Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Suspension 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.
9
Latest May 13, 2013
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.
5%
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.
3
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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 9 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 suspension
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed May 13, 2013
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
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
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 19, 2006
Crash reported
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
Suspension
Filed Apr 22, 2004
SWAY BAR WAS PUT IN UPSIDE DOWN, OBVIOUS DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ID
10067665
Incident
Apr 15, 2004
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Sep 4, 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
Suspension
Filed May 23, 2003
THE SUSPENSION STRUT SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER REDESIGNED THE SUSPENSION STRUT BUT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS CHANGE. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10020511
Incident
May 23, 2003
Suspension
Filed Apr 13, 2001
Crash reportedFire reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, FRONT END CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
NHTSA ID
885840
Incident
Apr 11, 2001
Suspension
Filed Jan 31, 2001
WHILE DRIVING HEARD POPPING SOUND AND STEERING WHEEL MOVED UP, LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT CONTROL ARMS WERE BACK ORDERED NATION WIDE. *YH
NHTSA ID
879499
Incident
Jan 30, 2001
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 4, 2000
CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END NOISE, HEAT SHIELD LOOSE AND MUFFLER CENTER CLAMP LOOSE, HOWEVER AFTER REPAIRS NOISE PERSISTED. *MJS
NHTSA ID
550253
Incident
Aug 18, 1999
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