half years old. Dealership unable to diagnose why brake light is on, a/c not working, engine not starting although starter was replaced, or why engine began smoking. All the problems appear related. They all occur at the same time.the car is unsafe and i am afraid to drive it now because no one can figure out what is wrong with it.
The car was brought in for service. We were told there was water in the engine, and she must have driven it in deep water. This did not happen, there was no water damage to the interior of the car to indicate driving through deep wateras volkswagestates. The warranty is void due to the damage we do not agree with this.
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
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 wasdangerousbecausein moving traffic if vehicle slowed down it could be hit from rear.
Volkswagenh of america has not been supportive or helpful in resolving these complaints nor have the volkswagen technicians been able to diagnosis the true problem; they just fix the problem "symptoms". No safety defect listed.
Water sucked into air intake due to low placement design.major engine damage.
My lights, wipers and heat wouldn't work, discovered it was the ignition switch.contacted vw, and dealer, they want to charge me too much to fix it.i know 3 other people with jettas that had the same problem.obviously vw is installing defective ignitions.my emergency brake wasn't releasing, took it to dealer and they informed me that i had a torn brake cable boot that was allowing moisture to get in and freeze my cable.the 2 yr/24,000 mile warranty was expired.my check engine light started going on and off, when i took it to the dealer, it took them 3 times to figure out it's the rear oxygen sensor.this is the first brand new car i have ever purchased and i have had more things wrong with it than i ever had with previously owned vehicles.
I have spoken with vw and the dealership a number of times.. No one will help.
Like others, i have had the ignition coil replaced. This happened after the warranty expired, of course. I have also had electrical problems with the windows (regulator and motor) for all of them. Now, my check engine light is flashing and the car is sputtering. I know the secondary air intake valve needs replacing but it did not cause problems. Now i'm wondering if something new is wrong??? also, i was having problems with losing coolant and had to continuously replace antifreeze. After fixing what i thought was a small leak the entire system will not produce cool air! this car has been nothing but problems and vw should look into all of these complaints.
Continual problems with the rear end noise, heat shield loose and muffler center clamp loose, however after repairs noise persisted.*mjs
The car has a reocurring problem with a mildew smell in the a/c system. The dealer has sprayed disinfectant in the vents and was going to disassemble and clean the unit. The regional vw rep. Had said that spraying was all they were going to do. However, there is a flyer at the dealer, published by vw offering an optional service to acrylic coat the exaporator. I feel that vw knows this is a problem, and while i am under warrantee, i feel it should be done free of charge to me. Vw does not agree. I am also concerned that there may be a problem existing with bacteria laden water (legionaires disease, etc). I have already been treated for a fungal infection on my torso that came out of nowhere. I am not sure if that is related or not, but i have never had any type of skin problems in my 36 years. The smell is horrible, and i don't think a new car should have this kind of problem..thank you in advance
Continual problems, some undiagnosed. Unsympathetic dealership. Reoccuring problems. Most problems occurring after lease/warranty were up. Too many problems for a car that is only about 2 and a half years old. Dealership unable to diagnose why brake light is on, a/c not working, engine not starting although starter was replaced, or why engine began smoking. All the problems appear related. They all occur at the same time.the car is unsafe and i am afraid to drive it now because no one can figure out what is wrong with it.
Air conditioner pipe exploded.
Airconditioner compressor failed with only 45000,i have had a number of jetta owners complain about the same defect.the cost estimated at volkswagenwas 1600 dollars.
While traveling 65mph depressed cigarette lighter and it had popped out of socket under passenger's seat &floor mat caught fire.
Volume uncontrollable; volume blasts or reduces at will; severe audible shock. Nlm
Cd player failure.
The contact owns a 1998 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 15 mph the vehicle hit a pot hole and sustained a flat tire. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to replace the tire with the spare and the jack broke. The dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that the jack was not covered under warranty and it would be the contacts responsibility to replace it. The jack was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
The ski racks installed by a dealer came off the vehicle with the snow boards caused severe damage. Yh
Right front parking light is defective and falls out when vehicle hits bump,unable to correct.yh
Brake lights failed.
Stop brake light too dim on vw jetta 1999 old body style.i was driving on a local road with a safe distance to the car infront of me ( a jetta 1999 old body style) all of a sudden the car stopped and i never saw its tail lights turn on. Consequently i rear ended the vehicle resulting in a total loss of my vehicle. Interestingly the driver in the car infront of me told me that ever since he had purchased this card (about 2 yrs ago) he has been rear ended 3 times before. Today i was driving down and i nearly rear ended another jetta of the same make and model. I was obeying all traffic laws and maintaining a very safe driving distance to the vehicle infront of me. I my self own the same jetta and several times i have heard complaints from other drivers that my tail lights are too dim and they nearly rear ended me. I will really appreciate if the office can investigate this issue. This will save a lot of people from getting injured. Thank you junaid .
(1) first, the turn signals began to act strange.when using them they flashed, paused, then continued to flash.later in the day when attempting to put the hazard lights on, they didn't work.after that, the turn signals didn't work either.(2) safety issue while driving, but no accident/injury occurred.(3) took car to independent vw mechanic who replaced hazard/turn signal switch assembly.(4) now researching problem and found that a recall for this very problem began on march 31, 2005 (nhtsa campaign id number 04v584000); however it didn't include the 1998 model year.why not?it's evident that the defect was present in that year also.
Headlights turn off at will. It shows on dashboard that headlights are on,but there are no headlights on after driving a mile.
While driving headlights were dim. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer. Consumer found there were alot of complaints regarding the headlights. Consumerhad to replace the bulb with higher waltage. There was also a problem with the passat. However, the problem was electrical.
The headlights failed, which caused limited visibility.
Totally rusted out area around gas intake pipe.volkswagen jetta 1998.
Water got into the air intake system while driving damaging the engine.
Clear fuel line was rubbing on corner of air cleaner.the rubbing caused a hole to wear through the fuel line.diesel fuel was sprayed onto the engine (no fire).the car stalled in traffic, in the middle of making a left hand turn.the vehicle was almost rear-ended and broad-sided, when the vehicle stalled in traffic.
Engine lost power when outside temperature was high (greater than 95 degrees fahrenheit). On the first occurrence (july 30, 1999, in des plaines, il) the car was towed to a vw dealer in mt. Prospect, il, where they detected a faulty air-gas ratio and said.
Right rear tire blew out at freeway speed. Before coming to a stop the tire rubbed against the fuel tank that is made of plastic and wore a large hole in the tank. This could have caused a fire/explosion and loss of life. Poor design of the putting the plastic fuel tank so close to the tire. Volkswagen contacted and refused to acknowledge the poor design. New model vw jetta does not have same design. ( dot number: mkhc tire size: 195/60hr14 )
Request for reimbursement for recall repairs that were performed on a 1998 volkswagen jetta.*mrthe manufacturer stated they would only reimburse the consumer $380.00 dollars. The consumer stated a representative stated the entire amount would be refunded for the gas tank and the replacement tire. The consumer traveling 70 mph when the incident occurred. (father nathan downey on behalf of his daughter maura downey who owns the vehicle)
The fuel gauge goes from present level to empty then after a while return to present level.nlm
The gas gauge did not work at the time of purchase and was replaced.*mjs
Fuel senders failed intermittently causing the gas gauge to read inaccurately.
While driving 60 to 65 mphhood flew upand broke windshield. It broke one side ofhood connection where hood is attached.contacted dealer, and dealer will look at vehicle and get back with consumer.please add vin.
Volkswagenh of america has not been supportive or helpful in resolving these complaints nor have the volkswagen technicians been able to diagnosis the true problem; they just fix the problem "symptoms". No safety defect listed.
While driving, speedometer does not work properly. Dealer notified.
Check engine light repeatedly lights up on dash.the car does not shift properly and the tachometer exhibits very high rpms.the original transmission was finally replaced late fall of 2000 (replaced with a brand new one).this transmission completely failed in jan. 2001 and was again replaced with a completely new transmission.now in march of 2001engine checklight is again lighting up and the car does not shift right.vw was notified, but does not want to do anything about it while it is under warranty.we offered to take blue book value as trade in on a new jetta.my concern is what happens if the transmission fails at highway speeds?
The contact owns a 1998 volkswagen jetta gl. The contact stated that the gear shift lever would not release out of park because the brake sensor failed. Each time the brake pedal was depressed, the gear shift would not move out of park. The contact called the dealer who stated that she would have to repair the vehicle at her expense. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was 130,000.
While backing up there was a clunking sound and transmission popped out of reverse. Dealer replaced transmission linkage.
Transmission slips between second and third gear.this problem was first reported to gossett motor cars on 05/06/98, and has been a recurring problem ever since. Cruise control has functioned properly three times and failed numerous times.gossett motor cars says there is not a problem..
Persistent problems w/auto transmission.several parts were previously replaced but problems continue.sudden disappearance of 4th gear; stalling; straining, etc.dealer contacted.
Continual problems, some undiagnosed. Unsympathetic dealership. Reoccuring problems. Most problems occurring after lease/warranty were up. Too many problems for a car that is only about 2 and a half years old. Dealership unable to diagnose why brake light is on, a/c not working, engine not starting although starter was replaced, or why engine began smoking. All the problems appear related. They all occur at the same time.the car is unsafe and i am afraid to drive it now because no one can figure out what is wrong with it.
Erratic, delayed shifting betwen all gears. After 2nd diagnosis revealed problem, a resistor wire($8.50) was installed . Problem fixed, but at a cost of $128.00 to me.
Driving 20mph it was hard to shift and car stalled in the driveway. Contacted dealer.
When trying to put automobile in reverse it pops out of gear and rolls backwards, depending on the angle it is in.
Clutch springs failed causing vehicle to be very diffucult to put into gear.nlm
Clutch-centering spring fell out.
Check engine light repeatedly lights up on dash.the car does not shift properly and the tachometer exhibits very high rpms.the original transmission was finally replaced late fall of 2000 (replaced with a brand new one).this transmission completely failed in jan. 2001 and was again replaced with a completely new transmission.now in march of 2001engine checklight is again lighting up and the car does not shift right.vw was notified, but does not want to do anything about it while it is under warranty.we offered to take blue book value as trade in on a new jetta.my concern is what happens if the transmission fails at highway speeds?
First incident with gear shifter happened in march 1999 when it popped out of first, third and fifth gear while driving.the gear shifter rattled immensely.the second time, it had been hard to get into first and third gear and was popping out of first gear in particular.prior to having the car fixed, it was parked in my driveway during a storm.the car popped out of gear and rolled down my driveway into a tree.volkswagen adjusted the shifter (which they adjusted incorrectly in the first place).the third time, (which is now) it's very difficult to get it in first gear.
Gear shift failed causing second gear to be hard to engage.
Was traveling about 30-35 mph whenconsumer's vehicle hit another automobile head-on, and air bags did not deploy.impact also caused seat belts not to retract. Consumer was slightly injuried.
Thereis a design flaw in rear left seat belt, cannot install any child seat. Child technican unable to install seat. .
Consumer states that the rear seat belt unlatches it self.ts
Second replacement of seat tracks, continually loose/wobbly front seats.
Second replacement of seat tracks, continually loose/wobbly front seats.
Loud brakes.
While driving atapproximately 25 mphand after applying brakes rearended a mid-sized truck. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy which could have caused injuries.
Continual problems, some undiagnosed. Unsympathetic dealership. Reoccuring problems. Most problems occurring after lease/warranty were up. Too many problems for a car that is only about 2 and a half years old. Dealership unable to diagnose why brake light is on, a/c not working, engine not starting although starter was replaced, or why engine began smoking. All the problems appear related. They all occur at the same time.the car is unsafe and i am afraid to drive it now because no one can figure out what is wrong with it.
No summary. ( dot number: tire size: 13 )
The abs indicator light came on and stayed on and then it went off again before i had the opportunity to take it in for a check.this happened in november 2001.then recently the light came on and stayed on for about 3 months, so i took it to the dealer to be checked.they said that it needed an abs hydraulic pump.although my brakes work fine, apparently my abs system is not working.the car will not pass inspection until i care for this matter, but at more than $1100.00. I will have to wait until inspection to care for this item.i just thought i should report this to nhtsa while i had the opportunity.dt
My lights, wipers and heat wouldn't work, discovered it was the ignition switch.contacted vw, and dealer, they want to charge me too much to fix it.i know 3 other people with jettas that had the same problem.obviously vw is installing defective ignitions.my emergency brake wasn't releasing, took it to dealer and they informed me that i had a torn brake cable boot that was allowing moisture to get in and freeze my cable.the 2 yr/24,000 mile warranty was expired.my check engine light started going on and off, when i took it to the dealer, it took them 3 times to figure out it's the rear oxygen sensor.this is the first brand new car i have ever purchased and i have had more things wrong with it than i ever had with previously owned vehicles.
1) when the steering failed it could hav e caused a fatal accident2) when the brakes failed again it could havecaused a fatal accident.3) when the oil light indicated that there was no oil the motor could have locked up, causing a fatal accident.i find the above problems very serious.i bought the vw jetta new 09/12/98 with 15 miles on the odometer.thank youbill hamann.
Brakes perform poorly resulting in them making noise when braking.
Brakes make high pitched noise during stops. Yh
Volkswagenh of america has not been supportive or helpful in resolving these complaints nor have the volkswagen technicians been able to diagnosis the true problem; they just fix the problem "symptoms". No safety defect listed.
The front disk brake rotors were undersized in diameter. This allowed the disc brake pads to wear in a manner that allowed the pads to contact outside of the rotor and result in reduced pressure on the rotor. Photographs of the problem are available.brake fading and loss of breaks from overheating on mountain roads then occurred. The car model is a volkswagen jetta tdi model year 1998. The car was bought used but it would be unlikely that the disk rotors would have been replaced with less than 80000 miles.
The contact owns a 1998 volkswagen jetta.the contact stated that the control arm bushing needed to be replaced because it made a noise and caused the vehicle to lunge forward when stopping.a mechanic stated that the replacement would cost nearly $500.in addition, the steering rack would make a noise when the steering wheel was turned.the mechanic added steering fluid and informed the contact that there was a substantial leak, which was worsening.the estimate to repair the leak was $1,084.84.the vehicle has not been taken to the dealer.the current mileage was approximately 86,000 and failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Horn uncontrollably honks on and off.also the steering wheel column has a sparkling noise., and a burning smell comes from the steering column .
It was raining.my windshield wipers were on.white smoke came up from my steering column for a couple seconds.what makes this particularly frustrating, this happened on a 94 jetta i once owned.this happened on a 96 jetta my sister owned.eventually, something in the steering column burned out and had to be replaced.we both paid for those to be replaced.now, years later, i am faced with another burning steering column.i hope to find that vw is owning up to poor design, and when this one finally breaks, that they foot the bill for their failure.referred to this site by this link:http://www.sportcompactracing.com/vbulletin/printthread.php?t=36741i did a quick yahoo search to find that this was not a jinx that hit just my family.
The factory installed alarm sounds intermittently.
Factory alarm system has intermittent failures.trunk lid causes alarm to be triggered; setting off alarm horn and lights.
The factory installed alarm sounds intermittently.
System that warnsconsumer when there is something wrong with vehicle is not working properly, it stays on shut off. Contacted dealer, anddealer is not willing to do anything.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
If battery is overfilled or leaks and drips onto the power steering reservoir the resevoir will fail.this failure is catastrophic in nature and can cause the loss of power steering, vehicle control and extensive damage to the power steering pump.the loss of fluid occured on my vehicle with only 9 months of service.fortunately the car was parked and the power steering pump was not impacted.the dealer support at randy hiley volkswagen in arlington texas was immediate and thorough.after discussion, volkswagen refunded all but the towing charges for this repair through randy hiley volkswagen in arlington, texas.on the 1999 model the part has been moved from underneath the battery.dealership service department personnel indicated that this was not the 1st time this failure had to be repaired at their franchise.my concern is that this repair cured the immediate symptom but what happens if acid contacts this component again during routine maintenance, later life battery changeout etc.the part is still located beneath the battery.the material of construction is unchanged.can this part be replaced in a recall with a material that is better suited for contact by acid?
1) when the steering failed it could hav e caused a fatal accident2) when the brakes failed again it could havecaused a fatal accident.3) when the oil light indicated that there was no oil the motor could have locked up, causing a fatal accident.i find the above problems very serious.i bought the vw jetta new 09/12/98 with 15 miles on the odometer.thank youbill hamann.
Battery acid leaked on reservoircausingreservoir to leak fluid, which could cause loss ofsteering.dealer contacted.
Battery failed to have an acid release hose.acid had dripped onto power steering reservoir & ate through it. This caused a loss of steering fluid, power steering, andcontrol of vehicle.
Volkswagenh of america has not been supportive or helpful in resolving these complaints nor have the volkswagen technicians been able to diagnosis the true problem; they just fix the problem "symptoms". No safety defect listed.
This car has been a pain in the a-- almost since purchase. The most serious problems have involved what seems to be defective wiring with respect to the electric windows. These have been repaired 3 times since the first incidence cited above,to the tune of $250, the last time being 6 months ago. Now i am told that it needs a new motor assembly to the tune of $650 parts and labor! other assorted door electrical problems. Other problems have been: door moldings falling off (this must be an inherent problem with '98 jettas, because i've noticed that most of those that i see on the road have missing moldings). Both front tires blew out within 2 weeks of each other after an inappropiately short usage. Much lower gas mileage that originally promised. Most of these problems started well within warranty.
Molding failed.
Totally rusted out area around gas intake pipe.volkswagen jetta 1998.
Roof rack separates at times. In february 98, consumer was driving approximately 50-55mph with snow boards tied down to roof racks,when the racks disconected. Dealership replaced the racks and the snow boards, this happened a second time, dec. 13-98 snow boards were on the roof of vehicle and flew off when the roof racks disconnected. Consumer took vehicle to dealership (503-656-2924,alberto mechanic and service manager larrylindsey told consumer that the racks were installed incorectly, but they will not replace.
Body trim has fallen off of left side doors.i think the problem may be heat related, and exaserbated by the car being black.however , i keep the car in my garage.
I have been trapped inside the front seat of this vehicle.both front doors will occasionally not open from inside or outside the car, even with the doors unlocked.this is an intermittent and unpredictable problem that i feel is quite dangerous.these vehicles should have been recalled and had the door locking mechanism replaced.
Door molding has fallen off.*nlm
Three outside door handles were replaced between 40,000 - 70,000 miles. At 80,000 miles, the outside door handle had to be replaced on the passenger's side. Dealer not notified at this time. *jg
Electrical harness in the left rear door that controls the power window was cut by the door closing.this caused a short in the electrical system and failure of the power window control.
Front right side door molding fell off at 30000 and again at 36000.the other three are in the process of falling off or have fallen off of the other doors. Car has 60000, and the dealer says it is a problem but corporate volkswagen does not.
Security remote,door locks, and panic button failed.
Left rocker panel and the left rear frame rail retains water (approximately 1 gallon), water drains from the frame, consumer is concerned that the frame/rocker panel will rot from the inside out, weakening the structure in the winter when salt is applied to the road, salt water passing through vehicles frame will settle in inside and activate whenever it rains/snows or car is washed.
Vehicle was involved in a collision and the part on the left side rail that was needed the manufacturer did not manufacture.
Continual problems with the rear end noise, heat shield loose and muffler center clamp loose, however after repairs noise persisted.*mjs
The contact owns a 1998 volkswagen jetta.the contact stated that the control arm bushing needed to be replaced because it made a noise and caused the vehicle to lunge forward when stopping.a mechanic stated that the replacement would cost nearly $500.in addition, the steering rack would make a noise when the steering wheel was turned.the mechanic added steering fluid and informed the contact that there was a substantial leak, which was worsening.the estimate to repair the leak was $1,084.84.the vehicle has not been taken to the dealer.the current mileage was approximately 86,000 and failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
The suspension strut system failed. The manufacturer redesigned the suspension strut but the consumer was not notified of this change. *nlm
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact,front end caught on fire.vehicle was totalled.
While driving heard popping sound and steering wheel moved up,lower control arm had broken.the dealer indicated that control arms were back ordered nation wide.
Sway bar was put in upside down, obvious defect.
While driving at 60 mphand without any warning right rear wheel lugs:nuts came off,causing consumerto lose control. Dealer stated that wheel bearing went bad.
Dt*:the contact stated the left rear wheel detached from the vehicle, crossed the highway and hit another vehicle.the other vehicle sustained minor body damage.a police report was filed.this occurred while driving 35 mph without warning.the vehicle was pulled to the side of the highway.the vehicle was then towed to an independent repair shop.the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem; however the left rear wheel assembly, brakes, rim and tire were replaced.the manufacturer was not alerted.updated 7/13/2006 - the bearing on the left rear wheel was loose and worn.
Continual problems with the rear end noise, heat shield loose and muffler center clamp loose, however after repairs noise persisted.*mjs
While driving in dry conditions, the right front tire blew out damaging the right fender (no tire information mentioned), ohio traffic crash report.
Tire failed.yh(195/60r14 h.r-4)
The original goodyear tires on the vehicle were constantly losing air, two tires eventually went flat, one tire experienced a blow out and the fourth tire experienced belt separation.*mjs
While driving about 35 mph, there was a blowout onrear passenger's side tire. Tire size 19560r14. Original tire equipment on a 1998, volkswagen, jetta. Tire mileage 23,000. Vehicle experienced a second blowout, the right rear goodyear eagle tire failed, the dot #mkhcfjdr457.
My mother took her 1998'jetta to the dover vw dealership for the last warranty service at 24,000 miles. As she was leaving (getting into her car) they said they were ordering 4-new tires for her (i guess they forgot about the full size spare in the trunk) they told her that good year (not vw was doing a recall on these tires) and to allow 3 months, yes 3 months for the new ones. They told her they were not wearing correctly, but htere was no immediate danger - they were ok to drive, and they would be covered at 100 %. Now we are both vw owners, we both received seperate letters from vw, reminding owners to check the air pressure in theri tires, and maintain them correctly - but no mention, that if you had good year tires on your vw, for model years, x,y,z, that you should contact your dealership. I think it horrible that the local dealerships (hit or miss) if a customer happens in, and they have the defective tires, that at that point, they say, well vw isn;t doing the recall, good year is, and vw does'nt know what cars have good years, or continental, or what ever. Seems that if vw (and i don't mean the maintenance reminder letters the local dealer send out to service your car) that if they were going to remind folks that they should maintain their tires, that certainly they would be aware of good years tire problems (recall) and could've added verbiage to say, if you have these tires, please contact your dealership, of good year. Vw did a half way job hear in my opinion. I hope the word gets out to other owners for their safety and for their manufacturer's replacement free of charge !
I was driving in a parking lot when i heard a crash and my car stopped moving. The front right tire had fallen off.
This car has been a pain in the a-- almost since purchase. The most serious problems have involved what seems to be defective wiring with respect to the electric windows. These have been repaired 3 times since the first incidence cited above,to the tune of $250, the last time being 6 months ago. Now i am told that it needs a new motor assembly to the tune of $650 parts and labor! other assorted door electrical problems. Other problems have been: door moldings falling off (this must be an inherent problem with '98 jettas, because i've noticed that most of those that i see on the road have missing moldings). Both front tires blew out within 2 weeks of each other after an inappropiately short usage. Much lower gas mileage that originally promised. Most of these problems started well within warranty.
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 )
Good year tire (195/60 r 14) blew out completely, only 1/8" of rubber left on rim.yh
Original goodyear eagle tires, rear left and rear right tires blew off while on the road. Yh
Blowout of left rear and right front.first occurred 0800 21 apr 01 on interstata 64 west near richmond va.second later that same day on interstate 95 south north of richmond.in both cases belt separation occurred.no puncture.holes in sidewall.i took the one tire i saved to a goodyear dealer and he determined that the tire had a defect resulting in belt separation. Wear on the tire even tho it had 50000 miles was over 20% tread left.i would never have expected two blowouts in one day particularly with the tread as good as it appeared.the tires were state inspected in late january. (tiresize: 195/60/r14)( dot number:tire size: 195/60/r14 )
Out of 3 new tires, 1 complete blowout on interstate, 2 repl. Sdwl leaks.valve stem replacement. (dot number: mduljphr09tiresize: 205/50r15)
Tire sidewalls continually loosing air due to cracking. Mjs
Tire had a sidewall seperation on the highway resulting in accident; this has happened now twice, on the stock tires,first time i thought it was just bad luck, however two times seems to be fishy.the tires have plenty of tread left.i am interested to find out if this has happened to other people.( dot number: mkhcfjdr19 tire size: 195/60r14 )
Tire sidewalls continually loosing air due to cracking. Mjs
Goodyear eagle tires experienced the inner side of the tire hanging on to the tread by strands of steel.
Right rear tire blew out at freeway speed. Before coming to a stop the tire rubbed against the fuel tank that is made of plastic and wore a large hole in the tank. This could have caused a fire/explosion and loss of life. Poor design of the putting the plastic fuel tank so close to the tire. Volkswagen contacted and refused to acknowledge the poor design. New model vw jetta does not have same design. ( dot number: mkhc tire size: 195/60hr14 )
Belts separating to the extent that the tire went flat and had to be replaced.the tire still had 5/16ths tread depth and so had lots of life left. ( dot number: mkhcfjdr tire size: 195/60 r14 )
Request for complete consumer copies re safety report on 1998 volkswagen jetta.*tgw
The vehicles' anti theft had went haywire. Went to start, beep sound went off. Then was locked inside car. With the alarm going off. Was only able to exit vehicle by having passerby unhook battery, while i held the unlock button. This was over 2 weeks ago. When hooking battery back up, the alarm still goes off. I am unable to drive. The battery was purchased new in june. Nothing has been added to vehicle. Please advise to how this matter will be resolved & if anyone else has had a similar problem.
1) when the steering failed it could hav e caused a fatal accident2) when the brakes failed again it could havecaused a fatal accident.3) when the oil light indicated that there was no oil the motor could have locked up, causing a fatal accident.i find the above problems very serious.i bought the vw jetta new 09/12/98 with 15 miles on the odometer.thank youbill hamann.
I own a 1998 vw jetta gl and have had to replace the transmission twice now because, i am told, vw increased the torque on jettas of this year by adding a 5th gear, which results in excessive wear to the reverse gear and results in several reverse gear teeth chipping, thus rendering reverse inoperable. As i said before i have had to replace my transmission twice now due to the faulty reverse gear.
This car has been a pain in the a-- almost since purchase. The most serious problems have involved what seems to be defective wiring with respect to the electric windows. These have been repaired 3 times since the first incidence cited above,to the tune of $250, the last time being 6 months ago. Now i am told that it needs a new motor assembly to the tune of $650 parts and labor! other assorted door electrical problems. Other problems have been: door moldings falling off (this must be an inherent problem with '98 jettas, because i've noticed that most of those that i see on the road have missing moldings). Both front tires blew out within 2 weeks of each other after an inappropiately short usage. Much lower gas mileage that originally promised. Most of these problems started well within warranty.
Security remote,door locks, and panic button failed.
Check the engine light comes on frequently while vehicle is running.yh
No summary. Dt
98 vw jetta tdi.the odometer, speedometer and cruise control intermittently quit working while driving.sometimes they come back on within a mile, sometimes up to ten miles.happens about every 150 miles.vehicle has 111,500 miles.
Check engine light repeatedly lights up on dash.the car does not shift properly and the tachometer exhibits very high rpms.the original transmission was finally replaced late fall of 2000 (replaced with a brand new one).this transmission completely failed in jan. 2001 and was again replaced with a completely new transmission.now in march of 2001engine checklight is again lighting up and the car does not shift right.vw was notified, but does not want to do anything about it while it is under warranty.we offered to take blue book value as trade in on a new jetta.my concern is what happens if the transmission fails at highway speeds?
Please check into other complaints for possible recall. No safety defect listed.
Volkswagenh of america has not been supportive or helpful in resolving these complaints nor have the volkswagen technicians been able to diagnosis the true problem; they just fix the problem "symptoms". No safety defect listed.
While driving the check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on.vehicle was taken to the dealerfor inspection, andmechanicdetermined that the throttle needed to be replaced.
Transmission slips between second and third gear.this problem was first reported to gossett motor cars on 05/06/98, and has been a recurring problem ever since. Cruise control has functioned properly three times and failed numerous times.gossett motor cars says there is not a problem..
Resume button on cruise control failed.yh
Whenconsumer comes to a stop there was surge inside ofengine andvehicle wants to move on its on.consumer states on one occasion coming out of a parking spot with foot on the brake, vehicle began to move and consumer had to press very hard on brake so she would not move.
While slowing down to approach a curve below 30 mph when the consumers foot is takenoff the brake the vehicle surges back to 30 mph.nlm
I have spoken with vw and the dealership a number of times.. No one will help.
Heater core failed and coolant leaked into the cabin along with fumes. Dealer was unable to repair did not have parts in stock.
Like others, i have had the ignition coil replaced. This happened after the warranty expired, of course. I have also had electrical problems with the windows (regulator and motor) for all of them. Now, my check engine light is flashing and the car is sputtering. I know the secondary air intake valve needs replacing but it did not cause problems. Now i'm wondering if something new is wrong??? also, i was having problems with losing coolant and had to continuously replace antifreeze. After fixing what i thought was a small leak the entire system will not produce cool air! this car has been nothing but problems and vw should look into all of these complaints.
Defroster switch is defective.yh
Both rear windows failed.window falls on it's own and does not come back up using the power controls. *nlm
This is the third time this has happened to my same vehicle, all happened the same way.each time a different window.the power window button will start making noise when you raise/lower the window, then the window will only close half way.if you press the power window button again the window will drop into the door.in the past it happened to my 2 back passenger windows.each time vw told me it was the window regulator and it cost about $350 to fix it. Since they are back passenger windows the dealer told me they could just prop the window up with a piece of wood much cheaper.today the exact same sequence of events happened to my drivers side window, since its a driver window i most likely will have to pay out the $350 to replace the faulty regulator.looking at www.myvwlemon.com i was surprised to see that this is an extremely common occurrence with all makes of vw yet vw accepts no responsibility for a faulty part.
Window regulator has been replaced six times, but the remedy is not working. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.
Electrical systems are suspect.these two problems have been into the dealer, but the window, even after being replaced, continues to have problems
Remote keyless entry receiver module failed.yh
I have 1998 vw jetta--i presently have three electric windows which do not go up or down.two of them have previously been repaired.this appears to be a defect or needed recall.cause of problems is motors or regulators.these should be repaired by vw. Of all the vehicles i have owned in the past 40 years with electric windows i have never had a problems except with the vw jetta.
Its a bunch of crap. No safety defect listed in the summary.
Passenger side power window motor failed at 20,000 miles and just recently driver side window motor failed by cable in motor snapping
Power windows go all the way up then come back down, all windows do this intermittently.when left rear window is rolled down by button on door or on the front control panel it activates the factory alarm and locks all doors (it does not sound) you have to stop, roll down drivers window, turn off engine and reach outside and manualy disalarm car. I have filed a complaint with volkswagen they wanted a diagnostic wich i payed $80 for from stevens creek vw, i have to send this in and they will tell me if they can help me or if i have to pay for it.i have done research and there have been numerous problems related to this in all states, have you heard of this and if vw does not help me is there anything i can do?thank you
I bought a used 1998 vw jetta for my daughter. Good car fun to drive but one day as she was driving the rear passenger window fell down into the door. A few weeks later the passenger side front window fell into the door. Most recently during the summer the driver's front window fell into the door. All of these incidents could startle a driver or shatter the window. Currently she has the window taped up on the driver's door and it hinders her visibility. Vw said it would cost $485 per door!!!! you know the driver's rear door will go soon and it just doesn't seem right that we should have to invest another close to $2000 just to keep the windows up! this is a common problem but when i called vw they thanked me for being a loyal vw customer and asked me if i name my cars...vw knows that the plastic bottom on the regulator fails and they replace them with metal ones. They should do this for everyone that has these cars. I believe in 2001 the regulators with metal bottoms are oem.
The windows in the doors are falling down and needing the mechanism replaced.this has happened to 3 of the doors so far.has this been a problem-was there ever a recall for this-this seems like a weird thing to have happen.it is a safety issue because you cannot roll the window up or down, as well as the interior getting wet from the weather.thank you.rebecca
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.
Two of the windows on my 98 jetta have gone out.many of my friends who also drive jetta'shad their windows go out also.
While traveling on the highway the window went up and downintermittently and made a loud grinding noise.
All four windows have failed, did not know warranty, was expired at 24k, took in at 26k, unable to fix.
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.
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.
Front driver and passenger windows completly stopped working. Stuck in "up" position. To expensive to fix.
1998 jetta glx.another window regulator default.i'm original owner, third time this has occurred.back passenger window twice, no one ever sits back there and the window is hardly ever used.sat. Driver's window, ker-plunk.really annoying, window down and it's raining.had to tape the opening closed.i'm paying for the repair, i know vw of america will not.between this issue and the body molding constantly falling off, i doubt i'll buy another vw.
Volkswagen needs to recall window parts on all 1998 jettas - even service tech agrees.
No summary. Dt
All 4 of my electric windows have failed, 3 of them fall down and 1 will not move.
I have had the front driver's side window regulator replaced/repaired twice by the dealer under warranty. Then i replaced it myself once, as the repair costs are too expensive. Then it broke again and i don't have the funds to fix it, so i simply avoid rolling down the window. The rear driver's side regulator has been replaced once by the dealer under warranty. The rear passenger's side regulator is now acting up. I'm afraid to roll down my windows as they may not roll back up.
We have a 98 jetta and it has a problem with the electric window mechanisms.volkswagen is aware of the defect, however they only repair the defect on 99 and newer models.why?the dealer agrees that it is the same exact problem.we started to replace the mechanism ourselves, however the only replacement available was the same defective mechanism.the cable saws through parts within the mechanism which binds the motor causing it to make a grinding noise, overheat, blow fuses, etc.we have to just leave the windows up and not use them at all.we noticed an irregularity when we purchased the vehicle, but the dealer told us that it was a programmable control and we would have to learn to use it. *la
I have a 1998 vw jetta gls. I have previously replaced a window regulator at a cost of $450, now the remaining 3 have failed within a week. This is a known problem with vw and vw has acknowledged it with service bulletins,etc. Vw usa customer care has refused to cover the repair.
This car has been a pain in the a-- almost since purchase. The most serious problems have involved what seems to be defective wiring with respect to the electric windows. These have been repaired 3 times since the first incidence cited above,to the tune of $250, the last time being 6 months ago. Now i am told that it needs a new motor assembly to the tune of $650 parts and labor! other assorted door electrical problems. Other problems have been: door moldings falling off (this must be an inherent problem with '98 jettas, because i've noticed that most of those that i see on the road have missing moldings). Both front tires blew out within 2 weeks of each other after an inappropiately short usage. Much lower gas mileage that originally promised. Most of these problems started well within warranty.
Total of $1300 spent on 3 windows now.
Window 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.
The remote locking device stopped working.nlm
Power windows fail to operate.front driver window is making noises leading me to believe it too will fail soon.first window was repaired by dealer under extended warranty.
Like others, i have had the ignition coil replaced. This happened after the warranty expired, of course. I have also had electrical problems with the windows (regulator and motor) for all of them. Now, my check engine light is flashing and the car is sputtering. I know the secondary air intake valve needs replacing but it did not cause problems. Now i'm wondering if something new is wrong??? also, i was having problems with losing coolant and had to continuously replace antifreeze. After fixing what i thought was a small leak the entire system will not produce cool air! this car has been nothing but problems and vw should look into all of these complaints.
Passenger's side rear window stopped operating on 05/13/01/ drivers side rear window stopped operating on 07/03/01.consumercan hearmotor, but window is stuck in door. Dealer has not yet been contacted. Please provide any further information.
Sunroof shattered while driving on the freeway with the sunroof open.
Window failed.
Windshield wipers failed while driving in the rain. I consider this to be a serious safety problem.
Windshield washer.
While driving in the rain windshield wipersfailed, causingdriver to have poor visibility. Itwas an intermittent problem. Will be taking vehicle to dealership to have mechanic check it out.
Like others, i have had the ignition coil replaced. This happened after the warranty expired, of course. I have also had electrical problems with the windows (regulator and motor) for all of them. Now, my check engine light is flashing and the car is sputtering. I know the secondary air intake valve needs replacing but it did not cause problems. Now i'm wondering if something new is wrong??? also, i was having problems with losing coolant and had to continuously replace antifreeze. After fixing what i thought was a small leak the entire system will not produce cool air! this car has been nothing but problems and vw should look into all of these complaints.
While driving smoke was coming from the steering column. Consumer took the vehicle todealer 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.an independent technician replaced the switch.
Dt*:the contact stated the left rear wheel detached from the vehicle, crossed the highway and hit another vehicle.the other vehicle sustained minor body damage.a police report was filed.this occurred while driving 35 mph without warning.the vehicle was pulled to the side of the highway.the vehicle was then towed to an independent repair shop.the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem; however the left rear wheel assembly, brakes, rim and tire were replaced.the manufacturer was not alerted.updated 7/13/2006 - the bearing on the left rear wheel was loose and worn.
"orleans" model wheels have failed twice. Wheels appear to be soft and easily deformed. Wheels crack after bending which results in aflat tire. Volkswagen has taken the orleans wheel off of the parts list so that replacement wheels are not available. Local parts clerk has advised that a high failure rate and replacement activity were occurring prior to the vw germany decision to no longer supply the wheels. The wheels were optional on the 97 passat and the 98 jetta and golf. Since owners have been abandoned without spares for some reason, they are required to replace all four wheels at their own expense as the wheels fail.wheels.
The locking lug nuts end pieces on my 98 jetta broke off on routine tire rotations.the dealer was initially unable to remove the lugnuts until he removed the whole wheel assy and welded tools onto the lugnuts.i have the welded-on tools with the lugnuts - total cost was 600.00.if this happened while travelling i would have beenin trouble to just change a tire.why was there no recall?the dealers in germany said they recalled the german models because of this problem.
The contact owns a 1998 volkswagen jetta.while driving 25 mph, the abs warning light illuminated and the passenger side rear wheel disengaged.the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the wheel bearing separated.they replaced the wheel bearings, spindles, speed sensor, ring, and drum.approximately two years later, while driving 55-60 mph, the passenger side rear wheel disengaged.the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence.the dealer stated that the wheel bearings failed.as of august 21, 2007, the failure has not been repaired.the contact also stated that the windows would not roll up or down.the dealer stated that the window regulators failed and that there was a recall on previous models.the nhtsa campaign id and powertrain were unavailable.the current mileage was 138,022 and failure mileage was 101,612.
While driving at 60 mphand without any warning right rear wheel lugs:nuts came off,causing consumerto lose control. Dealer stated that wheel bearing went bad.
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