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1998 Volkswagen Passat Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1998 Volkswagen Passat, and owners have filed 331 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
331
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 4
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–37
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 02V026000 Reported 487,284 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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…

  2. Connecting (steering)

    NHTSA 99V248000 Reported 51,900 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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.

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 99V131001 Reported 88,121 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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.

  4. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V134000 Reported 19,800 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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.

331 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Volkswagen Passat have filed 331 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 83,091 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 49 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 13, 2017 · Engine

“Driving back home from store and car just died out than smelt like gas.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2017 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat (Passat Syncro, Passat Wagon, Passat Wagon Syncro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–37 mpg
City / Highway15–32 / 24–45
FuelDiesel, Premium
EPA classMidsize Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engine4/6 cyl, 1.8/1.9/2.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Volkswagen Passat model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Passat model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1988 Volkswagen Passat10
1989 Volkswagen Passat10
1990 Volkswagen Passat234
1991 Volkswagen Passat124
1992 Volkswagen Passat139
1993 Volkswagen Passat368
1994 Volkswagen Passat125
1995 Volkswagen Passat193
1996 Volkswagen Passat140
1997 Volkswagen Passat037
1998 Volkswagen Passat4331
1999 Volkswagen Passat5664
2000 Volkswagen Passat3507
2001 Volkswagen Passat3430
2002 Volkswagen Passat3636
2003 Volkswagen Passat6628
2004 Volkswagen Passat3279
2005 Volkswagen Passat3148
2006 Volkswagen Passat7576
2007 Volkswagen Passat7262
2008 Volkswagen Passat4168
2009 Volkswagen Passat4146
2010 Volkswagen Passat4163
2011 Volkswagen Passat016
2012 Volkswagen Passat11484
2013 Volkswagen Passat9748
2014 Volkswagen Passat10594
2015 Volkswagen Passat7243
2016 Volkswagen Passat5106
2017 Volkswagen Passat7110
2018 Volkswagen Passat445
2019 Volkswagen Passat112
2020 Volkswagen Passat318
2021 Volkswagen Passat118
2022 Volkswagen Passat013

Checking a specific 1998 Volkswagen Passat

How do I know if my 1998 Volkswagen Passat has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1998 Volkswagen Passat; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V026000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Volkswagen models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.