RoadVitals

1998 Volkswagen Jetta Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Nov 17, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 192 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT MADE A NOISE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST NEARLY $500. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING RACK WOULD MAKE A NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE MECHANIC ADDED STEERING FLUID AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL LEAK, WHICH WAS WORSENING. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE LEAK WAS $1,084.84. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

NHTSA ID
10249004
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Mileage
84,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 7, 2005

IT WAS RAINING. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON. WHITE SMOKE CAME UP FROM MY STEERING COLUMN FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. WHAT MAKES THIS PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING, THIS HAPPENED ON A 94 JETTA I ONCE OWNED. THIS HAPPENED ON A 96 JETTA MY SISTER OWNED. EVENTUALLY, SOMETHING IN THE STEERING COLUMN BURNED OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE BOTH PAID FOR THOSE TO BE REPLACED. NOW, YEARS LATER, I AM FACED WITH ANOTHER BURNING STEERING COLUMN. I HOPE TO FIND THAT VW IS OWNING UP TO POOR DESIGN, AND WHEN THIS ONE FINALLY BREAKS, THAT THEY FOOT THE BILL FOR THEIR FAILURE. REFERRED TO THIS SITE BY THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.SPORTCOMPACTRACING.COM/VBULLETIN/PRINTTHREAD.PHP?T=36741 I DID A QUICK YAHOO SEARCH TO FIND THAT THIS WAS NOT A JINX THAT HIT JUST MY FAMILY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10135662
Incident
Aug 18, 2005
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 12, 2002

BATTERY ACID LEAKED ON RESERVOIR CAUSING RESERVOIR TO LEAK FLUID, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016039
Incident
May 15, 2001
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed May 25, 2002

VOLKSWAGENH OF AMERICA HAS NOT BEEN SUPPORTIVE OR HELPFUL IN RESOLVING THESE COMPLAINTS NOR HAVE THE VOLKSWAGEN TECHNICIANS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSIS THE TRUE PROBLEM; THEY JUST FIX THE PROBLEM "SYMPTOMS". NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
762268
Incident
May 17, 2002
Steering
Filed Mar 26, 2001

SYSTEM THAT WARNS CONSUMER WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT STAYS ON SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
884138
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 23, 2001

BATTERY FAILED TO HAVE AN ACID RELEASE HOSE. ACID HAD DRIPPED ONTO POWER STEERING RESERVOIR & ATE THROUGH IT. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING FLUID, POWER STEERING, AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
884022
Incident
Feb 27, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 25, 2000

HORN UNCONTROLLABLY HONKS ON AND OFF. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN HAS A SPARKLING NOISE., AND A BURNING SMELL COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN . *AK

NHTSA ID
862568
Incident
Sep 2, 1999
Steering
Filed May 25, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
723191
Incident
May 21, 2000
Steering
Filed Oct 25, 1999

FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURES. TRUNK LID CAUSES ALARM TO BE TRIGGERED; SETTING OFF ALARM HORN AND LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID
713849
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 11, 1999

IF BATTERY IS OVERFILLED OR LEAKS AND DRIPS ONTO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR THE RESEVOIR WILL FAIL. THIS FAILURE IS CATASTROPHIC IN NATURE AND CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, VEHICLE CONTROL AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE LOSS OF FLUID OCCURED ON MY VEHICLE WITH ONLY 9 MONTHS OF SERVICE. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOT IMPACTED. THE DEALER SUPPORT AT RANDY HILEY VOLKSWAGEN IN ARLINGTON TEXAS WAS IMMEDIATE AND THOROUGH. AFTER DISCUSSION, VOLKSWAGEN REFUNDED ALL BUT THE TOWING CHARGES FOR THIS REPAIR THROUGH RANDY HILEY VOLKSWAGEN IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS. ON THE 1999 MODEL THE PART HAS BEEN MOVED FROM UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE 1ST TIME THIS FAILURE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT THEIR FRANCHISE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS REPAIR CURED THE IMMEDIATE SYMPTOM BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF ACID CONTACTS THIS COMPONENT AGAIN DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, LATER LIFE BATTERY CHANGEOUT ETC. THE PART IS STILL LOCATED BENEATH THE BATTERY. THE MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION IS UNCHANGED. CAN THIS PART BE REPLACED IN A RECALL WITH A MATERIAL THAT IS BETTER SUITED FOR CONTACT BY ACID?

NHTSA ID
704289
Incident
Feb 25, 1999
BrakesSteering
Filed Jan 19, 1999

1) WHEN THE STEERING FAILED IT COULD HAV E CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT 2) WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT. 3) WHEN THE OIL LIGHT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL THE MOTOR COULD HAVE LOCKED UP, CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT. I FIND THE ABOVE PROBLEMS VERY SERIOUS. I BOUGHT THE VW JETTA NEW 09/12/98 WITH 15 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THANK YOU BILL HAMANN.

NHTSA ID
700989
Incident
Sep 19, 1998
BrakesSteering
Filed Oct 28, 1998

THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID
542320
Incident
Jun 16, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .