1998 Volkswagen Passat: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 476 complaints
476
Total Complaints
80,000mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

62,520 25th Percentile
80,000 Median Mileage
97,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
28
SUSPENSION:FRONT
28
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
22
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
22
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
21
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
11
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
11
SEATS
9

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
6
Fires
12
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WARNING LAMP PERMANENTLY ON INDICATING AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED."
"CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM - REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR MALFUNCTION."
"AUTOMATIC LOCKING RESTRAINT, DESIGNED TO HOLD CHILD SEATS FIRMLY, CAUSES BRUISES TO PASSENGERS BECAUSE IT TIGHTENS UNTIL IT NEARLY SUFFOCATES THE PASSENGER."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28