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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

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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

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

Visibility complaints

16 reports
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26,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Visibility

THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AT 26,000 MILES, FOLLOWED BY THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AT 30,000 MILES AND THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW AT 36,000 MILES. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED ANY OF THESE BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AFTER 24,000 MILES. LAST MONTH THE…

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THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AT 26,000 MILES, FOLLOWED BY THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AT 30,000 MILES AND THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW AT 36,000 MILES. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED ANY OF THESE BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AFTER 24,000 MILES. LAST MONTH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A LOCAL DEALER THAT VW IS PAYING FOR WINDOWS TO BE FIXED IN THEIR JETTAS PURCHASED AFTER SEPTEMBER, 1999. HOWEVER, THIS WILL NOT HELP THOSE OF US WITH PROBLEM WINDOWS IN CARS MADE BEFORE THEN. VW KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, THEIR DEALERS KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM, YET THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT VW GETS A COPY OF THIS, AND IF THEY WISH TO CONTACT ME TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION, THEY MAY DO SO, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW AGAIN, AND NEITHER WILL ANYONE WE KNOW BECAUSE OF THE VARIED PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH OUR CAR (THE WINDOWS ARE JUST ONE).*AK

NHTSA ODI #10045441

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2003
Visibility

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS ON VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT SHE WILL NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DELAER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE WINDOWS. BUT CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10031829

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2003
Visibility

CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDOW WOULD FALL INSIDE THE DOOR WHEN TRYING TO OPERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029925

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2003
Visibility

3 OUT OF THE 4 WINDOW REGULATORS ON MY 1997 VW JETTA HAVE GONE BAD WITHIN THE PAST 9 OR SO MONTHS. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE TO SEE IF ANY RECALL HAD BEEN ORDERED, AND FOUND NOTHING. DURING THE LAST INCIDENT (MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW), THE WINDOW MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN WOULD NOT GO BACK UP...IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIV…

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3 OUT OF THE 4 WINDOW REGULATORS ON MY 1997 VW JETTA HAVE GONE BAD WITHIN THE PAST 9 OR SO MONTHS. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE TO SEE IF ANY RECALL HAD BEEN ORDERED, AND FOUND NOTHING. DURING THE LAST INCIDENT (MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW), THE WINDOW MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN WOULD NOT GO BACK UP...IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIVING. THE OTHER 2 WINDOWS (BOTH BACK WINDOWS) FALL COMPLETELY DOWN. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE WINDOWS CAN "FALL" AT ANY MOMENT. WHAT IF YOU HAVE YOUNG PASSENGERS IN THE CAR? WHAT IF THE WINDOW FALLING CAUSES A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER? WHAT IF IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING, AND YOU CAN'T GET THE WINDOWS BACK UP? AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND MANY OTHER VW CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM..AND NO RECALL IS IN PLACE. NOT TO MENTION THAT REPAIR COST FOR 1 WINDOW IS OVER $200.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10028730

5,000 miles · May 8, 2003
VisibilityInjury

SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT , I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR WINDOWS, EVERYONE ON THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR AT SOME POINT COSTING AT LEAST 200.00 A POP , NOW I KNOW THINGS HAPPENS BUT I AM THE ONLY PERSON RIDING IN MY VEHICLE SO I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THE WINDOWS ARE BR…

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SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT , I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR WINDOWS, EVERYONE ON THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR AT SOME POINT COSTING AT LEAST 200.00 A POP , NOW I KNOW THINGS HAPPENS BUT I AM THE ONLY PERSON RIDING IN MY VEHICLE SO I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THE WINDOWS ARE BREAKING AND I WAS PRETTY SURE THERE HAD TO BE SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT IS JUST HAPPENING TO MY CAR AND I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS ALSO DETERMINED IF I WILL EVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN AND I WILL NOT RECOMMEND VOLKSWAGEN TO MY FRIENDS AT ALL, SOME OF WHICH I HAVE ALREADY TOLD I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN, BECAUSE IT WILL NICKEL AND DIME U TO DEATH.....I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE TO FIX ALL MY WINDOWS 1 MAYBE BUT ALL 4 OF MINE HAVE GONE BAD!!!AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THEM FREE....AND REIMBURSE ME MY MONEY 1 WINDOW COST ME 270.00 WITH PARTS AND LABOR, THAT IS CRAZY TO HAVE TO PAY THAT FOR 1 WINDOW, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN EVER....PLEASE SEE THAT THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER GET A COPY OF THIS..THANK YOU.. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018416

55,000 miles · Jan 17, 2003
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10002855

Official recalls

1

02V026000 · 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

2

EA00028 · 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.