1997 Volkswagen Jetta GLS from North America - Comments

A/C broke within 8 months of purchase, fixed under warranty (purchased used from VW dealership)

A/C broke again at 85K.

Trim started to peel off at 50K. Was told that I couldn't purchase new trim in the same color as my car, so I opted to have it reattached with glue or tape at a body shop. Every summer the trim falls off. This year I finally gave up and am leaving it off, despite being told by my mechanic that doing so can cause problems - there are holes in the door underneat the trim that are exposed when the trim is gone, rain can get into the door and who knows what will happen. I just don't care any more.

I had to replace the regulator on a rear window at 70K. I had to replace the regulator AND motor on the driver's window soon after. The other rear window is broken (but at least it's broken in the up position, so I don't care). The passenger's window is still working, but makes funky noises so I don't ever open it more than a crack - I'm counting on it breaking any time now. This is this most ridiculously unnecessary expense - the regulator part alone costs over $200, plus labor. It's awful.

Serpentine belt and another belt had to be replaced at 65K.

Temperature warning light started coming on at 60K. Had to replace coolant reservoir as it was leaking. Also there was a problem with the temperature gauge (it is a separate area in the coolant reservoir and coolant wasn't getting into that area, so the gauge always thought we were low on coolant).

Windshield washer fluid reservoir cracked at 65K - I patched this myself and haven't had a problem since.

Every time the battery is disconnected and reconnected it causes some kind of glitch in the idle. Several times I have had to return the car to the mechanic because the rpms start dipping very low, 300-400, while braking, and the car will shudder and threaten to quit. When this has happened after having the car repaired somewhere other than my usual VW-expert mechanic, the mechanics usually drive the car around the parking lot a few times and tell me nothing's wrong. I have to insist they take it around the block to get them to believe me about the idling problem. (This probably has something to do with me being female.)

At 70K noticed the gear shift was wobbly and in danger of popping out of gear as I was driving. I thought it was going to turn out my clutch was blown, but fortunately it was only a tiny piece in the gearshift itself that needed replacing to tighten it up.

Paint peeling off rear bumper at 85K.

Good luck getting it repaired anywhere other than the super expensive dealership. A lot of neighborhood mechanics won't even work on VWs at all. I was lucky to find a VW specialist in my city (albeit way across town) that is knowledgeable, honest, and reasonably priced (compared to the dealership).

This was my first car that I picked out myself (as in, not a hand-me-down). I loved the way it looked and still think Jettas are quite sharp looking. I have to commend it on several points:

Handling is fantastic. I can corner like nobody's business and snap U-turns where even smaller cars would require a 3 point turn.

I live in a hilly area and was told when I moved here to expect to kill my clutch sooner rather than later. On the contrary I'm almost at 100K and the clutch is still going strong (knock on wood).

Truly a super fun car to drive, gets pretty good power for a 4-cylinder.

I have the original sound system, speakers included, and it actually sounds great. I've had several people be amazed that it's the factory speakers.

Overall, the problems I've had with this car have been frustrating and I've probably spent more on it than I would have with a similar Japanese car. I think, from reading the other reviews on here, that 1997 was a bad year for the Jetta. I wouldn't absolutely rule out buying another VW in the future, but I'm shopping right now for something more reliable - a Honda or a Toyota probably.

I would put the side molding back on or cover those holes. Otherwise you get rust inside out on the doors and possible window failure from water getting in there.

Here's what I did:

1.) strip all adhesive junk off both molding and door surface.

2.) use some sort of cleaner to get the door surface clean of any dirt or anthing.

3.) buy some 3m auto adhesive 2 sided tape and some contact glue of some sort.

4.) put the 3m tape on the molding.

5.) heat up door surface.

6.) put some glue on molding where there is no tape (middle of molding)

7.) put the molding onto the door surface.

8.) press against it for a few minutes and keep it warm.

9.) apply glue in any trouble spots.

That's how I fixed my door moldings and they look great now.

I'm the original poster and now, six months later (Sept. 06) I wanted to add a postscript. I just got rid of this Jetta. Since I wrote the review in April 06, I have had to replace yet another broken window regulator/motor, had to replace the ignition switch and entire ignition column (leaving me with two keys - the original for the doors and a new one for the ignition), and the last straw was the A/C compressor, which had already been replaced twice, crapping out again.

Rather than fork over another $1000+, I bought myself a nice, new, Japanese car.

My 1997 Jetta is working perfect. It has 119500 miles on it and it runs very well.

I am tired of hearing people complain about having a very nice car that is 12 years old and they are complaining that something is breaking! The car is 12 years old; you're gonna have to put some money in to it!

The only things that have ever broken on my car are the brake master cylinder and brake master cylinder. After the car has been driven for 12 years, I think it's just what happens to older cars.

Also, you young people driving these cars don't think you even have to take care of them; you need to give them oil changes every 3,000 miles. If VW's don't get their oil changed, they will not last long...

And if you are having exterior problems like the trim falling off, any auto part store has the tape to use and it works; I used it for mine.

OK, I want to make it real clear to anyone thinking about buying a Jetta built between 1993-current. You are buying TROUBLE.

I don't care how much money you put into a Post 1993 VW product it's never going to be reliable. I had a 1996 Jetta GLX VR6 for 1.5 years, constant problems that cost me nearly $3000 in repairs. EVERYONE I have talked to had similar problems.

We are talking about MAJOR issues here, not piddly cosmetic stuff. VW IS CRAP.

I would not touch another VW with a 20 foot pole. If you gave me a VW I would sell it immediately.

I've had nothing but cosmetic problems with my 97 Jetta. Every mechanical part has been great. I purchased it from a guy who didn't take care of it. It would barely idle when I bought it from him and it stayed in first gear forever. I replaced all fluids and filters and its ran great ever sence. It seems a lot of people think a bi-yearly oil change will keep your car running forever.

To 4th January, 2008:

Original poster here. Please don't make assumptions about me based on my youth. I am a car lover and took great care of that Jetta--better than it deserved. It was a few years old when I bought it, so I can't speak for the previous owner, but I took it for oil changes every three months like clockwork, barely put 12,000 miles/year on it, never got in an accident with it, regularly had the fluids checked and replaced, and took care of every issue as soon as it arose, so don't tell me I didn't take care of my car.

If you read my review, you would have noticed that I was not complaining about about a 12 year old car having some mechanical problems. The car was only 3 years old the first time the A/C compressor died. It was only 5 years old when the coolant sensor malfunctioned. It was only 7 years old when the power windows began failing. It was only 10 years old when the entire ignition column had to be replaced. You seriously think that's normal wear and tear?

Regarding the rubber trim--I had it professionally reattached FIVE times before giving up, using tapes, glues, rubber gum, etc. It would hold until the temperatures climbed above 90 the next summer, and then I'd come out to my car in the morning and find half the strip dangling off the door (it was always the passenger side, never had problems with the strip on the driver's side).

I do live in a hot climate and realize that may have contributed to the quick wear of the belts, the multiple cracked reservoirs, and the trim falling off. But no one else I have ever known that drives a car here has had that many problems, with that frequency.

Anyway, I don't begrudge you your love of your car and I'm glad you didn't end up with a maintenance nightmare like I did. But your experience doesn't invalidate my experience, and it doesn't mean that I didn't take care of the car as well as you did. Considering the sheer number of complaints (many for the same set of problems--power windows, trim), I'd venture to guess that your experience might be the unusual one.

Well I guess I'm in for a surprise myself. I have just recently purchased a 97 Jetta for my well deserving daughter for approximately 2,800. And the previous owner did mention the replacement of several items.

Such as air compressor, transmission, radio and timing belt. Now the owner religiously took the vehicle in for maintenance and tune-ups, (paperwork to prove so).

However the front windows don't roll down, the alarm is jacked up, the glove box doesn't open and for a newer air compressor it sure doesn't blow cold! Freon "maybe" OK, but that should only drop a 1/2 pound every 10 years.

My guess is I'm in for a lot of cursing!!!

Unless you drive a taxi or live in the southern US, I don't consider A/C a necessity and is a frivolous luxury option... same as power windows. Really, who needs them? Enough important things can break on any car, why add to the potential of more going wrong by putting faith in mere gadgets & toys?

Regarding the weatherstrip attachment, I believe the no-stick problem is most likely due to not thoroughly cleaning the old adhesive off both the door and the weatherstripping. This old adhesive takes me about 30 minutes to scrub off both surfaces completely. They must be completely clean. Not certain but I think I used Acetone and paper towels. Lacquer thinner might work better but wear good rubber gloves. 3M makes a good adhesive remover but it is very expensive. Then use the expensive 3M double sided tape. Mine is 3M #06383, 20 yards I think was over $40. I've glued three so far no failure over three years. Doing the 4th today, a new water pump and an oil change with Valvoline Max Life. My wife's car has over 180K and still going just fine but we should probably sell it soon. Give the cars a break, find a better mechanic. I do all my own work except VW auto tranny fluid change, which must be changed.

I just bought a 97 Jetta, and had to repair several things on it, but mere luxury. Motor wise the car is great. Cosmetically I live in a hot salty place and it shows. I think I might sell it soon. But still I love it! (selling it to get something cheaper to fix)

Everything that had went wrong will go wrong on any car, the window motors probably went from excess moisture from your trim not being on, and as for the coolant sensor, it was ten years old, at ten years old there's a lot of crap that starts to need to be replaced, on any car.