1998 Volkswagen Golf
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Volkswagen › Golf › 1998
These records cover every 1998 Volkswagen Golf. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1998 Volkswagen Golf. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Under inflated tires can affect vehicle handling, and driving with substantially under inflated tires puts the consumer at 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.
Owner complaints
18 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Headlights and ac intermittently went off completely and parking brake light didn't go away on dashboard; mechanic determined a faulty ignition switch was the cause. *jb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
The vehicle's transmission would not shift from 2ND to 3RD gear. as a result the vehicle could not be driven more than 40 mph. please provide any additional information. *nm
- Electrical system › Wiring
Electrical defect: when turning ignition on and engine running, I experience a total loss of headlights, a/c fan motor, defroster, drl, fog lamps, rear-window defogger, and heater. (All other electrical systems continue functioning.) sometimes the problem IS intermittent where everything functions…
Electrical defect: when turning ignition on and engine running, I experience a total loss of headlights, a/c fan motor, defroster, drl, fog lamps, rear-window defogger, and heater. (All other electrical systems continue functioning.) sometimes the problem IS intermittent where everything functions; most of the time none of these units function electrically. Additional note: the "brake" lamp glows on in the dash when this electrical problem occurs. (Emergency brake IS not engaged.) cannot drive at night. Volkswagon will not pay for repair.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Ignition switch failure causes switched devices to loose power while driving. the devices I have personally identified that loose power are: headlights, drl, ABS, windshield wipers, interior fan, fog lights. with the ignition switch in the on position, it IS posible to rotate it slightly to the…
Ignition switch failure causes switched devices to loose power while driving. the devices I have personally identified that loose power are: headlights, drl, ABS, windshield wipers, interior fan, fog lights. with the ignition switch in the on position, it IS posible to rotate it slightly to the left and turn the above mentioned devices off while the car continues to run. this can easily happen (and does happen) while driving. searching your database of other complaints of this and other similar models which probably use the same ignition switch reveals 15 switch failures (865957, 897162, 876280, 899086, 608861, 609016, 758101, 888070, 8014837, 733016, 607392, 8021547, 869601, 750653, 743422) and 5 possible switch failures (733430, 9002207, 861456, 754763, 750545). this failure has been identified as recurrant enough by members of www.vr6.org for one member to issue a step-by-step procedure for replacing the ignition switch. I feel this IS a severe safety hazard as headlights and fog lights turn completely off while driving (including drl's) rendering the driver blind at night. if failure occurs durring daylight, the failure IS not as obvious but renders the ABS system disabled and could cause the driver to loose control if required to stop quickly while thinking the car IS equipted with an ABS system. volkswagon USA has been informed of this via their website and I am waiting for a reply. other members of www.vr6.org and similar sites are beign encouraged to file similar complaints.
- Vehicle speed control
The service engine light came on twice due to a throttle body problem and needed replacement. *Yh
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Exterior lighting › Headlights
Headlights go out intermittently while driving. mechanic determined a faulty ignition switch was the cause. *Ak
- Wheels
Wheels were bonded due to rust and corrosion. dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Failure of breather valve and mass air flow sensor, repaired by private mechanic that got a kit to replace poorly designed unit wich has a dealer buy back # 0444294 , volkswagen said there was no such kit to their knowledge and no recall I have had many problems with this car and have recieved no aid from volkswagen
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
When the vehicle IS driven over water on road water goes into air intake and engine, causing the engine to hydro seal. please further details. *ak
- Air bags › Frontal
Light on her dashboard came on for frontal air bags. dealership informed consumer that frontal air bag (driver and passenger) unit had to be replaced - reason unknown. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Sometimes when turning on air conditioner it does not come on, and sometimes windshield wipers do not work. Took to dealer, and they said it was binding. lock cylinder needed to be replaced. *Ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission has locked into 3RD gear with out warning. this has caused a lack performance. almost caused an accident due to the car not acelerating as expected.
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system · Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. · Power train › Clutch assembly · Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
The "volkswagen certified" dealership was absolutely horrible. All the listed problems I brought it back to them repeatedly, and it would normally take 3-5 visits for the item to get fixed. I didn't even get to list all the problems with the speaker panel, clutch, and fenders getting flexed. I will never own another volkswagen, or go to the dealership ever again. *ak
- Tires
Tire failure. (Energy michelin - MXV4 plus - xse 203/55 R16 91H mxs) *yc
- Exterior lighting › Turn signal › Flasher unit
Rear blinker failed.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
ABS brake problems; intermittently when applying brakes on regular road conditions, brake pedal became very hard and there was no braking ability. dealer could not find a problem with the brakes. This happened when the weather was cold. Please provide any further details. *ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
The consumer has been experiencing problems with head restraints. head rest drops down with a heavy impact. the manufacturer has been contacted. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
When pulling out the rpms reached up to 40,000 before transmission was shifted to the next gear and this IS an automatic transmission. Dealer has been contacted. *ak
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10243011VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242996VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242349VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10241340Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard VW 502 00/505 00/505 01 and VW 504 00/507 00
- 10241266Squeaks, Rattles, Noise, Repair Materials
- 10241265Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
- 10241177Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- 10239831Battery, Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161, MCR340V, InCharge 940, or GRX3000 Charger
- 10239789To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine running and heated rear window switched on. Switch OFF the ignition and visually locate the damage. Proceed with checking any other lines as necessary. Once the damaged line is identified, repair utilizing the Repair kit by Permatex ITEM 09117.
- 10239592Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239591Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239590Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239541Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the Refrigerant Circuit (U.S.Only)
- 10239531HVAC, Temperature Output Control Cannot Be Adjusted
- 10238572Fault code P1297 may be set and fuel mixtures may go lean if the vehicle is driven under load or revved up and then returned to idle.
- 10237427Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10235138Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10228180Update model year applicability to include 2023.
- 10228178Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
- 10213836Airbag Issues.
- 10193577Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
- 10175799Tool number added to table. Removal of Behr Flush Kit. VAS 6337/1A
- 10174476Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
- 10159016Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standards
- 10159014Alternative method for radio code retrieval.
- 10159010The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
- 10158533Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. TB updated to include model year 2019 applicability.
- 10158529Battery Testing and Charging instruction. Updated to include model year 2019 applicability.
- 10157828Updated to include model year 2014 thru 2018 applicability.
- 10157383VAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide
- 10157302Updated to include model year 2014 thru 2018 applicability.
- 10155644This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
- 10150856Engine replacement tip
- 10133469Tip for Scan tool concerns that may occur duing a test plan
- 1013334417 17 01 July 5, 2017 2012855 Supersedes Technical Bulletin 17-16-02 (V171602) dated April 29, 2016 due to updated oil standards lists to current specifications. Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standards
- 10128105This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions.
- 10128104This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, ElsaPro infomedia icons grayed out, workshop equipment tool storage application, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions.
- 10128055This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest inbound and outbound ProFi requests.
- 10127969Data Link connector pin assignment chart that is applicable to all models. Update model year applicability.
- 10126861Update to model year applicability.
Every Volkswagen Golf model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.