1998 Volkswagen Golf Problems, Recalls & Reliability
28 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 9/100 on the trouble index — too lightly reported for a fair score.
Few reports
Where 1998 sits among all Golf years
What owners report
Recalls (1)
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…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS, OR A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL IF THE OWNER WISHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED…
Technical service bulletins
70 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
The 1998 Volkswagen Golf drew 28 complaints in federal safety records — too lightly reported for a fair score. Its trouble index is 9/100, scored against the model's worst year (2015).
What are the most common 1998 Volkswagen Golf problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf are electrical (7 complaints), engine (6), and transmission & drivetrain (4).
Does the 1998 Volkswagen Golf have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 1998 Volkswagen Golf. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.