One problem related to engine and engine cooling has been reported for the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
My 98 Jetta tdi engine blew approximately 11,000 past its warranty. This would be the equivent of 5 months driving at the rates I drive per year. The dealership (av Nissan/vw) told me they couldn't find what caused it and that it would require a replacement engine. The dealership told vw of America, a different story then either had been related to me (that the car had been driven with warninglights on & with damage). Unfortunately when talking to vw of a. They related the story back to a non-existent employee of the dealership. I paid for the troubleshooting and towed the vehicle to a local service center (ted's service and repair) that specializes in german vehicles. He noted that the valve seat dropped into the cylinder, which caused the valve to break in the cylinder doing massive damage to the engine. He noted that when seats drop they are typically due to manufacturer defect. Vw refused to cover any damages due to the recently expired warranty. Help!.