1997 Volkswagen Jetta problems
The 1997 Volkswagen Jetta has 100 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (18%) concerns electrical system. After that come wipers, windshield & visibility (17%) and engine (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 100 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 68 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 | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 10 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 15 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 7 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 14 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 68 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 74,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 55,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 30th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Volkswagen Jetta with enough data (21 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.
The vehicle skidded on the snow on a major interstate highway and collided with a guardrail. The airbag should have deployed and did not deploy.
Past year: auto door locks failed, could not open either front door; transmission failed, exhaust system rusted out, headlights out, signals out, wheel bearings need replaced, air bag light stays on, have not been able to drive car in nearly 1 year, required nearly $5000 worth of damage.