1998 Volkswagen Golf Problems & Complaints

HEADLIGHTS AND AC INTERMITTENTLY WENT OFF COMPLETELY AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT DIDN'T GO AWAY ON DASHBOARD; MECHANIC DETERMINED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THAN 40 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

ELECTRICAL DEFECT: WHEN TURNING IGNITION ON AND ENGINE RUNNING, I EXPERIENCE A TOTAL LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, A/C FAN MOTOR, DEFROSTER, DRL, FOG LAMPS, REAR-WINDOW DEFOGGER, AND HEATER. (ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CONTINUE FUNCTIONING.) SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHERE EVERYTHING FUNCTIONS; MOST OF THE TIME NONE OF THESE UNITS FUNCTION ELECTRICALLY. ADDITIONAL NOTE: THE "BRAKE" LAMP GLOWS ON IN THE DASH WHEN THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OCCURS. (EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED.) CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. VOLKSWAGON WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE CAUSES SWITCHED DEVICES TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE DEVICES I HAVE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIED THAT LOOSE POWER ARE: HEADLIGHTS, DRL, ABS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR FAN, FOG LIGHTS. WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, IT IS POSIBLE TO ROTATE IT SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AND TURN THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEVICES OFF WHILE THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN. THIS CAN EASILY HAPPEN (AND DOES HAPPEN) WHILE DRIVING. SEARCHING YOUR DATABASE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS WHICH PROBABLY USE THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH REVEALS 15 SWITCH FAILURES (865957, 897162, 876280, 899086, 608861, 609016, 758101, 888070, 8014837, 733016, 607392, 8021547, 869601, 750653, 743422) AND 5 POSSIBLE SWITCH FAILURES (733430, 9002207, 861456, 754763, 750545). THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS RECURRANT ENOUGH BY MEMBERS OF WWW.VR6.ORG FOR ONE MEMBER TO ISSUE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I FEEL THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AS HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS TURN COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING (INCLUDING DRL'S) RENDERING THE DRIVER BLIND AT NIGHT. IF FAILURE OCCURS DURRING DAYLIGHT, THE FAILURE IS NOT AS OBVIOUS BUT RENDERS THE ABS SYSTEM DISABLED AND COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL IF REQUIRED TO STOP QUICKLY WHILE THINKING THE CAR IS EQUIPTED WITH AN ABS SYSTEM. VOLKSWAGON USA HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THIS VIA THEIR WEBSITE AND I AM WAITING FOR A REPLY. OTHER MEMBERS OF WWW.VR6.ORG AND SIMILAR SITES ARE BEIGN ENCOURAGED TO FILE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TWICE DUE TO A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *YH

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC DETERMINED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE. *AK

WHEELS WERE BONDED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FAILURE OF BREATHER VALVE AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, REPAIRED BY PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT GOT A KIT TO REPLACE POORLY DESIGNED UNIT WICH HAS A DEALER BUY BACK # 0444294 , VOLKSWAGEN SAID THERE WAS NO SUCH KIT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND NO RECALL I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND HAVE RECIEVED NO AID FROM VOLKSWAGEN

FAILURE OF BREATHER VALVE AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, REPAIRED BY PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT GOT A KIT TO REPLACE POORLY DESIGNED UNIT WICH HAS A DEALER BUY BACK # 0444294 , VOLKSWAGEN SAID THERE WAS NO SUCH KIT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND NO RECALL I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND HAVE RECIEVED NO AID FROM VOLKSWAGEN

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER WATER ON ROAD WATER GOES INTO AIR INTAKE AND ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HYDRO SEAL. PLEASE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

LIGHT ON HER DASHBOARD CAME ON FOR FRONTAL AIR BAGS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONTAL AIR BAG (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED - REASON UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER IT DOES NOT COME ON, AND SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS BINDING. LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED INTO 3RD GEAR WITH OUT WARNING. THIS HAS CAUSED A LACK PERFORMANCE. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CAR NOT ACELERATING AS EXPECTED.

THE "VOLKSWAGEN CERTIFIED" DEALERSHIP WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. ALL THE LISTED PROBLEMS I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM REPEATEDLY, AND IT WOULD NORMALLY TAKE 3-5 VISITS FOR THE ITEM TO GET FIXED. I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO LIST ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEAKER PANEL, CLUTCH, AND FENDERS GETTING FLEXED. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN, OR GO TO THE DEALERSHIP EVER AGAIN. *AK

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON REGULAR ROAD CONDITIONS, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TIRE FAILURE. (ENERGY MICHELIN - MXV4 PLUS - XSE 203/55 R16 91H MXS) *YC

REAR BLINKER FAILED.

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD RESTRAINTS. HEAD REST DROPS DOWN WITH A HEAVY IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN PULLING OUT THE RPMS REACHED UP TO 40,000 BEFORE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED TO THE NEXT GEAR AND THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK