1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R 1998

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1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R repairs by problem area

Engine (52%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (16%)

Brakes and Traction Control (8%)

Suspension and Steering (12%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (12%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (0%)

Other (0%)

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Chart based on 25 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R.

1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (9%)

$500 - $999 (13%)

$100 - $499 (35%)

< $100 (43%)

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Chart based on 23 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel manual 2WD

Volkswagen in Missouri, United States
Oct 2010 - Jun 2018
Nov 2010

366000 mi

US $35
Replaced rear wheel bearings.  Replaced CV joint boot. 
Jan 2012

US $100
Replaced master cylinder. 
Oct 2012

425000 mi

US $45
Replaced ball joints. 
Nov 2012

425200 mi
Replaced glow plugs. 

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1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R 4-door

4-cylinder manual 2WD

Volkswagen in Ghana
Sep 2010 - Jan 2012
Oct 2010

127720 mi
Engine fails when vehicle comes to a stop. Noise in the tensioner pulley 
Apr 2011

128640 mi

$600
Engine lost significant amount of power to take on air condition and other elements of vehicle. 
Jun 2011

130200 mi
Overhaul of engine 
Jan 2012

136400 mi

$1300
loss of power. 
Volkswagen in Texas, United States
Jan 2011 - Mar 2011
Mar 2011

176000 mi

US $387
The water pump broke and had to be replaced. 
Volkswagen in Georgia, United States
Dec 2008 - Jun 2013
Jan 2009

155000 mi

US $50
Anti-theft on the frizz. Alarm would go off even if the key was used. EXPENSIVE repair from dealer, so I bypassed the alarm, which cannot be done according to the dealer, but an internet search helped me solve the problem without spending $500 dollars. 
Mar 2011

172000 mi

US $167
CV shaft seal leaking. Parts ordered and replaced. Good to go 
Sep 2012

181000 mi

US $100
Replaced heater core, the dash had to come competely out. 
Volkswagen in New York, United States
Aug 2010 - Feb 2011
Oct 2010

149000 mi

US $220
Blower motor was making noise when the outside temp is below freezing. Remove and replace blower motor. 
Volkswagen in Nova Scotia, Canada
Jul 2010 - Jun 2011
Aug 2010

155000 mi

C $700
new starter motor brake work 

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1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

Volkswagen in Quebec, Canada
Oct 2011 - May 2012
May 2012

131440 mi
Tranny was not working except the R and the 3th speed. 
Volkswagen in New York, United States
Sep 2011 - Dec 2012
Oct 2011

141000 mi

US $290
Radiator had rusted out and was replaced. 
Jan 2012

146500 mi

US $500
Oil leak dripping onto exhaust manifold, creating smoke 
Jun 2012

150000 mi

US $1350
Replaced shocks and struts. Could still drive the car, but it would not have passed state inspection. AC had no coolant remaining. 
Volkswagen in Rhode Island, United States
Dec 2009 - Jun 2011
Jan 2010

196000 mi

US $375
Middle and rear exhaust replaced. 
Nov 2010

209200 mi

US $140
Replaced rear muffler (under warranty) and exhaust extension. 

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1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R 2-door

6-cylinder manual 2WD

Volkswagen in New Jersey, United States
May 2010 - Mar 2013
Nov 2010

139000 mi

US $95
Replaced ignition coils. They'd short out in wet weather and generate a check engine light. Took maybe 15 minutes to replace. Known problem on VR6 engines. 
Oct 2011

145000 mi

US $30
plastic shift linkage broke. New part was replaced at a cost of $30 and owner installed. 

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1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 1998 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI / R problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.