1998 Volkswagen Beetle Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 4%of 171 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the steering of the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle, 4% of the 171 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This vehicle has been nothing but problems from the start. When the vehicle was purchased about three weeks afterwards, if you hit a bump the hubcaps would come flying off. This would happen going at the speed of 25mph. I've taken it back to the dealer for service. They said that was a problem with the new models. They replaced the hubcaps, but the problem would continuously happen. Finally I took it back again for service and demanded that this problem be fixed. So far they are all changed and it hasn't occured again. Between these problems a total of 5 hubcaps have been replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #728228, filed 2000-08“Bad wiring, alarm goes off in the middle og the night, rear hatch light comes on and off, wiring is bad in cold weather, front headlights keep burining out, excessive oil consumption, at about 2000 miles engine will be bone dry, excessive road nosie, radio no longer works, in general the car is in bad shape after two years of use and it seesm to be all factory related type of problems.”
NHTSA complaint #746433, filed 2001-06“Failure 1-power steering pump broke down, no power steering fluid in reservoir. Failure 2-while driving off of a highway exit vehicle lost acceleration and coasted to a stop in traffic. It was found that the bolts came off the axel. Also, the driveshaft needed to be removed and fixed. The left driveshaft flange was also replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #703110, filed 1999-02“Consumer was driving on county narrow road and a dog was on the road. She swerved onto the side of the road, went airborne onto a hill. Hit a tree on the passenger's side. Car was airborne and caught by a tree and roof was torn off. After that, vehicle went into another tree on the rear corner, and driver's side door crushed in.”
NHTSA complaint #836513, filed 1999-04Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 7% |
| 2016 | 2 | 4% |
| 2015 | 3 | 4% |
| 2014 | 3 | 6% |
| 2013 | 6 | 6% |
| 2012 | 7 | 11% |
| 2010 | 3 | 10% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2007 | 1 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 4 | 2% |
| 1999 | 5 | 3% |
| 1998 | 6 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle
53 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
37 complaintsEngine cooling
32 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsAir bags
14 complaintsEquipment
13 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsSeats
12 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology