1997 Volkswagen Jetta GLX review from North America
"Hope you are well to do,or own a good set of metric tools, you will need them"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Tie rod end broke,car hit guard rails
on passenger side, thank god I was going slow, replaced front fender and faulty tie rod.
Steering rack bolts were loose had to tighten them when play was noticed in steering.
On-board engine computer was installed the wrong direction,causing strain on the electrical plug causing car to just quit running. I recieved a lot of single finger salutes for this problem.
5 speed manual transmission,differential gear pin came loose, due to the close tolerances in transmission this pin cracked the front transmission case. ruining the clutch.I priced this front transmission cover, Volkswagen said 700 dollars, this is insane, new transmission over 4000 dollars. A volkswagen mechanic said they repair this problem with epoxy,if the hole is not to big ,this helps to hold costs down ,due to the high cost of the part.
Just what I need a plastic transmission case. The mechanic also said this problem happens
often,Volkswagen doesn`t seem to care.
General comments?
This car is a money hole in my driveway.
The Jetta is fun to drive,but high maintenance to keep it rolling.
Recommended reviews
  | Never want to give it up - ever! |
| Not with a ten foot pole, unless you plan to impale it! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8L Manual |
| Performance marks | |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 53000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 86000 miles |
| Previous car | Pontiac Sunbird |
| Date of Entry | 24th July, 2005 |