1996 Volkswagen Jetta problems
The 1996 Volkswagen Jetta has 36 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (36%) concerns wipers, windshield & visibility. After that come air conditioning & heating (11%) and electrical system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 36 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 95,000 miles 19 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 19 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 95,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 35th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta with enough data (3 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle experienced a sudden aggressive and forceful acceleration. The contact immediately depressed the brake pedal, but there was no response and the vehicle failed to slow down. The vehicle crashed into two parked vehicles. The ambulance and police were called to the scene and a police report was filed. The driver and the occupants in the parked vehicles were transported to the hospital and sustained moderate injuries.
On january 12, 2006, as I was driving my car at 65 MPH on the highway an opaque white gas was quickly released from my heater vents and within seconds effectively turned the passenger compartment of my car into a gas chamber. The engine temperature increased after I was able to safely remove the vehicle of the highway. My car was sold with a permanent maintenance free pink VW antifreeze.
3 of 4 windows don't work. Motor burned out on rt front, regulator burned on lft front, rt rear does nothing. Dealership told me it would cost upward of $800 to fix. *nlm **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*734295
Consumer purchased a used vehicle from dealer and vehicle needed rear wheel cylinders and brake shoes. The wheel cylinders were leaking, and the brake shoes crumbled when removed for repair done by consumer since dealer was not willing to do anything about it.