1998 Volkswagen GTI Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 20%of 10 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 82,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Volkswagen GTI, 20% of the 10 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 82,000 miles. 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.
“1998 Volkswagen golf GTI rolled into a ditch off 101 near gilroy. Three days prior it had had serviced entirely by michael's auto body in downtown san jose. With repairs totalling $2000. These repairs were supposedly merely wear and tear from a towing by the sjpd. The antilock brakes locked and the airbag did not release.”
NHTSA complaint #10007904, filed 2003-02, 59,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10213836Jan 22, 2016Airbag Issues.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 4% |
| 2016 | 5 | 7% |
| 2015 | 3 | 3% |
| 2014 | 1 | 10% |
| 2013 | 4 | 12% |
| 2012 | 5 | 13% |
| 2011 | 3 | 5% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2009 | 4 | 2% |
| 2008 | 3 | 4% |
| 2007 | 11 | 14% |
| 2006 | 7 | 16% |
| 2005 | 1 | 13% |
| 2004 | 4 | 57% |
| 2003 | 18 | 34% |
| 2002 | 23 | 19% |
| 2001 | 19 | 26% |
| 2000 | 4 | 9% |
| 1999 | 1 | 13% |
| 1998 | 2 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1998 Volkswagen GTI
3 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Volkswagen GTI
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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