1997 Volkswagen Jetta Suspension Problems

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CHECKED DRIVE TRAIN AND WHEELS AND FOUND CUPPING OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED, BALANCED AND ALIGNED. NOISE AFTER TIRE CHANGE. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND REAR FACTORY INSTALLED WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT, AK

NHTSA ID

10003874

Incident

Jul 8, 2002

Mileage

34,875 mi

CONSUMER IS HAVIN PROBLEMS WITH THE BALLJOINT. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE RIGHT PASSANGERS WHEEL CAME OFF CAUSING A BALLJOINT SEPARATION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS BADLY RUSTED WHICH IT SHOULD HAD NOT OCCOUR . TS

NHTSA ID

8021881

WHILE DRIVING AT NO MORE THAN 5 MPH BOLT JOINTS BROKE IN TWO PIECES, CAUSING FRONT PASSANGER WHEEL TO LOCK UP UNDER THE FENDER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018485

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 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

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP AND INFORMED THAT CONSUMER NEEDS TO REPLACE TIRES. CONSUMER COMPLIED, AND CONDITION STILL OCCURS. DEALER STILL INSISTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS STILL IN CONSUMER TIRES. DEALER NOW SAYS THAT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

830512

Incident

Jan 15, 1997

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH CONSUMER HIT A PIECE OF RUBBER ON THE ROAD AND THE SUSPENSION DID NOT HOLD, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

829392

Incident

Jul 18, 1998