IllustrationTHE HOOD BECAME UNDONE WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEED AND SMASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A LARGE OBSTRUCTION OF VISION INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT. THE HOOD LATCH BECAME LOOSE TO WHERE IT DID NOT LATCH PROPERLY. *TR
1997 Volkswagen Jetta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 68.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
725–50K
750–75K
675–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
35 reports with mileage · 19 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Structure complaints
7 reportsDT: THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE WHEEL HOUSING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR PROTECTOR SHIELD. WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE HOOK IT MADE NOISE AND IT FELL OFF. WHEN IT FELL OFF IT STARTED TO SQUEAK. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY PUT IN ANOTHER HOOK . THE HOOK FELL OFF AGAIN, AND HE CALLED THE DEAL…
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DT: THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE WHEEL HOUSING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR PROTECTOR SHIELD. WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE HOOK IT MADE NOISE AND IT FELL OFF. WHEN IT FELL OFF IT STARTED TO SQUEAK. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY PUT IN ANOTHER HOOK . THE HOOK FELL OFF AGAIN, AND HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WOULD NOT HELP HIM. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO TOLD HIM THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE WRONGLY. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HOLE DRILLED FOR THE HOOK TO LATCH ONTO. THE LETTER STATED IT WAS A SAFETY RECALL, WK14. COULD NOT LOCATE THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER. *AK (11/08/05) TANK GUARD ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. *SC
THE CONSUMER'S 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS HAD MULTIPLE COMPONENT FAILURES. **NAR** *NM THERE WAS AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, THE A/C DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN, THE BODY HAD RUST DAMAGE, THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST TO THE MUFFLER, EXCESSIVE WORN TIRES, ENGINE AND TRA…
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THE CONSUMER'S 1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS HAD MULTIPLE COMPONENT FAILURES. **NAR** *NM THERE WAS AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, THE A/C DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN, THE BODY HAD RUST DAMAGE, THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST TO THE MUFFLER, EXCESSIVE WORN TIRES, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SENSORS. *SC *JB
PROBLEM WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE; DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO AND OUT OF REVERSE AND SECOND GEAR,FORCING YOU TO DOUBLE CLUTCH TO ENABLE SHIFTING. TICKING SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE. THIS RESULTED IN CHIPPED AND PITTED REVERSE IDLE GEAR AND GEAR TEETH MISSING. ALSO, SHIFTER LEVER VIBRATING, BECOMING LOOSE AND EV…
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PROBLEM WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE; DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO AND OUT OF REVERSE AND SECOND GEAR,FORCING YOU TO DOUBLE CLUTCH TO ENABLE SHIFTING. TICKING SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE. THIS RESULTED IN CHIPPED AND PITTED REVERSE IDLE GEAR AND GEAR TEETH MISSING. ALSO, SHIFTER LEVER VIBRATING, BECOMING LOOSE AND EVENTUALLY BREAKING OFF. VEHICLE ALSO RECALLED FOR A FIRE PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING. VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH DUE TO LITIGATION WITH PENN WARRANTY CORP. REFUSING TO REPAIR, STATING DAMAGE WAS DUE TO DRIVER MISUSE. *AK
VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. *MR THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAD TAKEN THREE WEEKS TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK AT THAT TIME. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION H…
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VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. *MR THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAD TAKEN THREE WEEKS TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK AT THAT TIME. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED. THERE WERE NUMEROUS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE SHOP FOR THE TIMING BELT AND THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR A PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, IGNITION ROTOR, AND THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. REPAIR WAS ALSO MADE TO THE WIRE FOR THE IGNITION COIL/CAM SHAFT. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULES. *SCC *JB
PLASTIC SUPPORTS HOLDING WINDOW LIFT UNIT IN REAR PASSENGER DOOR BROKE.*AK
BOUGHT JETTA GLS NEW 12/97. MOLDINGS FALL OFF CONSTANTLY. THREE OF FOUR POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, ALL NEEDING REGULATORS REPLACED. SLOW WIPER SPEED CUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. OIL LEAK. CAN'T LOCK DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE WITH MY MASTER KEY, CAN ONLY LOCK AND SET ALARM ON PASSENGER SIDE. TS
Official recalls
102V026000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jan 25, 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAN SUFFER ABRASION DAMAGE IF THE REAR TIRE GOES FLAT AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TIRE DISINTEGRATES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL FIT PASSAT VEHICLES WITH A NEW WHEEL HOUSE LINER THAT WILL BETTER PROTECT THE CAR'S FILLER NECK. JETTA VEHICLES WILL BE FITTED WITH A DIFFERENT METAL SHIELD DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ABRASION PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF TIRE DISINTEGRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.
PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.