1998 Volkswagen Jetta Other / unspecified Problems

LATE IN APRIL, 2013 I INSTALLED A PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM ON A 1998 VW JETTA TDI. THE CONTROL ARM WAS PURCHASED FROM AUTOZONE ( THEIR PART # 520-782) AS AN ASSEMBLY WITH THE BALL JOINT INSTALLED. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THEN WHILE DRIVING IT BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. ON EXAMINATION, 2 OF THE 3 BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM WERE MISSING, AND THE THIRD WAS EASILY REMOVED BY FINGER. WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED ALL 3 WERE IN PLACE. THE ONE BOLT REMAINING DID NOT HAVE ANY LOCKING COMPOUND, NOR DID IT HAVE A MECHANICAL LOCKING DEVICE, SUCH AS A LOCK WASHER OR LOCK NUT. I INSTALLED 3 HARDENED BOLTS WITH LOCKING COMPOUND, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE FOR THE PAST 5 DAYS. IF THE THIRD BOLT HAD FALLEN OUT, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, AND THE PROBABLE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511820

Incident

May 8, 2013

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AND SUSTAINED A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND THE JACK BROKE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE JACK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD BE THE CONTACTS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE IT. THE JACK WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10373468

Incident

Dec 17, 2010

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SEPARATED. THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS, SPINDLES, SPEED SENSOR, RING, AND DRUM. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. AS OF AUGUST 21, 2007, THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS MODELS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,022 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,612.

NHTSA ID

10200262

Incident

Mar 30, 2005

Mileage

101,612 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CROSSED THE HIGHWAY AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR BODY DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY, BRAKES, RIM AND TIRE WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.*AK UPDATED 7/13/2006 - THE BEARING ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WORN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160152

Incident

Jun 11, 2006

Mileage

156,000 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPPERATE PROPERLY. I HAD THE REGULATOR REPLACED. A YEAR LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED. THAT REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. A YEAR LATER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FAILED AGAIN. BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED, THE REAR DIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED AS WELL. BOTH REGULATORS ARE BEING REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF THESE REPAIRS WILL BE OVER $2000. I FIND IT APPALLING THAT THE SAME PROBLEM CAN OCCUR MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VW VEHICLES AND YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT IT - BE IT A DESIGN FLAW, MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, ETC. FAILED REGULATORS ARE BOTH A SAFETY AND SECURITY PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT NHTSA TAKES THESE COMPLAINTS SERIOUSLY AND INVESTIGATES THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154541

Incident

Apr 4, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE POWER WINDOWS ON MY 1998 VW JETTA III FAILED. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS OCCASION 4 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD MY CAR. CURRENTLY BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE POWERS WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. I HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPAIRED SINCE ITS A VERY EXPENSIVE RAPAIR. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF 1998 VOLKSWAGON JETTA OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE VOLKSWAGON DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TYPE OF CAR I HAVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098262

Incident

Nov 3, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE LOCKING LUG NUTS END PIECES ON MY 98 JETTA BROKE OFF ON ROUTINE TIRE ROTATIONS. THE DEALER WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO REMOVE THE LUGNUTS UNTIL HE REMOVED THE WHOLE WHEEL ASSY AND WELDED TOOLS ONTO THE LUGNUTS. I HAVE THE WELDED-ON TOOLS WITH THE LUGNUTS - TOTAL COST WAS 600.00. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELLING I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE TO JUST CHANGE A TIRE. WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL? THE DEALERS IN GERMANY SAID THEY RECALLED THE GERMAN MODELS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055130

Incident

Aug 13, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING RIGHT REAR WHEEL LUGS:NUTS CAME OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. DEALER STATED THAT WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038197

Incident

Sep 4, 2003

"ORLEANS" MODEL WHEELS HAVE FAILED TWICE. WHEELS APPEAR TO BE SOFT AND EASILY DEFORMED. WHEELS CRACK AFTER BENDING WHICH RESULTS IN A FLAT TIRE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS TAKEN THE ORLEANS WHEEL OFF OF THE PARTS LIST SO THAT REPLACEMENT WHEELS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. LOCAL PARTS CLERK HAS ADVISED THAT A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND REPLACEMENT ACTIVITY WERE OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE VW GERMANY DECISION TO NO LONGER SUPPLY THE WHEELS. THE WHEELS WERE OPTIONAL ON THE 97 PASSAT AND THE 98 JETTA AND GOLF. SINCE OWNERS HAVE BEEN ABANDONED WITHOUT SPARES FOR SOME REASON, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEELS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE AS THE WHEELS FAIL. WHEELS. *AK

NHTSA ID

732742

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

THE SKI RACKS INSTALLED BY A DEALER CAME OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE SNOW BOARDS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. YH

NHTSA ID

552576

Incident

Feb 16, 1998