Model year record
1998 Volkswagen GTI recalls & problems
The 1998 Volkswagen GTI has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 10 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 Volkswagen GTI.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
GTI VR6
| City / highway | 17 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 3 | — |
| Service brakes, airAntilock | 2 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal › Driver side › Inflator module; Side/window | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 1 | — |
| StructureBody › Door | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| VisibilityPower window devices and controls | 1 | — |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Switch | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY WIPERS AND MY FAN ALSO STOPPED WORKING. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AGAIN, ALL WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 10 SEC., THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT WHEN I TOUCHED THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION THAT IT WENT BACK ON AGAIN, AND I HELD THE KEY FORWARD AND HELD IT THERE, AND THE HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, AND THE FAN STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. WHEN I LET IT GO, IT STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FORWARD ALL THE WAY HOME TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS TO SEE MY WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY I CHECKED AGAIN AND KNEW FOR SURE THAT THE…
- Air bags › Side/window1 injury
SIDE AIRBAG (PASSENGER) DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WITH A POTHOLE WITH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL
- Visibility › Power window devices and controls
1998 VOLKSWAGEN GTI VR6. ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. SAW THIS SITE ON WWW.VWVORTEX.COM. *NLM
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN. *JB
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN. *JB
- Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator moduleCrash1 injury
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.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. JUST BEFORE VEHICLE STALLED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND DIED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AND NEVER WENT *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.