Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Volkswagen Passat
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Volkswagen Passat has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 330 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V026000 VW/FILLER NECK/TIRE ABRASION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V248000 VW/TIE RODS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V131001 VW/BRAKE BOOSTER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V134000 VW/INTAKE AIR SCREEN NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 90 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 65 complaints
- Steering 47 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 39 complaints
- Electrical System 25 complaints
- Visibility 25 complaints
Of the 330 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 330 complaints, owners report 12 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$6,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Volkswagen Passat shows a below-average reliability with 330 complaints and 5 recalls. Notable issues include suspension, brakes, and steering. Data is sufficiently broad to highlight concerns but lacks specific mileage and cost metrics for high certainty.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 75,000–100,000 miles | $400–$800 | very common |
| service brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| steering linkage | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$900 | common |
| fuel system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $200–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Suspension inspection
- Transmission service
- Brake pad replacement
- Tire rotation and balance
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Uneven suspension wear
- Steering play or noise
- Brake pedal vibration
- Fuel smell near cap
- Engine overheating
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.