1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Electrical System Problems

THE SPEEDOMETER IN ANY OCCASIONS DOES NOT MARK THE SPEED BUT IF IT MARKS THE MILES THAT ARE COVERED AND IT DOEST TURN ON THE LIGHT OF CHECK ENGINE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT IT IS TRUMPING THE SPEEDOMETER, SOMETIMES MEANWHILE THE CAR LIGHTING AND IN MOVEMENT IT STOPS WORKING IT IS NOT THE FIRST CAR THAT I SEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM HAS THIS I MEET MORE THAN 7 PERSONS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHO WHEN WE TAKE IT TO THE AGENCY SAY TO US THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY SHORTCOMING OR PERHAPS IT IS SOME SENSOR THAT DOES NOT WORK BUT THE CAR DOES NOT LIGHT THE LIGHT OF CHECK ENGINE TO WARN THAT A SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED I SUPPOSE MYSELF THAT IT IS ALREADY A SHORTCOMING OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING UNTIL NO LONGER RUNNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, WHERE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER THAT DAY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR THE FUEL.*AK

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

Mileage: 100,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE WAS A LOSS OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DISABLED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF, BUT INTERMITTENTLY COME BACK ON. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE BATTERY, FUSES, AND THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER , AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

Mileage: 147,000

MY 1997 JETTA WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST 1997 IN CANADA. IN 1997, THE ELECTRIC MOON ROOF AND THE ELECTRIC WINDOW HAD INTERMITTENT FAULT OF NOT OPERATING AND WERE FIXED. HOWEVER AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ONE REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW COULD NOT BE OPERATED LOCALLY. IN OCT 28, 2004 THE GENERATOR WAS FAULTY AND WAS REPLACED BY A RE-BUILT UNIT AT OWNER'S COST. IN OCT 30, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB FROM OCT 30 TO 31, 2004, AN INTERMITENT FAULT OCCURRED 5 TIMES ON THE PANEL CLUSTER, ALL READINGS IN THE CLUSTER (TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERAURE AND FUEL GAUGES) DROP TO ZERO FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND RESUMED NORMAL. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET LOCATED THE CAUSE OF THE INTERMITENT FAULT. IF THE PANEL C;USTER WERE FOUND FALUTY, IT WOULD BE A VERY COST REPAIR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY 1997 JETTA ARE EXCEEDING UNRELIABLE WITH A HIGH INTERMITTENT FAULT. IT IS THE RESPONSIBLITY OF THE VWOA TO PAY THE REPAIR COST FOR SUCH FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

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 NICE GAS STATION GETTING GAS WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO START. I WAS THERE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE I COULD GET IN CONTACT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME AND RESCUE ME. EACH TIME WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEARLERSHIP AND HAD IT "FIXED". MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT FIXED???? I HAVE GONE ON VARIOUS SITES AND THE COMMENT IS THAT THE 1997 JETTA HAS STARTING PROBLEMS. IF THIS IS SO THEN DOESN'T THIS MEAN THAT THE STARTER OR THE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. GRANTED THE CAR PROBABLY WON'T BLOW UP BECAUSE OF THIS BUT A CAR SHOULD BE RELIABLE ENOUGH JUST TO START - SHOULDN'T IT? WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOUR YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD REPEATED FAILURES. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START EVENTUALLY BUT WE HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN IT WOULD NOT START AND IT WENT IN FOR REPAIRS. TWICE ( TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A BAD STARTER AND IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED. THE COMBINED COST - $1100.00. THE THIRD TIME WE PROTESTED AND DEMANDED THAT IT BE FIXED - THAT TIME - $150.00. NOW WE ARE UP AGAINST A FOURTH TRIP TO A DEALERSHIP. I AM 56 YEARS OLD AND HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT CARS - OLD & NEW, BUT NEVER HAVE I HAD AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS!!! AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!*AK

Mileage: 49,000

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. *JB

Mileage: 67,000

WHEN DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

I PURCHASED A USED 1997 VW JETTA GL IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO GIVE ME A WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T OFFER THE WARRANTY WITH CARS OVER 55,000 MILES, MINE HAD 55,500 MILES. IN LATE SEPTEMBER OF 2001 (69342 MILES), MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, DURING RUSH HOUR, IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. ABOUT 1-2 MONTHS PRIOR I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, INCLUDING A FLUID CHANGE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, AND HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH IT AFTER. THE SHOP THAT I HAD REPLACE IT SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY JETTA'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. I STILL AM HAVING PROBLEMS, WITH THE CAR. PROBLEMS INCLUDE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CLICKS ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON, NOT STARTING IN WARMER WEATHER, IRREGULAR IDLEING, AND STICKY LOCKS. I AM AWARE THAT THESE CARS HAVE ELECTRIAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD CAUSE UNSAFE CONDITIONS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CUSTOMER SHOULD BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THESE COASTLY REPAIRS, WHEN SO MANY CASES EXSITS. *LA

Mileage: 69,342

TH IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAS BROKEN AND BEEN REPLACED ON MY 1997 JETTA TWICE. *AK

Mileage: 45,218

WE BOUGHT THE 1997 JETTA USED IN 2000. SINCE THEN IT HAD IT'S IGNITION CHANGED (NEW KEY TO START ENGINE). THE THIRD STARTER WAS JUST PUT IN. WE THOUGHT THE NEW STARTER WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE NOT TURNING OVER, BUT IT'S BACK AGAIN LESS THAN 21 DAYS AFTER THE STARTER WAS PUT. IT'S IN THE SHOP , STARTER WAS CHECKED; IT'S NOT THE STARTER. *JB

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN SITTING AT LIGHTS. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 DAYS PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND.*AK

Mileage: 9,700

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCH AND TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STARTER ASSEMBLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE REAR TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE, THEMECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS DUE TO BALL BEARING SEIZING WHICH CAUSED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HEAT. *CB *JB

Mileage: 36,721

VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. *MR THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAD TAKEN THREE WEEKS TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK AT THAT TIME. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED. THERE WERE NUMEROUS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE SHOP FOR THE TIMING BELT AND THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR A PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, IGNITION ROTOR, AND THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. REPAIR WAS ALSO MADE TO THE WIRE FOR THE IGNITION COIL/CAM SHAFT. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULES. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *AK

BOUGHT JETTA GLS NEW 12/97. MOLDINGS FALL OFF CONSTANTLY. THREE OF FOUR POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, ALL NEEDING REGULATORS REPLACED. SLOW WIPER SPEED CUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. OIL LEAK. CAN'T LOCK DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE WITH MY MASTER KEY, CAN ONLY LOCK AND SET ALARM ON PASSENGER SIDE. TS

Mileage: 55,000

BOUGHT JETTA GLS NEW 12/97. MOLDINGS FALL OFF CONSTANTLY. THREE OF FOUR POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, ALL NEEDING REGULATORS REPLACED. SLOW WIPER SPEED CUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. OIL LEAK. CAN'T LOCK DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE WITH MY MASTER KEY, CAN ONLY LOCK AND SET ALARM ON PASSENGER SIDE. TS

Mileage: 55,000

MALFUCTIONED IGINITION SWITCH IS CAUSING STARTER TO ENGAGE WHEN APPLYING CLUTCH. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MALFUCTIONED IGINITION SWITCH IS CAUSING STARTER TO ENGAGE WHEN APPLYING CLUTCH. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

JETTA WAS EVALUATED AT VW REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TESTED FOR SEVERAL DAYS OVER THE LAST 4 WORKING DAYS. ELECTRICAL AND FUEL SYTEM WAS CHECKED AND NOTHING FOUND SO FAR. CAR ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR TEMPERATURE OF ENGINE. HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SLOWING DOWN OR ACCELERATING. CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THIS IN THIS MODEL BUT CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION.

THE BATTERY EXPLODED AS CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *YH

THE BATTERY EXPLODED AS CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *YH

ALL FOUR DOORS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES AND REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM EITHER INSIDE OR FROM OUTSIDE DUE TO WIRING HARNESS THAT NEEDED REPLACING AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALER FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION, DEALER SERVICE REP MENTIONED THAT HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL CASES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

ADD'T DEALER REPAIR INFO: NORTHLAND VW. CIN OH. AIR SYSTEM SMELLS ROTTEN, WATER PUMP WENT OUT DUE TO BELTS GOING BAD, ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS CAUSED CAR TO STALL & NOT OPERATE, CIGARETTE LIGHTER IS STUCK -CAN NOT PULL OUT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 9 TIMES IN 3 YRS.

WHILE TURNING THE KEY TO START VEHICLE, BATTERY EXPLODED, CAUSING ACID TO GO INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DENT THE HOOD. VOLKSWAGEN REPLACED BATTERY WITH ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN BATTERY. ALSO, SEPT, 1, 2000, WITH 45,000 BATTERY EXPLODED AGAIN IN THE SAME MANNER. *AK DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *YH

THIS VEHICLE NEEDED REPLACEMENT TO THE ALTERNATOR TWICE. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. IN ADDITION THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE. WHEN THIS DID NOT WORK IT WAS THEN REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION.

DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE BATTERY AND POWER STEERING FLUID CANISTER, BATTERY SITS TOO CLOSE TO THE CANISTER, AND IS RUBBING AGAINST THE BASE THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *ML

ON THE FIRST OCCASION WE NOTED THAT BATTERY ACID HAD OVERFLOWED AND CONCACTED THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE BATTERY TRAY. THE RESERVOIR WAS REPLACED, THIS WORKED FOR SEVERA MONTHS. ON THE 2ND OCCURANCE, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE FLUID POURED OUT OF THE RESERVOIR IN ABOUT 30 TO 40 SECONDS. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR REGULATOR, BATTERY TRAY AND POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. HE ALSO INSTALLED A SEPERATE DRAIN LINE FROM THE BATTERY VENT TO AN AREA WHICH WAS CLEAR OF ANY WIRING/RESERVOIRS. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO REPLACED TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHSE, IT IS THOUGHT THAT THE OVERCHARGE RUINED THE BATTERY. I DID WRITE A LETTER TO VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA, DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND REMEDY. THEY REPLIED THAT THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED BEFORE, THANKS FOR THE NOTICE.

FUSE COVER FELL OFF, COVERNING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

AFTER SHUTTING IGNITION OFF, CONSUMER THEN RESTARTED VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE BATTERY HAD EXPLODED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. YH

DUE TO A FAULTY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY ACID SPILLING ONTO ENGINE, POWER STEERING BLEW OUT. DEALER REPLACED A TUBE ON THE BATTERY SO THE ACID CAN RUN THROUGH THE TUBE AND SPILL ONTO THE GROUND. DEALER ALSO MENTIONED THAT IT WAS NOT THE ORGINAL BATTERY. BUT CONSUMER NEVER CHANGED BATTERY AND BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DUE TO A FAULTY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY ACID SPILLING ONTO ENGINE, POWER STEERING BLEW OUT. DEALER REPLACED A TUBE ON THE BATTERY SO THE ACID CAN RUN THROUGH THE TUBE AND SPILL ONTO THE GROUND. DEALER ALSO MENTIONED THAT IT WAS NOT THE ORGINAL BATTERY. BUT CONSUMER NEVER CHANGED BATTERY AND BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT CONTAINED FAULTY WIRING, CAUSING FIRE.