1998 Volkswagen Golf Problems
- Complaints
- 18filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 66,000miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 28 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf. The part named most often is electrical system, with 5 complaints (28% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (4) and engine cooling (3). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,000 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 58 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system5 28%
- Engine cooling3 17%
- Brakes2 11%
- Equipment2 11%
- Exterior lighting2 11%
- Air bags1 5.6%
- Seats1 5.6%
- Tires1 5.6%
Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10002788, filed 2003-01, 57,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10055852, filed 2004-01, 24,000 milesEngine cooling: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #714777, filed 1999-11Brakes: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #836407, filed 1999-04Mileage when problems were reported
25% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 57,000 and 75,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1998 Volkswagen Golf version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf/GTI FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Golf/GTI FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 03V155000Apr 22, 2003Equipment › Other › LabelsCovers: Volkswagen Golf 1998–1999
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…
Recall details for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 58 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10241177Aug 21, 2023Engine cooling. Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- 10237427May 30, 2023Engine cooling. Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10235138Apr 24, 2023Engine cooling. Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- 10228180Dec 12, 2022Equipment. Update model year applicability to include 2023.
- 10228178Dec 6, 2022Electrical system. Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
- 10193577May 11, 2021Engine cooling. Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
- 10175799May 12, 2020Equipment. Tool number added to table. Removal of Behr Flush Kit. VAS 6337/1A
- 10174476Apr 21, 2020Equipment. Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
- 10159010Mar 27, 2019Equipment. The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
- 10159014Mar 22, 2019Equipment, Electrical system. Alternative method for radio code retrieval.
Other model years of the Volkswagen Golf
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 81 | 200 | 0 | — | — | 42 · Typical | Falling |
| 2021 | 7 | — | 1 | 5 | 33 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 6 | 8,590 | 2 | 5 | 32 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 63 | 556 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 71 · More | Rising |
| 2018 | 29 | 3,300 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 21 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2017 | 117 | 24,306 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 53 · Typical | Stable |
| 2016 | 85 | 30,000 | 9 | 5 | 29 | 45 · Typical | Stable |
| 2015 | 131 | 19,500 | 12 | 5 | 29 | 83 · More | Stable |
| 2014 | 12 | 36,611 | 5 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 43 | 50,000 | 5 | — | 26 | 12 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 48 | 17,775 | 6 | — | 26 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 110 | 28,000 | 6 | — | 27 | 82 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 70 | 33,800 | 4 | — | 26 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2006 | 12 | 70,000 | 1 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 19 | 62,400 | 2 | — | 24 | — | Falling |
| 2004 | 28 | 47,233 | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 26 | 69,152 | 2 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 74 | 59,720 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 116 | 65,300 | 5 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 88 | 60,000 | 5 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 64 | 71,000 | 4 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 18 | 66,000 | 1 | — | 24 | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 7 | 80,500 | 0 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 43 | 202,800 | 4 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 41 | 72,000 | 4 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 7 | — | 4 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1992 | 6 | — | 1 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 8 | — | 2 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1990 | 10 | 83,000 | 4 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 17 | 65,000 | 3 | — | 25 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 9 | — | 5 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 13 | — | 4 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 10 | — | 5 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
All Volkswagen Golf model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Volkswagen Golf have?
NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Volkswagen Golf is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 5 complaints (28% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 4.
Has the 1998 Volkswagen Golf been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Volkswagen Golf get?
The EPA rates the 1998 Volkswagen Golf (Golf/GTI, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Volkswagen Golf reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,000 miles and the middle half falls between 57,000 and 75,000 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.