Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Volkswagen Golf, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system5
- Power train4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Exterior lighting2
- Equipment2
- Visibility2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Tires1
- Seats1
- Wheels1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1998 Volkswagen Golf cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp), 1.4 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp) and 1.8 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp), out of 11 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 686 |
| 1.4 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 309 |
| 1.8 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 272 |
| 1.8 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 177 |
| 1.8 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 146 |
| 1.8 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 132 |
| 2.3 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 89 |
| 1.9 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 77 |
| 2.0 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 52 |
| 1.9 diesel | 81 kW 109 hp | 31 |
| 1.9 diesel | 50 kW 67 hp | 27 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
2,070 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 18% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €25,049.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1,028
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde885
- Band onvoldoende profiel460
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm404
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld386
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect318
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse305
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan269
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
808 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 3,102 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,505 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 57% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.8% | 16.0% |
| Suspension | 15.9% | 12.4% |
| Brakes | 13.2% | 11.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 11.7% | 7.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 6.6% | 6.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
730 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 254,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
145 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 84% arrived as used imports, 13% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 10.1–10.7 L/100 km (about 22–23 mpg US), CO₂ 232–246 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf/GTI · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.3 | 10.1 |
| Golf/GTI · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 8.9 | 10.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L VR6 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE PUBLISHED ON THE LABEL FOR TIRES OF THE SIZE 205/50 R15 86H IS 0.1 BAR (1.45 PSI) TOO LOW. IT SHOULD BE 2.5 BAR (36.3 PSI). THE LABEL RECOMMENDS 2.4 BAR (34.8 PSI = 35 PSI).
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 1998 Volkswagen Golf: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621613 | SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT |
| 618423 | SUBJECT REGARDING SUNROOF BINDING OR NOISY DUE TO BROKEN SLIDE(S). *TT |
| 610177 | CONCERNS WITH TRANSMISSION IN LIMP MODE WITH NO MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED. *TT |
| 607991 | THIS BULLETIN INCLUDES NEW INFORMATION ON WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 603349 | SUBJECT ON RADIO REMOTE CONTROL LOCKING SYSTEM. *YC |
| 601874 | SUBJECT ON RADIO CODE RETRIEVAL PROCEDURES. *YC |
| 601519 | INSTALLING AND REMOVING EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TRANSPARENT FILM. *YC |
| 601518 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING ANY AFTERMARKET RADIO. *YC |
| 54060 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO POWER SUNROOF CONVENIENCE CLOSE FEATURE, FUNCTION CHANGE. *AK |
| 54055 | PROGRAMMING/REPROGRAMMING ON REMOTE LOCKING/ALARM SYSTEM TRANSMITTERS. *YC |
| 10243011 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242996 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242349 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10241340 | Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard VW 502 00/505 00/505 01 and VW 504 00/507 00 |
| 10241266 | Squeaks, Rattles, Noise, Repair Materials |
| 10241265 | Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults |
| 10241177 | Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards |
| 10239831 | Battery, Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161, MCR340V, InCharge 940, or GRX3000 Charger |
| 10239789 | To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine running and heated rear window switched on. Switch OFF the ignition and visually locate the damage. Proceed with checking any other lines as necessary. Once the damaged line is identified, repair utilizing the Repair kit by Permatex ITEM 09117. |
| 10239592 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10239591 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10239590 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10239541 | Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the Refrigerant Circuit (U.S.Only) |
| 10239531 | HVAC, Temperature Output Control Cannot Be Adjusted |
| 10238572 | Fault code P1297 may be set and fuel mixtures may go lean if the vehicle is driven under load or revved up and then returned to idle. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)