RoadVitals

1998 Volkswagen Passat Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
17
Latest Oct 1, 2017
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 331 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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 fuel system

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

Fuel system
Filed Oct 1, 2017

DRIVING BACK HOME FROM STORE AND CAR JUST DIED OUT THAN SMELT LIKE GAS.

NHTSA ID
11030747
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
12,800 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 22, 2014

CABIN SMELLS LIKE FUMES FOR STARTERS AN GAS GAUGE IS OFF CAR SAYS IT HAS QUARTER OF A TANK AN THAN I RUN OUT OF GAS ALMOST HAD A ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ! ALSO CAR HAS TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IF IT SITS FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS BATTERY DIES BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS MY FUEL GAUGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615211
Incident
Jul 10, 2014
Mileage
223,434 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 24, 2005

' RECALL CAMPAIGN' ISSUED TO INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO AUTHORIZED DEALERS IN THE AREA. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10113635
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2004

PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.*MR CUSTOMER CARE INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN COULD NOT BE PERFORMED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE PARTS AND REPAIR TECHNICIANS WERE NOT OBTAINABLE BY ANY DEALERSHIPS OUTSIDE THE U.S. *JB

NHTSA ID
10079877
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Feb 18, 2002

FUEL GUAGE INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYS INCORRECT LEVELS. FOR INSTANCE, WILL ONLY SHOW 3/4 FULL AFTER FILLUP. ALSO, WILL SPORATICLY JUMP BETWEEN 1/4 FULL AND FULL ON OCCASION. DEALER STATES "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. HAVE ALMOST RUNOUT OF GAS ON 4 OCCASIONS DUE TO PROBLEM. HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PASSAT OWNERS, AND MANY REPORT SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. CONCERENED ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AND BEING STRANDED OR, MORE SERIOUSLY, FIRE HAZARD. PROBLEM FIRST STARTED TO OCCUR AROUND 45K MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
758391
Incident
Feb 2, 2002
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Feb 7, 2001

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISE, THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKES WERE OK, AT 22K MILES CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. NLM

NHTSA ID
559528
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 17, 2001

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO POWER STEERING LEAKING FLUID THROUGH IT. ALSO ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. FUEL TANK HAD COLLAPSED & WAS NOT ACCEPTING ANY FUEL. *AK

NHTSA ID
878358
Incident
Sep 18, 2000
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Nov 9, 2000

REPLACED COLLASPED FILLER NECK. *CJ

NHTSA ID
557398
Incident
Aug 27, 1998
BrakesFuel systemSteering+1 more
Filed Oct 24, 2000

THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THE DEALER FILED THE BRAKES AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY, THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
556846
Incident
Mar 3, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Sep 19, 2000

FUEL GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL. FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL OF 99 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT SITUATION.*AK THE CAUSE COULD BE A LOOSE WIRE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER. *YH

NHTSA ID
870899
Incident
Mar 26, 1999
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system+4 more
Filed Feb 7, 2000

LOOSE SHIFTER CAUSING SPORADIC SHIFTING FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION CONTROL. NLM

NHTSA ID
550756
Incident
Aug 6, 1998
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Dec 16, 1999

BRAKE BOOSTER, INTAKE AIR SCREEN AND TIE ROD END UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER RECALLS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NLM (98V-134,99V-131, 99V-248)

NHTSA ID
550095
Fuel system
Filed Aug 26, 1999

GAS FLOWED OUT OF TANK AFTER FILL UP CREATING FIRE HAZARD

NHTSA ID
710574
Incident
Aug 23, 1999
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Jun 11, 1999

VEHICLE WAS STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND A LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED. ALSO. THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE OF FAULTY WIRING. *AK

NHTSA ID
839467
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 1999

BODY INTAKE VALVE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
608802
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 1999

GAS TANK FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
608738
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Jun 19, 1998

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CONTINUALLY BE EXPERIENCED.

NHTSA ID
536959
Incident
Jun 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

Brakes90Suspension90Steering52Engine40Visibility27Electrical26Interior & seats19Transmission11Airbags8Body & structure8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .