FaultScore

1998 Volkswagen Jetta tire problems

20 of the 253 complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta are about the tires — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 18,000 miles.

C

20

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Tires 13 65.0%
Sidewall 4 20.0%
Tread/Belt 3 15.0%

Tires across every Volkswagen Jetta year

1998 20 40.8%
2002 15 30.6%
2011 14 28.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 1 miles Portangeles, WA

TIRES

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 complaint #10870589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburgh, PA

TIRES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10111335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles Elkins Park, PA

TIRES

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 complaint #10070704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,698 miles Latham, NY

TIRES

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

NHTSA complaint #10014507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Libertyville, IL

TIRES

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

NHTSA complaint #565802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Collierville, TN

TIRES:SIDEWALL

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 complaint #744653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rehoboth Beach, DE

TIRES

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 !

NHTSA complaint #749400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA

TIRES

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 complaint #744438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amsterdam, NY

TIRES

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 complaint #556623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mobile, AL

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

NHTSA complaint #554427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Derwood, MD

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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 complaint #732554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eastern, PA

TIRES

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 complaint #870876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alameda, CA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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 complaint #725735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mobile, AL

TIRES

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

NHTSA complaint #550717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winsted, CT

TIRES:SIDEWALL

TIRE SIDEWALLS CONTINUALLY LOOSING AIR DUE TO CRACKING. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winsted, CT

TIRES:SIDEWALL

TIRE SIDEWALLS CONTINUALLY LOOSING AIR DUE TO CRACKING. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OAK Park, CA

TIRES

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 complaint #715289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunland, CA

TIRES

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

NHTSA complaint #607383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glendora, CA

TIRES

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

NHTSA complaint #606741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flagstaff, AZ Crash 2 injured

TIRES:SIDEWALL

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 complaint #704402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Volkswagen Jetta problems

← Full 1998 Volkswagen Jetta report