10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,286 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Volkswagen Passat electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

1998 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments

problem #7

Sep 132010

Passat

  • 81,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Fire in rubber boot housing between left rear door and car frame. Preceding events, left rear door speaker was not functioning, left rear window functioned sometimes. Door was closed after returning home and parking garage. Arcing was heard and smoke came from door. Owner removed many fuses from drivers side fuse panel and then removed connections to main battery. Door panel cover was removed and boot removed to find housing on 5 of the 8 wires burnt and most of the wire burnt through the wire. Pictures are available.

- Urbana, IL, USA

problem #6

Dec 092008

Passat

  • 68,000 miles
The ABS light comes on, followed by the brake light blinking the engine oil light comes on and the tachometer goes to 0 and stops working even though I am accelerating. There are many others with this same issue it can be researched on tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadid=2447&tstart=0.

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #5

May 212002

Passat

  • miles
The vechicle is having electrical system problems, consumers wife found water in the car on both driver and passenger side, and then tried to start the igintion, however it would not start, the vehicle had to be towed to the Volkswagen dealership to be look at all repair was paid pull.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #4

Apr 182000

Passat

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Sudden loss of engine power/electrical systems while vehicle is moving. Loss of vehicle control with no engine systems and no power steering assist. Saftey concern from rear end accidents from other vehicles and no avoidance control. Also, regular loss of power steering fluid requires constant monitoring.

- Forest, VA, USA

problem #3

Nov 131999

Passat

  • miles
VW has a problem with the Passats electrical. Very dangerous. Car stalls intermittent. Almost got hit making a left turn when the car stalled. Almost lost control on the freeway when car loss electrical power to the engine.

- Ventura, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 091999

(reported on)

Passat

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Remote does not open / close locks on door.

- Wappinger Falls, NY, USA

problem #1

Jan 201999

(reported on)

Passat

  • miles
Electrical system failures continually, unable to rectify failure which causes many component failures.

- Irvine, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?