1996 Volkswagen Jetta GL from North America - Comments

Water Pump Replaced.

Front Wheel Bearing and Hub.

Exhaust completely replaced.

Clip for Sun visor broke.

Trunk lock seized.

Interior Display Lighting and Exterior lights due too bad switch (fixed twice).

Coolant Sensor went bad which caused the car not to start after it had been running for awhile so if I went anywhere for a short trip, like the store, I had to leave the car running or I would be stranded until the engine cooled.

Automatic Shift Lighting out as well as in the dash.

Cigarette light out.

No light in trunk.

No glove box.

Ignition coil needs replacing due to cracks in the cover. Moisture would get in and cause arching which caused the car to fire improperly when cold or in damp weather. It also makes the car very hard to start in these conditions.

Rusting at bottom of doors.

Emergency Brake needed to be fixed.

Engine does not run very quite. High Revs on highway.

Jerky gear switching with automatic transmission, especially when cold.

Door mirror adjustments stink.

Check engine light comes on briefly for a minute or so when over 110-120KM on highway. Will shut off if I let off the gas for a second or two.

Rough idling and vibration sometimes.

Replaced Battery Once.

Car alarm stopped making the audible sound when it sets. I think it may have something to do with one of the switches on the doors/trunk/or hood not registering that it is closed.

Lack of movement for the tilt steering.

Strut mounts replaced.

Coil Spring replaced.

Once in a while the light goes out over the speedometer, but a good whack on the dash fixes it.

Small Cup holders especially for taller cups. I have to take out my ashtray to accommodate these.

I haven't had my door moldings come off yet, but I'm waiting. I'm just glad I don't have power windows or air-conditioning. I'm sure that I would have had problems with those too.

I like the fold-down seats and roomy trunk.

Seats are comfortable.

Stereo/Cassette/Speakers are not bad.

Power moon roof is nice.

Has lots of pep, good on gas, sporty styling... features that can be found on other cars without all the problems.

People have had mixed results with the Jetta III, but it all comes down to "BUYER BEWARE"!

The same problems here in Europe, a lot of VW models are build in the Mexico of Europe (Spain) and that reflects in the quality.

A couple of years ago, when you bought a VW, you knew you bought a solid car an you payed a little more for it than you would for other brands.

Now you still pay more, but the quality is very poor.

My 1996 jetta trek has 120 000 km. and so far so good. starter and exhaust are two only thingsthat needed to be replaced. the power is not that great, but handling is good. seats are little on the hard side. stereo and 8 speakers sound awesome.

I had the same problem with the car not starting in cold weather. The dealer I bought it from are jerks. They replaced the battery and starter already cause that is what they told me it was. Now I know that it is the coil.

Well, I have been in love with Jetta's since I first saw the low-riding, boxy '93. My '96 varies slightly from that model unfortunately, but I still love how she looks and especially the deep, roomy trunk. I have had her 2 years and so far the problems keep on coming. First it was the engine light constantly on. Turned out to be the O2 sensor (80 K miles). That had to be replaced, of course. Then my coolant leaked everywhere and no one could find the problem for months, I just kept filling it up. After several misdiagnoses, including a cracked head (!!!) it was determined to be the flange that cost pennies to buy and hundreds to pull out everything, install and then pressure test (85 K miles). The ignition coil went next (87 k miles). Then I had to reattach the molding on 2 doors. I saved the strips as they came off, I fully expect having to reattach them in another 2 years. Next my transmission went out. It started with a jerking and inability to "catch" in gear. $3,500 later (fortunately I had a service contract which covered all, but $100) it was determined to be general valve body failure which took over a month in the shop ordering the parts and doing the work. Then I had to replace my struts, mounts, and inner tie rods at 94 K miles. (Grrrrr.) Here we are now at 103 K and I need a new transmission, AGAIN. The shop that rebuilt it last is going 50% on the repairs, but it is going to be about the same costs as before. The only reason I held on to her was a conscience that wouldn't allow me to just trade it in or sell it off to an unsuspecting buyer.

Minor things have been the light on the dash that shows what gear you are in going out, the Emergency brake doesn't work, No glove compartment--they say that a 6" steel bar took its place to reinforce the engine in the event of a crash...whatever. Doesn't sound like a fair trade to me. Also the juxtaposition of how you can have electric door locks and sunroof, but the windows are manual??? And, finally, the seats offer no lumbar support and end up being kind of uncomfortable.

I found this page by accident, but figure I'll add my 2 cents anyway. I have a 1995 Jetta and am looking to be rid of it and its problems once and for all. I heard from a dealer/acquaintance (too late!) that it's from a "bad batch" and I believe it fully. I've had the starter replaced and am now looking at replacing another. Wheel bearings, brakes, water pump, constant radiator problems, door locks broken, emergency brake broken, radio broken, trim fell off about a year after I got it, and in some strange twist of events, I have to put air in the tires about once a week--and I'm on at least my fourth set of all-new tires (I stopped counting, it got so depressing). I really wanted to love this car, as it's the first I've ever bought brand new--and there are a lot of OK things about it--but it's really worn me down. I don't think I'd ever buy another Volkswagen, just based on this car alone.

I have had my 1996 Jetta GL since it had 10,000 miles. I bought it from a dealer in 1998. I have completely loved this car as it has given me next to no problems. There have been, however a few. At around 97,000 miles, the driver’s side door lock refused to turn. I tried to open up the door panel and investigate the problem, but I could not unsieze the lock. I have since gave up, but I do need it fixed because whenever I disconnect the battery, I have to futz with the alarm going off. The fact that there is no glove box is crappy too, along with the fact that I too, have to remove my ashtray in order to accommodate a larger size beverage. I am on my third set of tires, but they will do for another twenty thousand miles I believe. I have always rotated them every seven thousand miles myself, and have replaced the oil and filter every 3 grand or so,…sometimes it gets to five thousand miles, but it has run great. The only major maintenance I have done to it, is to have the timing belt changed at 107,000 miles. I knew it was way overdue, but it got done none-the-less. My alternator bearing is going as of late too, because I can hear it whining when the car is on, and the starter just went yesterday (112,000 miles). I have been very happy with this car from day one. I believe, after reading this page, that I just happened top get one of the good ones. I have had to patch the exhaust four times, for 20 dollars each time, but that has been all I have done to the exhaust except to replace the muffler at 80,000 miles. The patches were done to the tubing between the cat and the muffler.