Faults:

Oh man, I thought that the car was possessed. It had many electrical issues. Many times the car would just start blowing its alarm and horn. The lights would flick on and off.

It had problems holding a charge.

Brakes felt weak.

The passenger window just got stuck.

Check engine light stayed on and never came off.

Car did have good pace and shifted well.

Car came with a turbocharger, but the engine started having problems and needed to be rebuilt. I lost the turbo in the process. The mechanic said that the car had many electrical and computer parts, which meant it would always be in the shop longer and cost more money.

General Comments:

The car looked great and it had good pace to it, but it had too many issues. I know it had high mileage and a check engine light when I got it, but I have read other reviews on it and they had the same issues I did.

Faults:

- Electrical shorts (window regulators and headlight short; all fixed)

- Replaced water pump at 173,000 miles.

- Dead foam on passenger side.

- Replaced muffler at 173,000 miles.

- Replaced timing belt; jumped time after oil pan gasket replacement.

- Replaced oxygen sensor at 175,000 miles.

General Comments:

It's an older car that needs special treatment, anyone expecting to get a like new 1996 model car is just stupid. Cars need fixing up at times.

Faults:

Basic routine maintenance (tires, brakes, etc.)

Windshield wiper fuse blew out at 94,000 miles.

Handbrake is completely useless and is too much for me to get repaired.

Transmission is a little creaky when it is cold, and when the car has not been driven for a while.

General Comments:

I'm pretty impressed with this car, based on its hearty age of 13 years and it's ability to run just fine.

Most of the problems are cosmetic. The moulding is falling off and the previous owner tried to fix it by using screws. The paint is rotting off.

Most of the internal problems are because of abuse from a previous owner, and would not be relevant if the person took care of the car. The brakes worked just like new once repaired, and the fuse for the windshield wipers was easy to find.

The car occasionally leaks oil, but not too much. If left undriven for a while, the transmission will occasionally slip or stick when trying to back out or roll.

I have also had some problems with the alarm system. It has gone off a couple of times when I try to unlock the car with a key, and I had no idea what to do. The Volkswagen specialist in my area told me to do something with locking certain doors and whatnot. It was a puzzle.

Other than that, I have really enjoyed it. It's a fun ride.

Faults:

OK, I recently purchased a 1997 black Jetta GT. My first car.

The speedometer and odometer, pretty much the dash gauges don't work. I think it may be a fuse or something isn't connected, because they do occasionally work.

There is a very slight oil leak, but it's not drastic and we think it might be coming from a washer that's worn out.

The check engine light is on, but the car runs wonderfully.

The temperature light is on, but the car isn't overheating and the actual gauge is working (this is the only gauge on the dash that is working). What the previous owner says is that light is on because a tube for water is dripping onto a sensor, and that you need to add new water to it every month.

The car itself has 290,000 miles on it, but the engine was rebuilt 67,000 miles ago, and fortunately I have documentation for it. From what I can tell the car seems to be alright. If anyone can help with the little incidental stuff wrong with it, that would be great.

It's a manual transmission, and nothing seems to be wrong with any of the gears, it shifts and handles great.