Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1998 Volkswagen Jetta Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls — runs 3.3× the fleet median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.
192Complaints
3Recalls
11Crashes
8Fires
10Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls (17.2% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls complaints here are 3.3× the median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.
None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 33 · 17.2% | No official action | — |
| Tires | 13 · 6.8% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:ignition:switch | 8 · 4.2% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 · 4.2% | Investigation closed | EA00028 → recall 02V026000 · PE00033 |
| Electrical System | 7 · 3.6% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 7 · 3.6% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 192 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 3 campaigns
Equipment:other:labels
NHTSA campaign 03V156000 · 2003 · reported 04/23/2003
UNDER INFLATED TIRES CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING, AND DRIVING WITH SUBSTANTIALY UNDER INFLATED TIRES PUTS THE CONSUMER AT A RISK FOR A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
NHTSA campaign 02V026000 · 2002 · reported 01/25/2002
FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“TWO OF THE WINDOWS ON MY 98 JETTA HAVE GONE OUT. MANY OF MY FRIENDS WHO ALSO DRIVE JETTA'S HAD THEIR WINDOWS GO OUT ALSO.”NHTSA complaint 10010787 — filed 03/20/2003 · VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
“PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AT 20,000 MILES AND JUST RECENTLY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED BY CABLE IN MOTOR SNAPPING”NHTSA complaint 10005239 — filed 02/04/2003 · VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
“WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES, BUT THE REMEDY IS NOT WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.”NHTSA complaint 8012116 — filed 06/19/2002 · VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta?
Visibility:power window devices and controls issues are the most-reported category, cited in 33 of 192 NHTSA complaints (17.2%), followed by tires (13), unspecified/other issues (10), electrical system:ignition:switch (8). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta have?
192 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 11 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, and 10 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta's reported problems?
0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
