Total Complaints
10 filings
VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN · model year
1997 VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN
10 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997VOLKSWAGENVOLKSWAGEN carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 VOLKSWAGEN is electrical system:ignition:switch with 2 filings, followed by equipment:recreational vehicle/trailer (1) and tires:sidewall (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 33 investigation files overlapping the 1997 VOLKSWAGEN, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER | 1 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20041122SUSPENSION
COMPLAINT FM ELLEN O'BRIEN LEASED / PURCHASED A VOLKSWAGEN (VW) JETTA 4 DR VEHICLE... ES10003874 RESPONDED TO THIS LETTER..... THE VEHICLE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CUPPING. THE NOISE CAME BACK TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEN THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
20041122TIRES
COMPLAINT FM ELLEN O'BRIEN LEASED / PURCHASED A VOLKSWAGEN (VW) JETTA 4 DR VEHICLE... ES10003874 RESPONDED TO THIS LETTER..... THE VEHICLE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CUPPING. THE NOISE CAME BACK TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEN THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
20030502VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 97 JETTA SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 1999. IT BEGAN WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 2000 WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 35,000 MILES. THE DEALER IN NAPA REBUILT MY TRANSMISSION. EVER SINCE THEN, MY GEARS HAVE SEEMED UNUSUALLY STIFF AND TIGHT. ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, MY IGNITION FAILED AND THE DEALER IN NAPA REPLACED THAT. THIS PAST SUMMER (2002) I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF MY AUTOMATIC WINDOWS. IT WAS GETTING STUCK AND LATER FELL INTO THE DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE IT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH TWO OF THE OTHER WINDOWS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE 3 OF THE 4 REGULATORS/LIFTS. THIS COST ME QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AS THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR IS GONE. OVER THIS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CLUTCH/GEAR BOX/ TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I AM TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER TOMORROW FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK (12/30/02). NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY VW JETTA. THIS I
Mileage: 35,252
20030502POWER TRAIN
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 97 JETTA SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 1999. IT BEGAN WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 2000 WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 35,000 MILES. THE DEALER IN NAPA REBUILT MY TRANSMISSION. EVER SINCE THEN, MY GEARS HAVE SEEMED UNUSUALLY STIFF AND TIGHT. ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, MY IGNITION FAILED AND THE DEALER IN NAPA REPLACED THAT. THIS PAST SUMMER (2002) I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF MY AUTOMATIC WINDOWS. IT WAS GETTING STUCK AND LATER FELL INTO THE DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE IT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH TWO OF THE OTHER WINDOWS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE 3 OF THE 4 REGULATORS/LIFTS. THIS COST ME QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AS THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR IS GONE. OVER THIS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CLUTCH/GEAR BOX/ TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I AM TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER TOMORROW FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK (12/30/02). NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY VW JETTA. THIS I
Mileage: 35,252
20030502ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 97 JETTA SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 1999. IT BEGAN WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 2000 WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 35,000 MILES. THE DEALER IN NAPA REBUILT MY TRANSMISSION. EVER SINCE THEN, MY GEARS HAVE SEEMED UNUSUALLY STIFF AND TIGHT. ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, MY IGNITION FAILED AND THE DEALER IN NAPA REPLACED THAT. THIS PAST SUMMER (2002) I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF MY AUTOMATIC WINDOWS. IT WAS GETTING STUCK AND LATER FELL INTO THE DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO RAISE IT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH TWO OF THE OTHER WINDOWS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE 3 OF THE 4 REGULATORS/LIFTS. THIS COST ME QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AS THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR IS GONE. OVER THIS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CLUTCH/GEAR BOX/ TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I AM TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER TOMORROW FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK (12/30/02). NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY VW JETTA. THIS I
Mileage: 35,252
20030108ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUES TO SEND START SIGNALS TO THE STARTER AFTER THE CAR HAS ALREADY STARTED. THE CAR IS A 97 VW PASSAT VR6. THIS CHOICE IS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE MODEL TYPE LISTING.
20010821ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER PURCHASE IN 2/1997 ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY BAD IGNITION - IT WAS REPLACED. NOW HAVE TO REPLACE AGAIN B/C ENTIRE IGNITION MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE. BAD WIRING UNDER THE REAR SEATS AND TRUNK CAUSED FUSES TO BLOW OUT REPEATEDLY LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE. THE SIDE MOLDINGS KEEP FALLING OFF.*AK
20010821SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
AFTER PURCHASE IN 2/1997 ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY BAD IGNITION - IT WAS REPLACED. NOW HAVE TO REPLACE AGAIN B/C ENTIRE IGNITION MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE. BAD WIRING UNDER THE REAR SEATS AND TRUNK CAUSED FUSES TO BLOW OUT REPEATEDLY LEAVING CAR INOPERABLE. THE SIDE MOLDINGS KEEP FALLING OFF.*AK
20001218TIRES:SIDEWALL
LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR CHECK UP AND FOUND THAT ALL TIRES HAD CRACKS IN SIDEWALLS THAT MADE TIRES GO FLAT, SIZE 195/60R14, CONSUMER STATES THAT IN 1998 A TIRE BLEWOUT DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURE. *SLC
19970918EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
STOVE ON VEHICLE DOES NOT LIGHT AT HIGH ALTITUDES. 1
Compare 1997VOLKSWAGENVOLKSWAGEN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
EA24004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
RQ24010Recall QueryClosed
Inadvertent Door Opening
RQ23007Recall QueryClosed
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
PE23017Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
EQ22001EQClosed
LGES High Voltage Battery Failures
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN have?▼
The 1997 VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER and TIRES:SIDEWALL.
Is the 1997 VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.