NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Volkswagen GTI Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Volkswagen GTI has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 10 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Volkswagen GTI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1998 Volkswagen GTI owner complaints

Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Volkswagen GTI, describing incidents dated July 25, 1998 to September 15, 2005.

Most-cited components

Engine 3 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Equipment 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Of the 10 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 10 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10136844 · Filed September 17, 2005
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…
ODI #10096153 · Filed October 21, 2004
SIDE AIRBAG (PASSENGER) DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WITH A POTHOLE WITH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL
ODI #10018676 · Filed May 14, 2003
1998 VOLKSWAGEN GTI VR6. ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. SAW THIS SITE ON WWW.VWVORTEX.COM. *NLM

Read all 10 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Volkswagen GTI as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Volkswagen GTI. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

10 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Volkswagen GTI.

Electrical System

ODI #10136844

Incident: September 15, 2005 · Filed: September 17, 2005

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 IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ON VOLKSWAGEN GOLF'S OR GTI'S AND THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THANK YOU, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED TO VOLKSWAGEN AND A RECALL WERE TO BE MADE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HEARD IT COST'S A LOT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.*JB

Air Bags

ODI #10096153

1 injury

Incident: October 20, 2004 · Filed: October 21, 2004

SIDE AIRBAG (PASSENGER) DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WITH A POTHOLE WITH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL

Visibility

ODI #10018676

Incident: May 13, 2003 · Filed: May 14, 2003

1998 VOLKSWAGEN GTI VR6. ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. SAW THIS SITE ON WWW.VWVORTEX.COM. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10014919

Filed: April 1, 2003

THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10014918

Filed: April 1, 2003

THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN. *JB

Service Brakes, Air; Air Bags; Equipment

ODI #10007904

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 21, 2002 · Filed: February 21, 2003

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; Unknown or Other

ODI #881242

Incident: February 22, 2001 · Filed: February 23, 2001

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

ODI #708280

Incident: June 20, 1999 · Filed: July 6, 1999

ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AND NEVER WENT *AK

Structure

ODI #609383

Incident: January 1, 1999 · Filed: February 1, 1999

DOOR PANELS CAME OFF. *YC

Service Brakes, Air

ODI #540271

Incident: July 25, 1998 · Filed: August 23, 1998

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. NOT SURE IF ABS IS WORKING DURING THIS TIME.

Other Volkswagen GTI model years

Check your 1998 Volkswagen GTI VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen GTI at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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