1997 Volkswagen JETTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 54 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 9; Electrical System: 7; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 3; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 3; Suspension: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 19; 2004: 17; 2005: 9; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 3; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000587 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
MY 1997 VW JETTA HAS TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBELMS. IT SHIFTS ROUGHLY AS IT CHANGES TO THE LAST GEAR ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS BUT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022085 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE WAS VERY SLUGGISH AND MOVED SLOWLY. DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 43,234 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080190 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF, AND THE BRAKE DRUM SPLIT IN HALF. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT WHEEL BEARING FAILED, AND RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS VERY WEAK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096312 · 2004-10-24 (October 24, 2004)
AFTER A CASUAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON DRIVE ( IN MY 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ) AT MODERATE SPEEDS I PARKED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES WHILE I ATE LUNCH. I THEN STARTED THE CAR, PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, AND PUT THE BLINKER ON TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND WHILE THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE WAS ON, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGING IT, BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN RACING WILDLY (LIKE IT WAS GOING 80MPH). LUCKILY I HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM LURC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043388 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
VEHICLE SHIFTS ROUGH BETWEEN LOWER GEARS, AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR A PERIOD OF 1 YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOST 4TH GEAR AND IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURE AS WELL. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078300 · 2004-06-16 (June 16, 2004)
ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NOW MY 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GL HAS FAILED TO START.BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHT AND ALMOST ALWAYS AWAY FROM HOME THIS HAS BEEN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE IS NEVER ANY WARNING THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE CAR MAY BE WORKING FINE AND THEN THE NEXT TIME IT IS TIME TO START IT, IT SIMPLY WON'T START. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. ONCE OUT OF A PARKING GARAGE -AT 5:00 PM DURING RUSH HOUR. ONCE I WAS BY MYSELFON A SUNDAY IN A TOWN I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH AT A NOT VERY NIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022182 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093099 · 2004-09-23 (September 23, 2004)
MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE MOTOR. THE CAR RAN VERY ERRATICALLY AND STALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON OFTEN. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185598 · 2007-03-20 (March 20, 2007)
REPLACED IGNITION COIL FOR THE THIRD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS!! ELECTRIC WATER PUMP REPLACED. EATER CORE EXPLODED A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR! COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AS CAR FILLED WITH ANTIFREEZE CLOUD. BELT DRIVEN WATER PUMP WENT A WEEK LATER. ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DOOR HANDLE BROKE TWICE!. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10555379 · 2013-12-09 (December 9, 2013)
A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GT, EQUIPPED WITH FRONTAL AIRBAGS WAS IN A COLLISION DUE TO THE USE OF AFTERMARKET PARTS, WHICH INCLUDED AFTER MARKET BALL JOINTS NOT SUPPLIED FROM THE DEALER, THIS PART FAILED AFTER 12.7KM ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 110KM/H 65MPH, THE CAR STEERING WAS VERY SHAKY WHEN ENTERING A SLIGHT TURN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD FRACTURED IN THE HUB KNUCKLE AND HAD CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE, THE STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING BECAUSE THE TIRES WHERE NOT ON THE GROUND, THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE RAD SUPPORT AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000455 · 2003-01-01 (January 1, 2003)
SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAK FROM THE TOP OF FUEL TANK DUE TO FAILED SEAL FOR FUEL SENDING UNIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203446 · 2007-09-19 (September 19, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL SHIELD FAILED THAT PROTECTS THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP) AND REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203446 at NHTSA ↗