1997 Volkswagen Jetta GL from North America - Comments

I have a 97 Jetta GLS. I am the second owner and bought it while in college. I've had it for 4 years now. One problem I had was what seemed to be a transmission problem. It is an automatic and when I would put in drive it would jerk from 1st to 2nd and so on. It wouldn't do it all the time though. I took into VW and they figured out that the filter in the transmission had fallen to the bottom of the pan and was blocking things. They also had to replace the seal on the box and put new fluid in for me. For anyone having problems, I would suggest having that transmission box and filter looked at. It cost me about $300, but was way better than buying a new trans! I had that work done about 2 years ago and haven't had a problem lately. It does suck that you cannot change the trans fluid by yourself though! The car has about 90K miles on it and is still running strong. However, my most recent problem is starting. I had a problem gettting it to turn on. I've had to put it in neutral before and push the brake in really hard and turn the key really hard. That worked a couple of times and now it doesn't work. I am not sure what this problem could be. I was told to check the neutral safety switch, starter solenoid, and the key switch. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was just told by a coworker that it might be the wiring harness near the key. I guess we shall see...

I'm glad to have this feedback, as I WAS considering a '97 GL. Although the asking price is good, the problems people have mentioned here seem overwhelming compared to the 2 Japanese cars I've owned (over 200K miles each).Having owned many cars, I'm not unrealistic about reliability and durability. But I've heard mostly bad feedback re VWs over the years. I've decided not to consider another one.

VW's are expensive and if you didn't know that before you bought one, that's your fault. I've experienced problems with two Jettas. My '96 GLS has needed the timing belt replaced (common around 100,000 miles), as well as the clutch, exhaust system, two window regulators, and a battery. They weren't easy repairs, but I've never gone to a dealer for these problems. I have a mechanic who does foreign cars and costs about 30% less than VW dealers charge. As for my '97 GLX; I just bought it (at 122,000 miles), and I've had to replace the whole cooling system (due to negligence and ignorance of previous owner). Never put any coolant or water in your VW that isn't the VW/AUDI coolant because it ruins the whole system over time. I also had to replace the secondary air pump, combo valve, and intake hose. Cost $2000 in repairs over a month and has driven like magic ever since. I'll stick with VW; the look and drive of the car are worth it for me. I have yet to drive another car that can handle as well as my Jettas.

Well, good to know these comments.

I've just purchased a 1997 VW Jetta at 127,000 mile for my daughter in college in Saint Paul Minnesota.

I am going to replace the timing belt, a preventative maintenance thing.

Today, she told me the Jetta balked in going up a hill. I tried to ease her worries, after having a 1988 Jeep Cherokee Laredo die from coil meltdown shorting the ignition module after a heater hose broke releasing steam into the engine compartment, telling her it could be bad bottom of the gas station storage tank gas that was crapping her engine.

But, if the VW Jettas are total German junk, why were there so many of them made and bought and why are there so few comments here?

Is this really a crud car or is everyone with Monday morning mistake cars just whinning about bad luck?

I really don't know. If it is a crud car, I would like to replace the timing belt and bail out of future crud car fix-its.

I have been reading about the jetta for a few days now and I wish that I would have got one or a good old chevy instead of an oldsmobile aurora. I got the car at 113,000 miles, it's at 119,000 and here it goes. the lady that had it before me had just replaced the transmission, I then replaced the injectors, spark plugs, wires, coil packs, water pump, radiator, water pump housing gaskets, two O2 sensors, and 12 disc changer. Now the passanger side powers seat is going out of wack, the windshield wiper switch is getting stuck in the on position, the pins in the steering wheel fell out so the steering wheel was loose, the oil pressure was dropping to around 0 after it got to normal operating temperature so I replaced the oil sending unit and switched to synthetic, the Bose sound system in it sounds like crap, and now the tach, speedometer, electronic dummy gages, door auto locks, electronic rear veiw mirror dimmer, and the driver side door lock just stopped working. plus I still need to replace the a/c condenser, both front wheel hubs, CV axle on passanger side, computer in dash that controles all of the electrical goodies, and this afternoon the rear driver side window didn't go down. I'm pretty sure that I bought a lemon but since I bought it at an auction there is nothing I can do about it. I know I'll end up selling the parts that I can and crushing the car one of these days. P.S. from here on out if it doesn't need to be fixed so that it can start, run, and stop, it's not getting replaced. So keep your jetta's running to well over 250,000 and be happy.

Have a 96 Jetta. Same transmission problem. Hangs to 4000 rpm. Also starting problem. Seems the only way around it was a remote starter. All other components fine. Still running with good power and handling at 180,000 miles. :)

1997 Jetta.

I agree with all of the other comments. I bought a used Jetta for my son. I have replaced the entire exhaust system, brakes and rotors, drivers side window motor - twice, transmission cable, drain plug on the transmission due to leaking, moulding on door came loose, check engine light comes off and on, replaced timing belt and water pump.

Now the rear window regulator needs to be replaced, and I also had to replace the latch mechanism on the passenger front door and the master cylinder for the brakes.

The car had 80,000 miles when I purchased it for $4500. That included tax and title. I thought it was a good price at the time, but this car has been a nightmare!!! I thought that VW had a good reputation, and I also noticed it was manufactured in mexico; I wonder if that has anything to do with it??

I had a Chevy S-10 I bought new in 1987, I drove it for 18 years and put in one battery and a head lamp. I think I learned my lesson.

I have a VW 97 Jetta GL. I am a mechanic, and the Volkswagen is one of the easiest cars I've ever worked on, and I've worked on everything from Geo to Cadillac, but still the Volkswagon is the easiest car to work on, but I don't have too much experience except my own car, because they are just that reliable.

I love the car, it has 110,000 on it and runs starts and shifts fine...

My car is a standard. I just put in high performance plugs, wires, ignition module, distributer, and cap, not because I needed to but I wanted to make it quicker. But it runs fine.

I would recommend that people who change their oil use Castrol Fully Synthetic, with STP Oil additive; it really helps the camshafts rotate smoother for a better quality idle sound.

I would not trade my VW for a Mercedes and I mean it. Good luck.

Good to know I am not the only one. Just bought a 97 Jetta, that has less that 65k miles from 1 owner. Now I know why they got rid of it. The transmission. It will not shift if it is going up a hill, on the freeway you can't accelerate or you end up downshifting and running at about 4k rpms. I can tell now that this had been an issue for a while with the previous owners, it runs hot, and you can start to hear the knocking in the engine from the constant excessive rpms. It was supposed to be a trans that you never had to replace, that is why it's a sealed transmission. It's the same trans in the Audi. 3k to replace, 1500 for the car?