1998 Volkswagen Passat Latches, locks and linkages Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 2%of 331 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,770miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the latches, locks and linkages of the 1998 Volkswagen Passat, 2% of the 331 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,770 miles.
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.
“During the last two years the door locks on my 1998 vw Passat failed seven times so far. In most of the cases, they just could not be opened from the outside while the inside door handle worked. In all cases, the vw service people knew about the problem (a cable had slipped off the track) and were either able to repair it within a few minutes by use of a long screw driver going through a hole in the front doors. In case of the rear doors, the door panels had to be removed for the repair. The last repair was necessary within three months of the previous repair and it set me back $100.00. …”
NHTSA complaint #10124917, filed 2005-06, 60,770 milesLatches, locks and linkages: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 8% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0% |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 6 | 1% |
| 2002 | 6 | 1% |
| 2001 | 4 | 1% |
| 2000 | 1 | 0% |
| 1999 | 3 | 0% |
| 1998 | 5 | 2% |
| 1997 | 4 | 11% |
| 1996 | 5 | 13% |
| 1995 | 9 | 10% |
| 1992 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1998 Volkswagen Passat
90 complaintsSuspension
90 complaintsSteering
52 complaintsEngine cooling
39 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
27 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsSeats
11 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsEquipment
8 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat
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