RoadVitals

1997 Volkswagen Jetta Interior & seats Problems

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

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
9
Latest Mar 20, 2007
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.
6%
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.
1
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 seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 9 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 interior

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

AirbagsHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed Mar 20, 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
Interior & seatsOther / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jul 24, 2005

I FEEL LIKE MY JETTA IS A DEATHTRAP. IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT, I HAVE HAD FOUR OF THE POWER WINDOW MECHANISMS MALFUNCTION. CURRENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW IS STUCK SHUT, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WINDOW IS STUCK OPEN! THIS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE COLD SEASON, AT LEAST ONE, IF NOT ALL OF THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. PEOPLE THINK MY BOYFRIEND IS BEING A GENTLEMAN, BUT REALLY, HE HAS TO WALK AROUND AND LET ME OUT. THIS IS NOT THE FROZEN LOCK PHENOMENON COMMON TO MANY VEHICLES- THE ACTUAL LATCH MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS. WE HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TRAPPED IN OUR CAR AND HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW! THE FAILURES ARE SO CONSISTENT, SO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR (AND THE REPAIRS DO NOT LAST) THAT WE DRIVE AROUND LIKE THIS BECAUSE COST OF THE REPAIRS EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF THE CAR. HELP!

NHTSA ID
10129842
Incident
Jul 24, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Jan 8, 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
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 18, 2003

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WHEN IT IS TOO COLD OUTSIDE. DEALER SAYS THAT THE VACCUUM ACTUATORS (WHATEVER THOSE ARE) ARE THE PROBLEM AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT SIGNIFICANT COST. LSO, DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK CAME OUT COMPLETELY WITH THE KEY. DEALER REPLACED THE LOCK. ALSO, COOLANT LIGHT FLASHES RED WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED IN COLD WEATHER. COOLANT LEVELS AND FUSE ARE OK. ALSO, SIDE TRIM ON FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS COMING LOOSE FROM THE DOOR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10050724
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Mileage
78,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Jan 17, 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
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 28, 2002

DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017492
Incident
Apr 21, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 10, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER/ CAR ALARM SOUNDED, AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF DOORS. CAUSE MIGHT BE ELECTRICAL. WIRES UNDER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013673
Incident
Jul 7, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 3, 2001

DURING COLD WEATHER BOTH FRONT DOOR AND TRUNK LOCKS FREEZE UP AND CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO ENTER THE CAR. NLM

NHTSA ID
785224
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 12, 1999

DOOR LATCHES FREEZE AND DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE CAR - RECURRING DESIGN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
703215
Incident
Feb 12, 1999

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .