Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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
PROBLEM WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE; DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO AND OUT OF REVERSE AND SECOND GEAR,FORCING YOU TO DOUBLE CLUTCH TO ENABLE SHIFTING. TICKING SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE. THIS RESULTED IN CHIPPED AND PITTED REVERSE IDLE GEAR AND GEAR TEETH MISSING. ALSO, SHIFTER LEVER VIBRATING, BECOMING LOOSE AND EVENTUALLY BREAKING OFF. VEHICLE ALSO RECALLED FOR A FIRE PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING. VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH DUE TO LITIGATION WITH PENN WARRANTY CORP. REFUSING TO REPAIR, STATING DAMAGE WAS DUE TO DRIVER MISUSE. *AK
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
VEHICLE SHIFTS ROUGH BETWEEN LOWER GEARS, AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR A PERIOD OF 1 YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOST 4TH GEAR AND IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURE AS WELL. *LA
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE WAS VERY SLUGGISH AND MOVED SLOWLY. DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED.*AK
MY 1997 VW JETTA HAS TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBELMS. IT SHIFTS ROUGHLY AS IT CHANGES TO THE LAST GEAR ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS BUT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY.
I BOUGHT THE 97 JETTA USED IN OCT. 1999. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THEN IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL AND IT TURNED OUT THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS TOO NEW AND HAS FEW TOO MANY MILES FOR THIS TO OCCUR. I HAVE TRIED TO GET VOLKSWAGEN TO HELP ME OUT BUT THEY REFUSED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. I THINK THE WARRANTY SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I HAVE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE NOW WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IF THERE ARE SEVERAL OWNERS OUT THERE WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THEN THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE CAR AND FIXED IT FREE OF CHARGE. THANK YOU,[XXX] MR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
CLUTCH FAILED TO ENGAGE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TRANSMISSION ORIGINALLY STARTED OUT NOT SHIFTING INTO DRIVE UNTIL THE CAR REACHED 50 MPH. I HAVE REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS AND NOW MY CAR IS AT THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO PARK ON AN INCLINE SO THAT WHEN I START MY CAR AND GO FORWARD I JUST HOPE IT GOES INTO GEAR, IT WILL ROLL SLOWLY, AND AFTER IT WARMS UP, EVEN IN 70 DEGREE WEATHER OR ABOVE IT IS A PRAYER IF IT STARTS. GOING INTO REVERSE IS NOT A GIVEN. DON'T EVEN GO THERE. TWO DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGERS SAY THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THAT THE MFG. SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THEY DECLINE TO DO SO. I HAVE TO BE IN TRAFFIC AND TO TAKE OFF PUTS ME IN DANGER AND OTHER DRIVERS. MID AMERICA MOTORS ON NO. LINDBERGH SAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE FIXED. SUNTRUP WHO SOLD THE CAR DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THIS CAR, EVEN THOUGH PHYLLIS SUNTRUP SERVICE COORDINATOR KNOWS THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD FIX IT, HER HANDS ARE TIED. AFTER WE HAVE HAD TWO OTHER DEALERSHIPS LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, WE NOW KNOW AND DISTRUST SUNTRUP TO DO ANYWORK ON THE CAR. I WANT MY CAR FIXED, BEFORE I AM KILLED IN IT. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY ASKED FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS, NOW I AM RUNNING OUT OF TIME. BOB AT MID AMERICA SAYS I SHOULD TAKE THIS HIGHER AND YOU GUYS ARE IT. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS THE ADVERTISEMENT WAS BASED ON YOU COULD DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR 200,000 MILES. PLEASE HELP ME, BELIEVE IT OR NOT I AM A ONE CAR FAMILY WHICH IS UNHEARD OF TODAY, BUT WE ARE, AND WE JUST WANT IT TO WORK PROPERLY. MY FIRST AND LAST VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
VEHICLE WILL NOT FULLY DISENGAGE FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK*SLC
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO FORWARD. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS.*AK
THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 73000 MILES ON IT. *AK
I HAVE HAD THIS SERVICED BEFORE, AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY USSUALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. THIS LEADS TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND COULD LEAD TO PANIC AND A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
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.
TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING FROM 1ST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN IT WILL SLIP BACK IN. DEALER WILL REPLACED TRANSMISSION.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED HESITATION AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, REPAIR REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF EXTRA RESISTOR WIRE TO MAINTAIN BASIC SETTINGS. MJS
ABOUT TO DRIVE OFF WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING RPM'S TO GO HIGH, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER, DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER, BUT PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AT PASSING GEAR. VW SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. THE CAR IS BEING SERVICED BY LOKEY VW IN CLEARWATER FLPHONE IS 7277992151. THE SERVICE MANAGER IS MIKE BOARDMAN. THIS IS SERIOUS AS I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO GET TO A MERGE SPEED THE TRANNY KEPT POPPING OUT OF GEAR SO I HAD TO MERGE AT A LOWER SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS.
THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD, THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN ONE GEAR OR SHIFTS SPORADICALLY. I NEARLY MISSED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY UPSHIFTED WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM 7 TIMES ALREADY. THEY HAVE EVEN PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS CAR CAN'T BE FIXED, AND THAT IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. PLEASE HELP ME IN GETTING THE SITUATION RESOLVED. THANKYOU VINCENT BANNISTER. *AK
PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN.
TRANSMISSION, BRAKE, AND GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTION, AND MUSTY SMELL FROM AC. ALTHOUGH THESE AND OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE THE AC STILL SMELLS AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY.
WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS OVER 35 MPH , REGISTERS AT 4700RPMS BEFORE DOWNSHIFTING. ALSO THE GEAR CONSOLE FAULSELY READS THE GEARS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .