1997 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Filed Dec 9, 2013 · Airbags, Brakes · 180,000 miles · CA · crash

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.

Filed Apr 15, 2010 · Engine, Visibility · 142,940 miles · CA

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

Filed Feb 1, 2010 · Electrical · OR

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.

Filed Jan 21, 2010 · Acceleration · 165,000 miles · MN

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.

Filed Apr 10, 2008 · Body · 118,000 miles · NJ

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.

Filed Sep 19, 2007 · Fuel system · 105,000 miles · CA

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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed May 23, 2007 · Electrical, Fuel system · CT

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.

Filed Mar 20, 2007 · Airbags, Electrical · 100,000 miles · CT

Replaced ignition coil for the third time in as many years!! Electric water pump replaced. Eater core exploded a couple months later while I was on the highway at 65 MPH with my child in the car! Couldn't see anything as car filled with antifreeze cloud. Belt driven water pump went a week later. Entire power steering rack needed to be replaced. Window regulator needed to be replaced twice. Door handle broke twice!.

Filed Nov 22, 2005 · Electrical, Visibility · 147,000 miles · MD

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.

Filed Jul 31, 2005 · Visibility · 79,000 miles · CA

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 the federal safety agency 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.