Volkswagen Jetta 1997

• Recall 83410 [USA]: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
  Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
  sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by the vehicle manufacturer.In order to determine if your aftermarket lamp assembly is affected by this noncompliance, please review the list of model numbers provided to us by sabersport.The list can be found under "document search" located at the bottom of your screen.Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 2084 [USA]: Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
  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.
  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.
  also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Fuel tank puncture investigation as of 20001228

  
  

  Show Content

Common OBD Error codes specific to this vehicle.

• P1582 [1] Pedal Position Sensor Disagreement btwn Sensors
• P0411 [1] Secondary Air Injection System Incorrect Flow Detected

A 1997 volkswagen jetta gt, equipped with frontal airbags was in a collision due to the use of aftermarket parts, which included after market ball joints not supplied from the dealer, this part failed after 12.7km on the highway traveling at 110km/h 65mph, the car steering was very shaky when entering a slight turn on the highway, the front right ball joint had fractured in the hub knuckle and had caused the wheel to collapse, the steering was no longer working because the tires where not on the ground, the car was resting on the rad support and front axle of the car, braking also failed due to the majority of the braking force being on the front wheels that were not making contact with the ground. The car then struck a guard rail 3 times before coming to a complete rest, airbags did not deploy as there was no need due to the angle in which the car struck the rail. Safety belts worked and cars mechanical operation (besides front suspension, and body damage) was still fine. Wheel bearings, brake pads and rotors were all replaced a week previous to crash. Beware non-volkswagen parts. *tr

It was at night rainy and cold. I turned on the heater and defroster because my car windows and whole inside of cabin were obscures by a fog. My defroster cleared the back window but all others not so i rolled down the windows and shut down the heater. I waited a while and used clothing to wipe the window. This was the third time in 6 weeks appx. I did turn on the fan alone to push brown fog out of the car. Today i checked my fluids the coolant was half gone in the reservoir so i topped it up. I saw on line vwof america has helped people in the past with a good will heater core but they told me 4-152004 that they would not help me. That is where i'm at no $ and i need my car for work. Thank you *tr

Accelerator sticks when in high rpm, if you hit the brake it slows the car down a little but the car continues to accelerate. This has happened 2 times when i'm going around 60pmh and have dropped into 4th gear to pass someone. I had to shut the car off to stop it from accelerating. Then when the car was shut off and in park and the emergency brake was up, i tried turning the car on and as soon as i turned it on it revved up really high. It finally turned on normally after in turned it on and off a couple times. The accelerator has also stuck when i was going around 70-75 and hit the accelerator to pass someone to get into a different lane, i did not drop into 4th gear, i was in 5th gear the whole time. This time i was in the middle of 5 lanes of traffic and didn't have the option to shut it off, i put the car in neutral and then shifted it back into 5th gear and that fixed it that time. *tr

The speedometer in any occasions does not mark the speed but if it marks the miles that are covered and it doest turn on the light of check engine to be able to know that it is trumping the speedometer, sometimes meanwhile the car lighting and in movement it stops working it is not the first car that i see that the same problem has this i meet more than 7 persons who have the same problem and who when we take it to the agency say to us that it does not have any shortcoming or perhaps it is some sensor that does not work but the car does not light the light of check engine to warn that a sensor has to be replaced i suppose myself that it is already a shortcoming of the speedometer. *tr

The 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

While driving on highway the vehicle started bucking until no longer running. The car was towed to a service station, where they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle started a couple of hours later that day. The mechanic stated that it might be an electrical problem or the fuel.*ak

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that the metal shield failed that protects the fuel tank filler neck. The dealer stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under nhtsa campaign id number 02v026000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap) and refused to perform the repair. The vin was invalid. The failure mileage was 105,000 and current mileage was 126,000.

Dt: the contact stated while driving at night there was a loss of exterior and interior lighting. Also, the windshield wipers were disabled. There was no prior warning. The lights will shut off, but intermittently come back on. The contact inspected the battery, fuses, and the alternator. The vehicle has not been to a dealer , and no repairs have been made due to the expense. *ak updated 02/07/06. *jb

While parking my 1992 volkswagen corrado back in late january 2005, my heater core leak all over my passenger floor, and had steam coming out the vents and fogging up my windows. After investigating on the internet i saw that this was a common problem on water cooled volkswagens. On 7/30/05 i had a similar event happen while driving my wife's 1997 volkswagen jetta. The windshield suddenly fogged up and had steam coming from the vents and a coolant smell in the car. This happened while driving on the highway. I had to wipe the windshield with my hand so that i can see out the windshield. I pulled over and checked my coolant tank, there was a drop in fluid. What is in common between both vehicles is they are equipped with the same engine, the 2.8l vr6. After researching again on the internet i have found out that the cars in nhtsa campaign id number : 92v050000 and most water cooled volkswagen manufactured after that date share the same part number for the heater core. It seems that the faulty part is the heater core. Please investigate this, luckily there was not much traffic when my windshield fogged up, and no one was hurt. Thank you for your time. *jb

This is another of the many customer complaints regarding the power windows in volkswagen cars. Currently, my front passenger window is stuck down and will not raise. It will require a new window regulator. My back windows are also currently stuck in the up position. I had previously brought the car in to check the right rear window. Volkswagen informed me that it needed a regulator and that the repairs would cost $800!!! For one window!!! I still had one more window to fix at that point. The repairs would cost almost 1/3 of the total value of my car!! So needless to say, my rear windows have been stuck up for the past 3 years. Now my front window is stuck down. This is a safety risk. The car is now completely vulnerable to theft and the elements. Doing some research, i have found hundreds of complaints regarding this defect. I have also found a technical bulletin regarding window regulator motors. Bulletin #9704039704f. This issue needs to be addressed by volkswagen and a recall needs to be issued. As i understand it, ive been lucky so far. Most of these defective windows simply fall into the car. This is a safety risk for the people in the car and needs to be dealt with.

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

'recall campaign' for volkswagen jetta 1997 install protective shield in right rear wheelhousing. *bf the consumer was chagred for a recall regarding the window regulators. *jb

'recall campaign' for volkswagen jetta 1997. *bf the dealer could not perform the recall on the vehicle. *nm

Turn signal switch sometimes work and sometimes doesn't... Can't lock doors on driver side with my master key, can only lock and set alarm on passenger side. Airbag light stays on... Vehicle cuts off randomly when slowing down or stopping... Without notice!*ak

My 1997 jetta was purchased new in august 1997 in canada. In 1997, the electric moon roof and the electric window had intermittent fault of not operating and were fixed. However after the warranty period one rear electric window could not be operated locally. In oct 28, 2004 the generator was faulty and was replaced by a re-built unit at owner's cost. In oct 30, the ignition switch was replaced at the extended warranty. *jb from oct 30 to 31, 2004, an intermitent fault occurred 5 times on the panel cluster, all readings in the cluster (tachometer, speedometer, temperaure and fuel gauges) drop to zero for a short period of time and resumed normal. The dealer has not yet located the cause of the intermitent fault. If the panel c;uster were found faluty, it would be a very cost repair. The electrical system on my 1997 jetta are exceeding unreliable with a high intermittent fault. It is the responsiblity of the vwoa to pay the repair cost for such faulty electrical system.

After a casual sunday afternoon drive ( in my 1997 volkswagen jetta ) at moderate speeds i parked the car for about 30 minutes while i ate lunch. I then started the car, pulled out of the parking lot, and put the blinker on to make a right hand turn. I stopped at a light, and while the car was in drive and the brake was on, the car lurched forward with sudden acceleration. I thought i was imaging it, but then immediately the car began racing wildly (like it was going 80mph). Luckily i had my foot firmly on the brake which prevented me from lurching forward into the oncoming highway traffic passing in front of me. I tried to put the car in neutral, but nothing i did stopped the car from racing. Finally, in a panic, i turned off the engine with the key, and put my blinkers on while i recovered from the shock of what had just happened. When the light turned green i started up the car and with fear in my heart pulled forward. The car acted normally for the remainder of my trip home. I plan to have the car towed to my mechanic tomorrow to investigate the problem. Still shaking. Gregory ryan. *ak

My complaint is regarding the throttle body on the motor. The car ran very erratically and stalled a number of times. The check engine light came on often. The throttle body was replaced. The old part is not available. *jb

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

On several different occasions now my 1997 volkswagen jetta gl has failed to start.Because this has happened at night and almost always away from home this has been a potentially dangerous situation. There is never any warning that this is going to happen. The car may be working fine and then the next time it is time to start it, it simply won't start. We have had to have the car towed several times now. Once out of a parking garage -at 5:00 pm during rush hour. Once i was by myselfon a sunday in a town i was not familiar with at a not very nice gas station getting gas when the car failed to start. I was there several hours before i could get in contact with family members to come and rescue me. Each time we have taken the car to a volkswagen dearlership and had it "fixed". My question is how many times do we have to have it fixed???? I have gone on various sites and the comment is that the 1997 jetta has starting problems. If this is so then doesn't this mean that the starter or the wiring is defective. Granted the car probably won't blow up because of this but a car should be reliable enough just to start - shouldn't it? We have had the car four years now and have had repeated failures. Sometimes it would start eventually but we have had 3 different occasions when it would not start and it went in for repairs. Twice ( two different dealerships) we were told it was a bad starter and it was supposedly replaced. The combined cost - $1100.00. The third time we protested and demanded that it be fixed - that time - $150.00. Now we are up against a fourth trip to a dealership. I am 56 years old and have had many different cars - old & new, but never have i had an experience like this!!! And i know i am not the only one!*ak

While driving consumer heard a noise. Rear passenger side wheel came off, and the brake drum split in half. Consumer was notified that wheel bearing failed, and right side wheel bearing was very weak.*ak

The engine check light came on and stayed on. The consumer took the vehicle for a smog check point test. The engine check light stayed on. The vehicle passed the emission test, but the examiner could not send the final approval to the motor vehicle department (dmv) until the defect was repaired. *ak the light had gone off, but came back on 6 months later. (crankcase dilution/malfunction cause for P1582 and the motor runs outside idle adaption due to high blow by/malfunction in throttle valve control module -j338) *sc *jb

While driving on a parkway doing approx 55mph, the rear passenger wheel assembly fell completely off of the car causing mechanical and body damage. The repair station stated the wheel bearing had frozen and basicaly burned off. There was alot of grease or other material on the rim when it was recovered.

When driving 25 mph consumer noticed black smoke coming from under the hood. Consumer turned the vehicle off, opened the hood, and noticed flames coming from the engine. Consumer called the fire department to put out the fire. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. *ak

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

For several years the cruise has had intermittent engagement. (when the set button is pressed, the cruise does not engage). We took the vehicle to the vw dealer and they said the cruise module was bad. We did not have $380 to pay for cruise, so we elected to not repair. But one time, without warning , the cruise engaged and pulled the gas pedal down, almost to the floor. My wife was driving the vehicle with my son in the car and she said she is positive did not press any button on the cruise. She was driving at highway speed and the pedal just started pulling down. She shifted into neutral and the engine revved way up. When she pulled to the side and tried shutting the cruise button to off , and even shutting the car off it stayed stuck. After several minutes it unstuck. I am concerned that my car and others may engage the cruise without warning and cause an accident. *jb

Vehicle shifts rough between lower gears, and has gotten progressively worse for a period of 1 year. The transmission has lost 4th gear and is experiencing electrical failure as well. *la

Front driver and passenger doors will not open from inside or outside when it is too cold outside. Dealer says that the vaccuum actuators (whatever those are) are the problem and need to be replaced, at significant cost. Lso, driver's door lock came out completely with the key. Dealer replaced the lock. Also, coolant light flashes red when car is first started in cold weather. Coolant levels and fuse are ok. Also, side trim on front passenger door is coming loose from the door.*ak

We bought the 1997 jetta used in 2000. Since then it had it's ignition changed (new key to start engine). The third starter was just put in. We thought the new starter would fix the problem of the engine not turning over, but it's back again less than 21 days after the starter was put. It's in the shop , starter was checked; it's not the starter. *jb

Th ignition lock cylinder has broken and been replaced on my 1997 jetta twice. *ak

Engine shuts down when sitting at lights. Car has been in shop 4 days problem cannot be found.*ak

While traveling on the highway and without prior warning vehicle will shutdown. *ak

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

Consumer stated that window would fall inside the door when trying to operate. Dealer notified. *ak

While driving and with no warning vehicle will stall. It will be hard for consumer to control the vehicle. *ak

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

I bought the car on march 5, 2003 and after 2-3 days the engine light came on! I made more than several attempts to have the repairs done at lithia vw in reno, nv; and the only repairs half way done was the secondary air injection valve and hoses, but not the sai pump as well as the tumbler of the ignition. This is a lemon from day one and i have several proof of the problem even from dmv of nevada in their dtc's which is the diagnostic trouble code descrition of P0411-secondary air injection system!!!!! No one will help me, and i bought the car to enjoy and to not worry of breaking down, but now.....It sits in the driveway....So the warranty won't be voided, and that my car doesn't get worse. I do have many documents to back this claim and the dealer-budget moters won't help, nor will the aul warrenty co. That i pay.

Past year: auto door locks failed, could not open either front door; transmission failed, exhaust system rusted out, headlights out, signals out, wheel bearings need replaced, air bag light stays on, have not been able to drive car in nearly 1 year, required nearly $5000 worth of damage. *jb

Significant fuel leak from the top of fuel tank due to failed seal for fuel sending unit.

I bought the 97 jetta used in oct. 1999. I am the second owner. Then in august of this year the transmission started to fail and it turned out that i needed a new transmission. I feel that the car is too new and has few too many miles for this to occur. I have tried to get volkswagen to help me out but they refused because the warranty is expired. I think the warranty should have nothing to do with it. I have seen other people now who have had the same type of problems with their vehicles. This leads me to believe that if there are several owners out there with transmission problems then the manufacturer should have recalled the car and fixed it free of charge. Thank you,[xxx] mr parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(b)(6).

Power doors are malfucntioning, unable to unlock doors intermittently. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak

While driving there was a whining noise that came from the front of the vehicle. Dealer checked drive train and wheels and found cupping of the left front tire. All four tires were replaced, balanced and aligned. Noise after tire change. Dealer replaced front and rear factory installed wheel bearings. *tt, ak

Both passengers power windows fell down inside door. Vehicle has not been examined by dealer.*ak

The rear passenger tire came off on the highway while going 35mph. The wheel bearing axle failed causing the vehicle to drop to the ground with the brake drum still attached to it .The dealer was notified and the problem was due to neglecting the wheel bearing for regular service. Nlm the brake drum outer and inner wheel bearings were replaced. The cooling system was loosing coolant at times. *yh

Jetta was evaluated at vw repair shop and was tested for several days over the last 4 working days. Electrical and fuel sytem was checked and nothing found so far. Car engine stalls intermittently regardless of speed or temperature of engine. Have not driven it on the freeway due to safety concerns. Was driving on city streets and suddenly the engine cuts out while driving. Has nothing to do with slowing down or accelerating. Concerned that there may be other reported problems similar to this in this model but cannot find any information.

I purchased a used 1997 vw jetta gl in november of 1999. When i purchased the car, the dealership refused to give me a warranty. They said that they didn't offer the warranty with cars over 55,000 miles, mine had 55,500 miles. In late september of 2001 (69342 miles), my automatic transmission went out, during rush hour, in a high traffic area. About 1-2 months prior i had the transmission serviced, including a fluid change. I was forced to replace my transmission, and had several problems with it after. The shop that i had replace it said that they have seen many jetta's with this problem. I still am having problems, with the car. Problems include: check engine light clicks on and off for no reason, not starting in warmer weather, irregular idleing, and sticky locks. I am aware that these cars have electrial problems that could cause unsafe conditions. I do not believe that the customer should be forced to pay for these coastly repairs, when so many cases exsits. *la

The battery exploded as consumer tried to start the vehicle. Possible manufacturing defect. *yh

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

While driving noticed some smoke coming from under vehicle. Consumer pulled over/ car alarm sounded, and smoke started pouring out of doors. Cause might be electrical. Wires under seat malfunctioned and caught on fire. Please provide any further information.*ak

While driving 35 mph consumer swerved to avoid a dog, when he drove back onto pavement vehicle hit sharp edge of pavement. Vehicle then went into a uncontrolable spin, skidded and slid down a 4 foot embankment. Vehicle was totalled. *ak consumer states he used all proper anti skid steering procedures, however vehicle was uncontrollable *slc

Every volkswagen owner i have ever talked has had one of these windows fail and yet volkswagen not only hasn't fixed the problem they kept the design the same when they redesigned much of the rest of the car. I know its just a power window. But think about a 4 sqft hole opening up in your car as you drive down the freeway with a child or pet in the back seat.*ak

My passagner air bag showed defect. My engine light has come on for no reason.*ak

Vehicle was in house garage and did not start. Consumer contacted aaa person who tried to jump with battery. Then, smoke was coming from seat belt hole where disconnected battery cable was located. Insurance stated that fire was due to a broken wire from post into door where hot wire grounded and started fire.*ak

When applying brakes there is a loud streaking grinding noise. Dealerdship is aware of problem. *ak

Consumer was traveling on highway and another vehicle made an illegal u turn in middle of highway. Consumer was trying to avoid hitting other vehicle by swerving. Instead, she hit center of vehicle. Upon impact, dual airsbags didn't deploy. Dealership was aware of problem.*ak

Consumer was traveling on highway and transmission went out without prior notice, vehicle will not go into forward. Driver's side airbag deployed without an accident. Dealership was aware of problems.*ak

While driving, timing belt broke causing immediate loss of power, this caused other engine damage, valves were bent and a cylinder head was replaced, consumer states that the owner's manual only requires that inspection and maintenance be done at 60,000 miles. *slc

Add't dealer repair info: northland vw. Cin oh. Air system smells rotten, water pump went out due to belts going bad, electrical malfunctions caused car to stall & not operate, cigarette lighter is stuck -can not pull out. This car has been in the repair shop 9 times in 3 yrs.

Battery exploded while turning the ignition, dealer service rep mentioned that he had seen several cases of the same problem. *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

Multiple sidewall cracking, all tires. Tread: good to excellent. Sidewall cracking not noted until "fix-a-flat" was noted to squirt out of sidewall. All tires then checked; all had multiple cracking.*ak (tiresize: p195/60r14)( dot number: tire size: p195/60r14 )

Air conditioner stopped working. Engine wouldn't hold freon. Dealer found a leak in evaporator, and admitted that it was a defective part. Consumer responsiblity for coverage. *ak

The rear passenger window regulator has broken (twicein the rear and once in front) where the plastic is molded to the metal. The hydraulic steering unit started leaking at the seals of the unit causing the rubber boot to disintergrate. Loss of power steering resulted. Volkswagen requires replacement of the whole unit including tie rod ends (not repairable). Fuel storage tank is leaking somewhere between the car and the tank.*ak

The transmission pops out of 5th gear unexpectedly ussually at speeds over 50 mph. This leads to a sudden loss of acceleration and could lead to panic and a loss of control. *ak

My 1997 vw jetta has transmission shifting probelms. It shifts roughly as it changes to the last gear on the automatic transmission. It has been to the dealer on several occassions but the problem does not go away.

This vehicle needed replacement to the alternator twice. The cause of this problem is unknown. In addition the transmission has been repaired once. When this did not work it was then replaced with a rebuilt transmission.

Power window regulator failed. Yh

Two of my window regulators and motors broke last august. The other two broke a couple of months ago. The car has not been in an accident and i rarely use the rear windows. Volkswagen will not replace. I was charged $60 for diagnosis... Each window costs $600 to fix at the vw dealer. I am now driving with only one back window operating.

Consumer buckled up and drove around, then parked vehicle. When she tried to buckle up again, she couldn't because the orange button did not return up. This happened on the driver's side. *ak

Air bag indicator light would not go off. Diganostic performed by dealer revealed that ignitor was bad. After some discussion, dealer agreed to pay for air bag if i paid for labor. Although i agreed, i was suprised to hear that airbags do not fall under the same warranty requirments as seat belts. Although i'm thankful that vw agreed to cover the $600 for the airbag, i do not believe i should have to cover the $100 in labor for a safety device on a vehicle that is less than 3 years old and less than 50,000 miles.

On the first occasion we noted that battery acid had overflowed and concacted the power steering reservoir, which is attached to the battery tray. The reservoir was replaced, this worked for severa months. On the 2nd occurance, the vehicle was moving. The fluid poured out of the reservoir in about 30 to 40 seconds. The service manager then replaced the alternator regulator, battery tray and power steering reservoir. He also installed a seperate drain line from the battery vent to an area which was clear of any wiring/reservoirs. The battery was also replaced two months after purchse, it is thought that the overcharge ruined the battery. I did write a letter to volkswagen america, describing the problem and remedy. They replied that this had not happened before, thanks for the notice.

My front windshield has cracked 5 times at very low speeds. It seems like even if a fly hits it it tends to crack/chip.*ak

Left rear tire blowout. Yh

While driving at 5 mph hit another vehicle on the side, and both air bags on consumer's vehicle did not deploy. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Fuse cover fell off, coverning the brakes, consumer lost control, resulting in a collision. Dealer has been notified. *ak

Cigarette lighter when glowing how pops out of its holder, windshield fluid odor is carried into car by vent system

Door latches freeze and doors will not open from the inside or outside of the car - recurring design problem.

While driving at any speed and without prior warning vehicle will die out in traffic or whenever the consumer is driving. *ak

Rear wheel blowout, tire separation, defective tires. Tire blewout on the hwy the car spun out of control and rolled. (dot number: mkhcfjdr13 tiresize: 195/60r14)

Tire blowout resulting in vehicle rollover accident, injuries to consumers.(goodyear eagle 195/60r14) mjs

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

The first window failure incident included the two front windows and the dealer replaced the regulators and motors. I had to pay 20% of the total cost. The second window failure include the same two front windows and also the rear right window. The dealer is quoting a price of approximately $1,354.00 plus tax. I contacted the manufacturer and they said they would pay up to 50% of the cost of the parts. I feel that these items are a defect and they should make repairs at no cost to me.*ak

Clutch failed.

Clutch failed to engage in stop and go traffic while driving. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak

Ignition switch failed. Yh

Transmission experienced hesitation at speeds of 40 mph, repair required installation of extra resistor wire to maintain basic settings. Mjs

Power window motor failed on passenger side.

Due to a faulty alternator and battery acid spilling onto engine, power steering blew out. Dealer replaced a tube on the battery so the acid can run through the tube and spill onto the ground. Dealer also mentioned that it was not the orginal battery. But consumer never changed battery and bought the vehicle brand new. Please provide further information. *ak

Rotors warped and front brakes failed causing vibration.

While driving at 30mph consumer hit a piece of rubber on the road and the suspension did not hold, and caused the vehicle to spin out of control. Consumer has not contacted the dealer. *ak

Power door locks failed. *yc

Left front valve stem wouldn't hold. Yh

Rotors warped causing vibration in the steering wheel.

Malfuctioned iginition switch is causing starter to engage when applying clutch. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak

Panel under drivers side came apart.

Transmission, brake, and gas gauge malfunction, and musty smell from ac. Although these and other repairs have been made the ac still smells and the transmission does not shift smoothly.

This vehicle is a safety hazard, the transmission gets stuck in one gear or shifts sporadically. I nearly missed causing an accident on two separate occasions when the transmission suddenly upshifted while i was driving approximately 55mph, almost causing me to lose control. The dealer has tried to fix the problem 7 times already. They have even put in a new transmission, and the problem still persists. I am convinced that this car can't be fixed, and that it's a safety hazard. Please help me in getting the situation resolved. Thankyou vincent bannister. *ak

Driving approximately 55mph and hit a piece of metal that was lying in the highway and both air bags deployed. *ak

Driver's seat contained faulty wiring, causing fire.

Windshield wiper makes noise while in use.

Brake pads continually failing causing vibration.

About to drive off when automatic transmission malfunctioned, causing rpm's to go high, but vehicle did not accelerate. Could have caused an accident. Been to dealer, dealer reprogrammed the transmission shifter, but problem is reoccurring. Please provide further information. *ak

While driving 30mph vehicle was inv0lved in a collision . The passive restraints malfunctioned, causing driver to hit the windshield even though the air bag deployed. *ak

During vehicle front end collision no deployment of air bag resulting in injuries. (attorney for consumer).

Transmission originally started out not shifting into drive until the car reached 50 mph. I have repeatedly complained of this problem over the past 4 years and now my car is at the point that i have to park on an incline so that when i start my car and go forward i just hope it goes into gear, it will roll slowly, and after it warms up, even in 70 degree weather or above it is a prayer if it starts. Going into reverse is not a given. Don't even go there. Two dealership service managers say that it is a transmission problem and that the mfg. Should replace the transmission, however they decline to do so. I have to be in traffic and to take off puts me in danger and other drivers. Mid america motors on no. Lindbergh says that it has to be fixed. Suntrup who sold the car doesn't want anything else to do with this car, even though phyllis suntrup service coordinator knows that volkswagen should fix it, her hands are tied. After we have had two other dealerships look at the problem, we now know and distrust suntrup to do anywork on the car. I want my car fixed, before i am killed in it. I have consistently asked for this problem to be fixed over the last 4 years, now i am running out of time. Bob at mid america says i should take this higher and you guys are it. When i bought this the advertisement was based on you could drive this vehicle for 200,000 miles. Please help me, believe it or not i am a one car family which is unheard of today, but we are, and we just want it to work properly. My first and last volkswagen. *ak

Driver's door would not open from inside. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak

While driving the vehicle an object from the road hit vehicle from underneath and split the fuel tank which caused between 10-12 gallons of fuel to leak. *ak

Exhaust pipe extends underneath the bumper, revealing raw edge of pipe. Consumer sustained injury to the hand when washing vehicle, injury may also be sustained if brushing against the bumper parallel\horizontally. Consumer called volkswagen america #44730. *ak

Consumer experiencing an ongoing problem with vehicle vibrating while driving. Vehicle been in/out of dealer shop and informed that consumer needs to replace tires. Consumer complied, and condition still occurs. Dealer still insists that the problem is still in consumer tires. Dealer now says that brake pads and rotors need to be replaced. *ak *ml

Vehicle crashed into another vehicle at standstill; dual airbags deployed; driver's airbag deployed upon impact, passenger's airbag deployed 5 seconds after impact; passenger pregnant. *ak

Driver hit the curb and the driver's side airbag deployed and hit the driver in the head. The driver was possibly killed by the airbag. *ak

Problems with ignition switch and tire equipment.*mr the dealer replaced the ignition switch and starter assembly. On another occasion, while the consumer was driving, the rear tire fell off the vehicle, themechanic informed the consumer it was due to ball bearing seizing which caused a tremendous amount of heat. *cb *jb

The transmission is slipping and the car has only 73000 miles on it. *ak

When attempting to accelerate from a stop light vehicle was very sluggish and moved slowly. Dealer performed diagnostic testing and determined that the transmission had failed.*ak

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