RoadVitals

1997 Volkswagen Jetta Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Dec 9, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 141 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBrakesSteering+1 more
Filed Dec 9, 2013
Crash reported

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 AND FRONT AXLE OF THE CAR, BRAKING ALSO FAILED DUE TO THE MAJORITY OF THE BRAKING FORCE BEING ON THE FRONT WHEELS THAT WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE CAR THEN STRUCK A GUARD RAIL 3 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE REST, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THERE WAS NO NEED DUE TO THE ANGLE IN WHICH THE CAR STRUCK THE RAIL. SAFETY BELTS WORKED AND CARS MECHANICAL OPERATION (BESIDES FRONT SUSPENSION, AND BODY DAMAGE) WAS STILL FINE. WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE ALL REPLACED A WEEK PREVIOUS TO CRASH. BEWARE NON-VOLKSWAGEN PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555379
Incident
Nov 7, 2013
Mileage
180,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 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

NHTSA ID
10080190
Incident
Jun 11, 2004
Mileage
12,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 15, 2002

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A LOUD STREAKING GRINDING NOISE. DEALERDSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
8004124
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 4, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID A DOG, WHEN HE DROVE BACK ONTO PAVEMENT VEHICLE HIT SHARP EDGE OF PAVEMENT. VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO A UNCONTROLABLE SPIN, SKIDDED AND SLID DOWN A 4 FOOT EMBANKMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE USED ALL PROPER ANTI SKID STEERING PROCEDURES, HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE *SLC

NHTSA ID
889720
Incident
May 4, 2001
Brakes
Filed Mar 1, 2000
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A DECLINE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL INTO A TREE. DEALE HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
857676
Brakes
Filed Dec 10, 1998

BRAKE PADS CONTINUALLY FAILING CAUSING VIBRATION.

NHTSA ID
542983
Incident
Nov 6, 1997
Body & structureBrakesTransmission+1 more
Filed Oct 26, 1998

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN.

NHTSA ID
542258
Incident
Nov 11, 1997
Brakes
Filed May 13, 1998

ROTORS WARPED CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
535399
Incident
Apr 28, 1998
Brakes
Filed Feb 13, 1998

ABS BRAKES LOCK UP/FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
524494
Brakes
Filed Jul 15, 1997

THE ADHESIVE THAT SECURES THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE REAR WINDOW HAS MELTED DUE TO SUN LIGHT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
814200

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical33Visibility27Transmission23Engine17Airbags16Body & structure12Suspension11Interior & seats9Fuel system8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .