Problems · by component
1997 Volkswagen Jetta power train problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta cite power train, 18% of all 141 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
18% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“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”
“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”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.