1997 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability
213 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 21/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 55,000 miles.
Typical
Where 1997 sits among all Jetta years
What owners report
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Jetta
“Two of my window regulators and motors broke last august. The other two broke a couple of months ago. The car has not been in an accident and i rarely use the rear windows. Volkswagen will not replace. I was charged $60 for diagnosis... Each window costs $600 to fix at the vw dealer. I am now…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Jetta
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Jetta
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 68 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 74,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 55,000 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAN SUFFER ABRASION DAMAGE IF THE REAR TIRE GOES FLAT AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TIRE DISINTEGRATES.
Fix: DEALERS WILL FIT PASSAT VEHICLES WITH A NEW WHEEL HOUSE LINER THAT WILL BETTER PROTECT THE CAR'S FILLER NECK. JETTA VEHICLES WILL BE FITTED WITH A DIFFERENT METAL SHIELD DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ABRASION…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 02V026000.
Technical service bulletins
63 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
The 1997 Volkswagen Jetta drew 213 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 21/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 1997 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta are electrical (37 complaints), visibility & wipers (29), and transmission & drivetrain (28).
At what mileage do 1997 Volkswagen Jetta problems show up?
Owners most often report 1997 Volkswagen Jetta problems around 74,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 55,000 and 100,000 miles.
Does the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.