RoadVitals

1998 Volkswagen Jetta Tires & wheels Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the tire or wheel system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Tires & wheels 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.
20
Latest May 24, 2016
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.
10%
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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system. 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. 20 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 tire or wheel

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

Tires & wheels
Filed May 24, 2016

TO YO PROXIES FOUR INNER IM ASSUMING TIRE BANDS? FAILED CAUSING A BULGE ON THE INER PART OF MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. NEVER STRUCK ANY OBJECT I WAS JUST DRIVING AND STARTED TO NOTICE A WOBBLE I THOUGHT IT WAS A FRONT END ISSUE SO DIDN'T CHECK TIRE BUT HAD FRONT END LOOKED AT AND TIRE STILL WASN'T NOTICED BECAUSE OF THE PLACEMENT OF FAILURE WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOWEVER NOW IS VERY APPARENT. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT SHOCKS ON 98 VW JETTA AS WELL AS FRONT END BUSHINGS AND PASSENGER A ARM

NHTSA ID
10870589
Incident
Apr 15, 2016
Mileage
1 mi
ElectricalFuel systemTires & wheels
Filed Feb 10, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10111335
Incident
Oct 10, 2004
Body & structureTires & wheelsVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PAIN IN THE A-- ALMOST SINCE PURCHASE. THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS HAVE INVOLVED WHAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE WIRING WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. THESE HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENCE CITED ABOVE,TO THE TUNE OF $250, THE LAST TIME BEING 6 MONTHS AGO. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A NEW MOTOR ASSEMBLY TO THE TUNE OF $650 PARTS AND LABOR! OTHER ASSORTED DOOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN: DOOR MOLDINGS FALLING OFF (THIS MUST BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH '98 JETTAS, BECAUSE I'VE NOTICED THAT MOST OF THOSE THAT I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE MISSING MOLDINGS). BOTH FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER AFTER AN INAPPROPIATELY SHORT USAGE. MUCH LOWER GAS MILEAGE THAT ORIGINALLY PROMISED. MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS STARTED WELL WITHIN WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
10070704
Incident
Jan 15, 2000
Mileage
18,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 17, 2003

I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN I HEARD A CRASH AND MY CAR STOPPED MOVING. THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD FALLEN OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014507
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
74,698 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed May 17, 2002

WHILE DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT FENDER (NO TIRE INFORMATION MENTIONED), OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TT

NHTSA ID
565802
Incident
Mar 30, 2002
Tires & wheelsVisibility
Filed Aug 31, 2001

FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRE FAILED, P185/70R14, DOT NUMBER VDRVA1B, CLAIM 11-3689-056. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900301
Incident
Aug 10, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 29, 2001

MY MOTHER TOOK HER 1998'JETTA TO THE DOVER VW DEALERSHIP FOR THE LAST WARRANTY SERVICE AT 24,000 MILES. AS SHE WAS LEAVING (GETTING INTO HER CAR) THEY SAID THEY WERE ORDERING 4-NEW TIRES FOR HER (I GUESS THEY FORGOT ABOUT THE FULL SIZE SPARE IN THE TRUNK) THEY TOLD HER THAT GOOD YEAR (NOT VW WAS DOING A RECALL ON THESE TIRES) AND TO ALLOW 3 MONTHS, YES 3 MONTHS FOR THE NEW ONES. THEY TOLD HER THEY WERE NOT WEARING CORRECTLY, BUT HTERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE DANGER - THEY WERE OK TO DRIVE, AND THEY WOULD BE COVERED AT 100 %. NOW WE ARE BOTH VW OWNERS, WE BOTH RECEIVED SEPERATE LETTERS FROM VW, REMINDING OWNERS TO CHECK THE AIR PRESSURE IN THERI TIRES, AND MAINTAIN THEM CORRECTLY - BUT NO MENTION, THAT IF YOU HAD GOOD YEAR TIRES ON YOUR VW, FOR MODEL YEARS, X,Y,Z, THAT YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR DEALERSHIP. I THINK IT HORRIBLE THAT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS (HIT OR MISS) IF A CUSTOMER HAPPENS IN, AND THEY HAVE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES, THAT AT THAT POINT, THEY SAY, WELL VW ISN;T DOING THE RECALL, GOOD YEAR IS, AND VW DOES'NT KNOW WHAT CARS HAVE GOOD YEARS, OR CONTINENTAL, OR WHAT EVER. SEEMS THAT IF VW (AND I DON'T MEAN THE MAINTENANCE REMINDER LETTERS THE LOCAL DEALER SEND OUT TO SERVICE YOUR CAR) THAT IF THEY WERE GOING TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THEY SHOULD MAINTAIN THEIR TIRES, THAT CERTAINLY THEY WOULD BE AWARE OF GOOD YEARS TIRE PROBLEMS (RECALL) AND COULD'VE ADDED VERBIAGE TO SAY, IF YOU HAVE THESE TIRES, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEALERSHIP, OF GOOD YEAR. VW DID A HALF WAY JOB HEAR IN MY OPINION. I HOPE THE WORD GETS OUT TO OTHER OWNERS FOR THEIR SAFETY AND FOR THEIR MANUFACTURER'S REPLACEMENT FREE OF CHARGE !*AK

NHTSA ID
749400
Incident
Jul 27, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 27, 2001

OUT OF 3 NEW TIRES, 1 COMPLETE BLOWOUT ON INTERSTATE, 2 REPL. SDWL LEAKS. VALVE STEM REPLACEMENT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: MDULJPHR09 TIRESIZE: 205/50R15)

NHTSA ID
744653
Incident
Nov 14, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 24, 2001

BLOWOUT OF LEFT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT. FIRST OCCURRED 0800 21 APR 01 ON INTERSTATA 64 WEST NEAR RICHMOND VA. SECOND LATER THAT SAME DAY ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTH NORTH OF RICHMOND. IN BOTH CASES BELT SEPARATION OCCURRED. NO PUNCTURE. HOLES IN SIDEWALL. I TOOK THE ONE TIRE I SAVED TO A GOODYEAR DEALER AND HE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE HAD A DEFECT RESULTING IN BELT SEPARATION. WEAR ON THE TIRE EVEN THO IT HAD 50000 MILES WAS OVER 20% TREAD LEFT. I WOULD NEVER HAVE EXPECTED TWO BLOWOUTS IN ONE DAY PARTICULARLY WITH THE TREAD AS GOOD AS IT APPEARED. THE TIRES WERE STATE INSPECTED IN LATE JANUARY.*AK (TIRESIZE: 195/60/R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/60/R14 )

NHTSA ID
744438
Incident
Apr 21, 2001
Fuel systemTires & wheels
Filed Oct 31, 2000

THE ORIGINAL GOODYEAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE CONSTANTLY LOSING AIR, TWO TIRES EVENTUALLY WENT FLAT, ONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT AND THE FOURTH TIRE EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATION. *MJS

NHTSA ID
556623
Incident
Jul 11, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 26, 2000

BELTS SEPARATING TO THE EXTENT THAT THE TIRE WENT FLAT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE STILL HAD 5/16THS TREAD DEPTH AND SO HAD LOTS OF LIFE LEFT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJDR TIRE SIZE: 195/60 R14 )

NHTSA ID
732554
Incident
Aug 29, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 19, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A BLOWOUT ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. TIRE SIZE 19560R14. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, VOLKSWAGEN, JETTA. TIRE MILEAGE 23,000. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SECOND BLOWOUT, THE RIGHT REAR GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRE FAILED, THE DOT #MKHCFJDR457. *SLC

NHTSA ID
870876
Incident
Apr 8, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 11, 2000

GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES EXPERIENCED THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE HANGING ON TO THE TREAD BY STRANDS OF STEEL. *SLC

NHTSA ID
554427
Fuel systemTires & wheels
Filed Jul 20, 2000

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT FREEWAY SPEED. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP THE TIRE RUBBED AGAINST THE FUEL TANK THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WORE A LARGE HOLE IN THE TANK. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE/EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE. POOR DESIGN OF THE PUTTING THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK SO CLOSE TO THE TIRE. VOLKSWAGEN CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POOR DESIGN. NEW MODEL VW JETTA DOES NOT HAVE SAME DESIGN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: MKHC TIRE SIZE: 195/60HR14 )

NHTSA ID
725735
Incident
Jul 9, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 4, 2000

ORIGINAL GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, REAR LEFT AND REAR RIGHT TIRES BLEW OFF WHILE ON THE ROAD. YH

NHTSA ID
550717
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 26, 1999

2ND BLOW-OUT ON RELATIVELY NEW CAR, BOTH W/GOODYEAR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES, ONLY ONE PRIOR BLOW-OUT IN OVER 400,000 MILES AND 42 YRS OF DRIVING( DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJDR37 TIRE SIZE: HR1956014 )

NHTSA ID
715289
Incident
Nov 26, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 12, 1999

TIRE SIDEWALLS CONTINUALLY LOOSING AIR DUE TO CRACKING. MJS

NHTSA ID
549486
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 13, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TIRE HAD A SIDEWALL SEPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT; THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW TWICE, ON THE STOCK TIRES, FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK, HOWEVER TWO TIMES SEEMS TO BE FISHY. THE TIRES HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. I AM INTERESTED TO FIND OUT IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE.( DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJDR19 TIRE SIZE: 195/60R14 )

NHTSA ID
704402
Incident
Mar 7, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 1, 1999

GOOD YEAR TIRE (195/60 R 14) BLEW OUT COMPLETELY, ONLY 1/8" OF RUBBER LEFT ON RIM. YH

NHTSA ID
607383
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 1, 1999

TIRE FAILED. YH (195/60R14 H.R-4)

NHTSA ID
606741
Incident
May 1, 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 .