1998 Volkswagen Passat

US Recalls

NHTSA Recall US

• 09E025000 2009-05-11

  Recall 09E025000

  DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 02V026000 2002-01-25

  Recall 02V026000

  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.

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 99V248000 1999-09-13

  Recall 99V248000

  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.

  Recorded model years: 1998

Showing 3 of 5 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 52 records exist for the Volkswagen Passat where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Campaign applicability can depend on build date, equipment and market, and a remedy may already have been completed. Confirm any campaign against the official record using the VIN.

Manufacturer Bulletins

NHTSA Manufacturer Communication US

• 10241177 2023-08-21

  V171901201285565

  Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 10237427 2023-05-30

  V171901201285562

  Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 10235138 2023-04-24

  V171901201285560

  Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

  Recorded model years: 1998

Showing 3 of 116 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 3,214 records exist for the Volkswagen Passat where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

A manufacturer communication is service guidance issued to dealers. It is not a safety recall, and its existence does not mean this vehicle has the described condition.

Investigations

NHTSA Investigation US

• EA04017 2004-06-30

  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…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• EA03020 2003-10-07

  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 PRESENTS AN…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• PE03021 2003-05-23

  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…

  Recorded model years: 1998

Showing 3 of 6 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 20 records exist for the Volkswagen Passat where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

An investigation records that a regulator reviewed a suspected defect. It is not itself a finding of defect and not a recall.

Canada Recalls

Transport Canada Recall CA

• 1999195 1999-10-29

  Transport Canada recall 1999195

  On certain vehicles, the steering assembly tie rod seals do not seal properly. If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing may wear over time to a point where the steering begins to feel "loose" and could diminish the steering control of the vehicle with the potential for a vehicle crash. Correction: Tie rods will…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 1999095 1999-05-19

  Transport Canada recall 1999095

  On certain vehicles, 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 degrees F. This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster resulting in possible loss of power brake assist. Correction: A vacuum by-pass system will be installed on…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 1998126 1998-06-22

  Transport Canada recall 1998126

  IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE BACKFIRE DURING COLD START, AN AIR SCREEN WHICH IS LOOSELY SEATED IN THE AIR FLOW METER COULD BECOME DAMAGED. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, SCREEN PIECES COULD ENTER THE INTAKE AIR FLOW SYSTEM AND COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION. CORRECTION: A SCREEN RETAINING RING WILL BE INSTALLED AND DAMAGED…

  Recorded model years: 1998

A further 43 records exist for the Volkswagen Passat where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Canadian campaigns are recorded separately from US campaigns and do not imply one another.

Consumer Complaints

NHTSA Complaint US

331 complaint records in the dataset for this vehicle and year.

Outcomes stated in those reports

• reports mentioning a crash 6
• reports mentioning a fire 4
• reported injuries 12
• reported fatalities 1

Outcomes as stated by the person who filed the report. They are not verified, not adjudicated, and carry no exposure denominator, so they cannot be turned into a rate.

By system

• Brakes101 (21.7%)Official recall records for this system: 14, covering model years 1998–2018.
• Suspension98 (21.1%)Official recall records for this system: 1, covering model years 2021.
• Steering58 (12.5%)Official recall records for this system: 7, covering model years 1998–2009.
• Engine36 (7.7%)Official recall records for this system: 8, covering model years 1995–2016.
• Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)30 (6.5%)Official recall records for this system: 1, covering model years 2006–2007.
• Electrical system29 (6.2%)Official recall records for this system: 5, covering model years 1996–2014.
• Fuel system19 (4.1%)Official recall records for this system: 17, covering model years 1998–2016.
• Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain)18 (3.9%)Official recall records for this system: 4, covering model years 2012–2014.

Other / uncategorized: 5 classifications (1.1%) were not assigned to a specific system by the source. They are counted but not treated as an issue area.

A single report can name several systems, so these figures overlap and must not be added together — their sum is larger than the report total above.

A further 7,633 complaint records exist for this vehicle where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

These are owner-submitted allegations, not confirmed defects. Counts are record counts in the dataset. No exposure denominator exists, so no failure rate or reliability score can be derived from them.