1991 Volkswagen Jetta GL from North America - Comments

The car ran great when I got it. The only problems that I had was that this one part that connects the coolant hose to the engine and it has 2 sensors attached to it. The other problem were the original steel rims that were bent beyond repair. I got new Mile Miglia Spider rims for it. The master Break Cylinder failed on me. It leaked and the brake pedal would fall to the floor when you would sit at a light for too long. The car was very good to me until it came to breaking. The passenger wheel would always lock up faster than the driver side even if there was a person on that side. I hit a curb when a guy was pulling an illegal U-turn and had to replace the entire front suspension. Then not to long ago, I was driving down a road. I turned a bit to get back into my lane and the car skids around a turn. It hits the grass and on the other side, tips and rolls. Again, the suspension is shot, actually the car is totaled. There is a 1 inch crack in the transmission. The problem with Jetta's is that they are so tall and so thin. They handle really well at lower speeds, but once you hit 55mph, you have to watch out for turns. This was the A2 body style and I have heard of 2 otehr stories involving Jetta's being rolled (one with the A3 body and even the A4 {the A4 rolled 7 times and the A3 rolled 4 times}) each resulting in less damage than what happened to mine. Lucky for me, I was not hurt at all and had no pain the next day or any day after that.

The car was great for 90 degree turns at 40mph, but a slight twitch of the steeing wheel at 55mph can send you into a unpleasant roll.

I found this very interesting to read because I bought a 91 jetta off the show room floor and I still have it I have taken great care of the car and it has around 270'000 miles on it. and I just recently purchased a 2003 jetta a couple of years ago and my 91 jetta will out corner the 03 jetta all day long. so this review is very bogus and needs to be taken off the internet! the A2 body chassis is a 55-45% weight balance and the newer a4 style is 65 in the front and 35 in the rear.. I've taken corners in the a2 at speeds around 80-85 miles an hour and it doesn't have a lot of body roll hardly any.. the newer sedan is a lot heavier and there is quite a large amount of body roll at higher speeds than expected.

I bought a '91 diesel Jetta 2 years ago. We did a few basic repairs and have put on a pile of miles. It has started at 40 below (plugged in) and has been quite reliable. Have found that VW parts are often chewaper and much better thatn 'jobbers' - especially the transmission seals. My son drove the car at 90 kph (50 mph) for eight hours the other day and got 60 mpg!

Bought my wife an '86 gas model. While is is not as great on fuel (40mpg), it has traveled north to Yelloknife NWT and south to Texas without major problems.

I bought a '91 diesel a few weeks ago and have just gone through the car. It looks great! will licence it today.

My scond son is just about finished an '86 Golf. Will replace the old engine with a turbo'd model and the tranny with a five speed out of a gas car. (more overdrive) hope to get 65 mpg.

Re body roll: drive sensibly!! these are solid little cars and have a lot less rust under the body than many older models. Struts are pricey, but sooner or later you must put some in! Shocks in the back are easy to replace.

Love my 'dubs!

I don't think you could ever blame the rolling accident on the vehicle. I've owned my 1991 Jetta for 9 years now. I'm a semi crazy driver and I've hit the curb at least twice doing stupid stuff in bad weather. I can't believe that the only thing I got was a bent wheel! I've had my Jetta on 3 wheels before without losing control. This has to be one of the best handling cars I've ever owned. The only better handling car I've owned was a BMW and I would expect a BMW to be better...

"The car was great for 90 degree turns at 40mph, but a slight twitch of the steering wheel at 55mph can send you into a unpleasant roll."

Bogus assumption. Your curb incident most likely twisted your front alignment out and probably made YOUR car skiddish. I've driven a 91 GL diesel, 90 GTX 16V, and an 88 GTI, and the Mk2 chassis is bulletproof in the handling department, even the 91 diesel w/o sway bars. "Don't dis the game, dis the player"

I only rolled once, it was with my 87 5 speed jetta on a slick road in winter, i now own a 91 automatic 3 speed that leaks trans oil like crazy and doesn't shift up into 3rd gear when warmed up, all specialists/nechanics tell me I need a new tranny, forget it, too expensive new or used, anyway, i<ve turned 90 degree corners at nearly 100kph without rolling.

I find it hilarious that you say one of the most praised vehicles in the handling department rolls easy. That's excactly oppisite off what almost all VW drivers will say... along with anyone who knows anything about basic physics.

I am thinking about seriously buying a 91 jetta 1.8L and I was wondering because of the great handling, would it make a good drift car, and do they make many performance upgrades for the 91, I have been looking, and the oldest is 93.

Can any one help me. I need a diagram how to connect the fuel lines from the injection pump to the head. 1991 jetta 1.6 L Diesel. Pump is labeled A, B, C, D. A is top right corner. Thank You.

Just sounds like your car was in need of service... ALL cars need that occasionally. If your brakes don't work that is a subtle clue the car is telling you to fix them.