13 of the
253 complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta are about the
steering — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
94,500 miles.
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 complaint #10249004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesMoon Township, PA
STEERING:COLUMN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10135662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Littleriver, SC
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
BATTERY ACID LEAKED ON RESERVOIR CAUSING RESERVOIR TO LEAK FLUID, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING.DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #8016039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fulton, NY
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
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.
NHTSA complaint #762268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reding, CA
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
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.
NHTSA complaint #884138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Emmans, PA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
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 complaint #884022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Takoma Park, MD
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #723191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Patchogue, NY
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
HORN UNCONTROLLABLY HONKS ON AND OFF. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN HAS A SPARKLING NOISE., AND A BURNING SMELL COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN .
NHTSA complaint #862568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poquoson, VA
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURES. TRUNK LID CAUSES ALARM TO BE TRIGGERED; SETTING OFF ALARM HORN AND LIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #713849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, TX
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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 complaint #704289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corvallis, OR
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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 complaint #700989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #542320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #542320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.