Used car guide

1998 Volkswagen Passat: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1998 Volkswagen Passats, from 206 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 206 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

206MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 66%)
5,300typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1998 Volkswagen Passats than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.5× usual
    Volkswagen Passat
    18% All 1998 cars
    5.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.2%, against 2.1% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

By area

The share of 1998 Volkswagen Passat MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    39% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    25% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Volkswagen Passat?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023165Tyres 19%
20222,480Tyres 28%
20213,675Tyres 28%
20205,842Tyres 27%
20197,334Tyres 29%
201810,770Tyres 30%
201713,909Tyres 30%
201614,973Tyres 31%
201515,235Tyres 32%
201414,561Suspension 43%
201311,677Suspension 46%
201213,143Suspension 50%
201115,088Suspension 53%
20109,953Suspension 56%
20099,559Suspension 56%
20087,455Suspension 57%
20076,006Suspension 59%
20063,912Suspension 61%
20052,928Suspension 51%
20042,404Suspension 49%
20032,104Suspension 51%
20021,324Suspension 50%
2001774Suspension 53%
2000377Suspension 48%
1999281Suspension 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1998 Volkswagen Passats registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score