Volkswagen ยท 1998

1998 Volkswagen New Beetle

Official EPA fuel economy and NHTSA recall record, best combined figure 38 MPG.

Decode this car's VIN All Volkswagen models

Fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionFuelCityHighwayCombinedCO2 g/mi
1.9L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Diesel 29 39 33 308
1.9L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Diesel 34 43 38 268
2.0L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 19 24 21 423
2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 20 27 23 386

Safety recalls (NHTSA)

1 campaign on record for this model year. Recall repairs are free at dealers; check your exact vehicle by VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Campaign 03V265000

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.

Owner complaints (NHTSA)

37 complaints filed by owners for this model year (2 involving a crash, 1 a fire). Complaints are owner reports, not confirmed defects - browse them in full on nhtsa.gov.

Exterior Lighting 10 Visibility 7 Electrical System 3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fuel economy of a 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle?

EPA figures for the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle reach 38 MPG combined depending on configuration; the table on this page lists every tested engine and transmission combination.

Are there recalls on the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaign for the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle. Check your specific vehicle by VIN on the official NHTSA site, recalls are fixed free of charge by dealers.

What are common problems with the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle?

Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA for the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle, most often about: Exterior Lighting, Visibility, Electrical System. Complaint counts reflect what owners report, not confirmed defects.

Sources: EPA fueleconomy.gov, the NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings databases (all US public data), refreshed monthly. Recall texts are quoted from the official record. Details on About & Data Sources.