10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,558 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #9

Nov 202006

Passat 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 91,000 miles
While starting off from a standstill, I heard a popping sound and I flew backwards in my seat. Apparently the seat frame mechanism for my drivers seat failed. The metal of the frame, as it was designed and manufactured, failed from metal fatigue. When it did, there was nothing holding the front of the seat to the floor board. I flew into the back seat, my hands were ripped from the wheel, and I could no longer reach the pedals. I struggled to maneuver myself back into a position where I could regain control of my car. Thankfully, it was very early in the morning, and there were no other vehicles or pedestrians located close to my car. As of this point, nothing has been done to fix the car.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #8

May 282005

Passat 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 85,020 miles
The driver's seat came loose while driving and the seat flipped backwards causing me to lose control of the car.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #7

Jan 152003

Passat 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The seat broke from the base. The consumer had lost complete control of the vehicle. The consumer requested reimbursement for all of the monies spent on repairs/other charges for the incident. Scc

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #6

Jun 012001

Passat

  • miles
Driver's seat failed.

- Pacific Grove, CA, USA

problem #5

Nov 281999

Passat

  • miles
Consumer states after ajusting the height of the driver seat, it would come down while driving.the dealer and manufacturer were notified. Nlm

- Santa Anna, CA, USA

problem #4

Jun 012001

Passat

  • miles
Driver's seat failed.

- Pacific Grove, CA, USA

problem #3

Oct 092001

(reported on)

Passat

  • miles
Driver's seat rocks and moves while car is moving. Manufacturing company says that there is nothing wrong with this and that its "normal". this is not normal and its dangerous. It becomes very easy to lose control of the car while it is moving! the ntsb board has a number of similar complaints by other drivers, so I am not the only one. This needs the company's immediate attention and correction. It shouldn't do this for any reason.

- Pacific Grove, CA, USA

problem #2

Feb 121998

Passat

  • miles
The right front seats would rock whenever vehicle is turning corners or curbs. This also happens when coming to or leaving a stop sign or light. Contacted manufacturer & nothing could be or would be done. Sun roof would open & close on its own. Would have no warning. The rear window looked like it had acid rain on it when bought. Been to dealer & mechanic removed seat & replaced it. No problem found. Checking on other problems.

- Graham, NC, USA

problem #1

Oct 011998

Passat

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Front seat failure causing it to move back and forth while applying the brakes or accelerating making a popping noise.

- Brookline, MA, USA