1997 Volkswagen Jetta: power window failure

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 Jul 1, 2005 · Visibility · 81,200 miles · CT

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.

Filed Mar 7, 2005 · Fuel system, Visibility · TX

'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.

Filed Nov 4, 2003 · Visibility · 26,000 miles · AL

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).

Filed Jul 21, 2003 · Visibility · PA

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 federal safety agency 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.