Page 4 of 4 · complaints 151–171 of 171

1998 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 16, 1999FL

CONSUMER WAS AT STOP WHEN SHE WAS REARENDED AT POINT OF CONTACT, THE DRIVER SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN INJUIRES. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Pump
Filed Feb 9, 1999CT

FAILURE 1-POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE DOWN, NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN RESERVOIR. FAILURE 2-WHILE DRIVING OFF OF A HIGHWAY EXIT VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND COASTED TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BOLTS CAME OFF THE AXEL. ALSO, THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND FIXED. THE LEFT DRIVESHAFT FLANGE WAS ALSO REPLACED.

Power Train
Filed Feb 3, 1999TX

DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS WRONG PARTS BEING SENT FOR REPAIR; AS OF 2/3/1998 ODOMETER STILL NOT REPAIRED. *AK

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

RADIO/CD/CASSETTE UNIT FAILED.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

PASSENGER DOOR LOCK FAILED.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

BATTERY FAILED. NLM

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hatchback/Liftgate › Lock
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

REAR HATCH LOCK FAILED. NLM

Seats
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

PASSENGER CHAIR ADJUSTING KNOB CAME OFF. YH

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH OUT OF ORDER. YH

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

REAR LEFT WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN. YH

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. *YC

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

SPLASH GUARD FAILED. YH

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

MOTOR FOR ELECTRICAL MIRROR FAILED. YH

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

WINDOW GLASS MALFUNCTIONED. YH

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

RADIO FAILED. YH

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 25, 1999TX

HEADLAMP: I STATED TO MY DEALER THAT MY HEADLAMPS WERE NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED, DEALER FOUND LEFT HEADLAMP HAD NO POSSIBLE ADJUSTMENT, AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. FOG LIGHTS: FOG LAMPS WHEN SWITCHED ON, DON'T LIGHT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING, THEY COME ON SOMETIMES. *AK

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Nov 18, 1998IL

THE REAR WINDOW OR REAR HATCH GLASS IS SEVERLYDEFECTED SUCH THAT VIEWING THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR DIRECTLY THROUGH THE GLASS IS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRED. THE DEFECT CREATES A TERRIBLE DANGER ON RAINY NIGHTS WHEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO VIEW THROUGH THE WINDOW TRAFIC AS IT APPROACHES BECAUSE THE GLASS IS DEFORMED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT BLURRS THE HEADLIGHTS AND OR ENVIRONMENT LIGHTS SUCH AS; STREET LIGHTS. YOU ARE UNABLE TO JUDGE WHETHER THE OTHER CAR IS GOING TO PASS OR WILL BE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT A COLLISION.

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Nov 12, 1998IL

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER CLAIMED THE CAUSE TO BE A FAULTY WIRING IN THE MOTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 29, 1998MA

THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING OIL. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. *AK

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 13, 1998CA

CENTER CONSOLE REPLACED DUE TO BLISTERING.

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed May 19, 1998IN

RECALL # 98V100000 VW/ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING. OWNER UNABLE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER NOT SURE WHEN PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle → · Every Beetle year → · How the figures are calculated →