1997 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems

IT WAS AT NIGHT RAINY AND COLD. I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER BECAUSE MY CAR WINDOWS AND WHOLE INSIDE OF CABIN WERE OBSCURES BY A FOG. MY DEFROSTER CLEARED THE BACK WINDOW BUT ALL OTHERS NOT SO I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS AND SHUT DOWN THE HEATER. I WAITED A WHILE AND USED CLOTHING TO WIPE THE WINDOW. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME IN 6 WEEKS APPX. I DID TURN ON THE FAN ALONE TO PUSH BROWN FOG OUT OF THE CAR. TODAY I CHECKED MY FLUIDS THE COOLANT WAS HALF GONE IN THE RESERVOIR SO I TOPPED IT UP. I SAW ON LINE VWOF AMERICA HAS HELPED PEOPLE IN THE PAST WITH A GOOD WILL HEATER CORE BUT THEY TOLD ME 4-152004 THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. THAT IS WHERE I'M AT NO $ AND I NEED MY CAR FOR WORK. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10325882

Incident

Apr 11, 2010

Mileage

142,940 mi

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

THE CONSUMER'S 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS HAD MULTIPLE COMPONENT FAILURES. **NAR** *NM THERE WAS AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, THE A/C DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN, THE BODY HAD RUST DAMAGE, THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST TO THE MUFFLER, EXCESSIVE WORN TIRES, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SENSORS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10115572

Incident

Jul 27, 2004

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T... CAN'T LOCK DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE WITH MY MASTER KEY, CAN ONLY LOCK AND SET ALARM ON PASSENGER SIDE. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON... VEHICLE CUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING... WITHOUT NOTICE!*AK

NHTSA ID

10105854

Incident

Dec 9, 2004

Mileage

117,752 mi

MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE MOTOR. THE CAR RAN VERY ERRATICALLY AND STALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON OFTEN. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10093099

Incident

Sep 2, 2004

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A SMOG CHECK POINT TEST. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE PASSED THE EMISSION TEST, BUT THE EXAMINER COULD NOT SEND THE FINAL APPROVAL TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT (DMV) UNTIL THE DEFECT WAS REPAIRED. *AK THE LIGHT HAD GONE OFF, BUT CAME BACK ON 6 MONTHS LATER. (CRANKCASE DILUTION/MALFUNCTION CAUSE FOR P1582 AND THE MOTOR RUNS OUTSIDE IDLE ADAPTION DUE TO HIGH BLOW BY/MALFUNCTION IN THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL MODULE -J338) *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10075501

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

70,000 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

I BOUGHT THE CAR ON MARCH 5, 2003 AND AFTER 2-3 DAYS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON! I MADE MORE THAN SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE AT LITHIA VW IN RENO, NV; AND THE ONLY REPAIRS HALF WAY DONE WAS THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE AND HOSES, BUT NOT THE SAI PUMP AS WELL AS THE TUMBLER OF THE IGNITION. THIS IS A LEMON FROM DAY ONE AND I HAVE SEVERAL PROOF OF THE PROBLEM EVEN FROM DMV OF NEVADA IN THEIR DTC'S WHICH IS THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE DESCRITION OF P0411-SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM!!!!! NO ONE WILL HELP ME, AND I BOUGHT THE CAR TO ENJOY AND TO NOT WORRY OF BREAKING DOWN, BUT NOW.....IT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY....SO THE WARRANTY WON'T BE VOIDED, AND THAT MY CAR DOESN'T GET WORSE. I DO HAVE MANY DOCUMENTS TO BACK THIS CLAIM AND THE DEALER-BUDGET MOTERS WON'T HELP, NOR WILL THE AUL WARRENTY CO. THAT I PAY.

NHTSA ID

10070646

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

Mileage

98,157 mi

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

MY PASSAGNER AIR BAG SHOWED DEFECT. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR NO REASON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029107

Incident

Apr 8, 2001

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

THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE CAME OFF ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING 35MPH. THE WHEEL BEARING AXLE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND WITH THE BRAKE DRUM STILL ATTACHED TO IT .THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NEGLECTING THE WHEEL BEARING FOR REGULAR SERVICE. NLM THE BRAKE DRUM OUTER AND INNER WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS LOOSING COOLANT AT TIMES. *YH

NHTSA ID

8008015

Incident

Apr 17, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, THIS CAUSED OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE, VALVES WERE BENT AND A CYLINDER HEAD WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL ONLY REQUIRES THAT INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE BE DONE AT 60,000 MILES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

874127

Incident

Oct 28, 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 DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

858653

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL DIE OUT IN TRAFFIC OR WHENEVER THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID

834888

Incident

Jan 28, 1999

EXHAUST PIPE EXTENDS UNDERNEATH THE BUMPER, REVEALING RAW EDGE OF PIPE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURY TO THE HAND WHEN WASHING VEHICLE, INJURY MAY ALSO BE SUSTAINED IF BRUSHING AGAINST THE BUMPER PARALLEL\HORIZONTALLY. CONSUMER CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA #44730. *AK

NHTSA ID

809297

Incident

Feb 1, 1997