3.8

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Volkswagen Golf electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Volkswagen Golf Owner Comments

problem #4

Dec 182004

Golf

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Palm Springs, CA, USA

problem #3

Jan 152003

Golf 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 57,000 miles
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.

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

problem #2

Nov 112001

Golf

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Headlights go out intermittently while driving. Mechanic determined a faulty ignition switch was the cause.

- Fort, FL, USA

problem #1

Dec 112000

Golf

  • miles
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.

- Lady Lake, FL, USA

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