1997 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical 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

NHTSA ID

10303505

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

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

NHTSA ID

10191518

Incident

Apr 12, 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

NHTSA ID

10185598

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10143462

Incident

Nov 14, 2005

Mileage

147,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10098065

Incident

Oct 31, 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 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

NHTSA ID

10078300

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10064584

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10064950

Incident

Mar 17, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10052677

Incident

Sep 20, 2001

Mileage

69,342 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10051463

Incident

Aug 30, 2003

Mileage

45,218 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10039169

Incident

Sep 19, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10033288

Incident

Aug 10, 2003

Mileage

9,700 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10030014

Incident

Jul 23, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10029614

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

36,721 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10027036

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

10022182

Incident

May 12, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10002855

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

Mileage

55,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8017485

Incident

Apr 15, 1998

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.

NHTSA ID

754763

Incident

Nov 17, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

785697

Incident

Sep 11, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

886062

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

NHTSA ID

738053

Incident

Sep 20, 2000

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.

NHTSA ID

734523

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

869869

Incident

Oct 29, 1998

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.

NHTSA ID

723790

Incident

Oct 27, 1999