1997 Volkswagen Jetta GLS from North America - Comments

Driver's side power window replaced 2x.

Back passenger power window (behind driver) needs replacement -- stopped working right after the warranty ran out.

Passenger side rubber trim melted off in during a regular summer day.

Up until this year (2005), the above was it--regular upkeep kept my Jetta running great.

Now: Timing belt recently changed--car stalls at stoplights during rain; motor lugs up hills when unloaded and used to be powerful enough to go up same hill in third gear.

Finally today the car simply will not start--moreover, the alarm went off after I tried to start is twice--while I was in the car!

Power window regulators cost 250 a pop --not counting labor!

EVERYONE who has owned a Jetta has complained about the shoddy power windows!

Still, VW does NOTHING!

Part costs are not in sync with the simple type of car a Jetta is--a plebe car, not a Beamer, after all.

Had same problems on my 96 change the wires and plugs and distributor cap should start right up and if not your O2 sensors are shot their both on your cat one in the front one in the back about 60 bucks for both made by Botch, I hit puddle and car died on me cuz of the cap and wires (which in turn fowled out my plugs) and then I found out about the O2's when I had to change my cat $130 (i did the cat and O2 my self easy job hard to get the cat off) don't go to the dealer they don't really help unless you get everything they tell you to which is usually well over 2g's.

I just bought my first VW yesterday. a 97 Jetta GLS. funny everything I read is the power windows, I have had my less than 24 hours and the pass. side rear window came off track. Hope it is not a regulator, but it does help that work in the auto glass industry and can get parts cheap and labor for free. I love the car so far and am impressed so far. I have loved the way the Jetta looks for years and finally bought one. It already has 130k miles on it, but it runs as if it were brand new. Hopefully will be a long run of myself owner VWs.

I have a '97 GLS and have gotten 138,000 miles out of it so far, it's a great car and a lot of fun to drive!