Overview & Reviews

Wolfsburg models are gone, and the Jetta GT arrives sporting the look of the GLX without the VR6 engine. Trek gets alloy wheels. GL, GLS, Trek and GT run more quietly, thanks to a new cylinder head design.

• Excellent road manners, roomy interior, fun-to-drive, heater will roast your face

• Some controls and symbols difficult to decipher, staid styling, underpowered four-cylinder engine

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 107.00

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  Never Again - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Fitzy - July 11 - 2:00 am

  For starters they have the worst customer service on the planet. Secondly, I have had more problems with it than I could even fit into this review. Engine light constantly comes on and VW charges $97 just to tell you why, side molding has fallen off both side doors multiple times until I finally used epoxy, my door lock on both front doors broke and the lock would spin in place instead of unlock my doors, my passenger side window fell off the track and into the door and broke into pieces, my driver side window no longer works, cruise control broke, A/C no longer works, brakes went faster than I would have imagined, and even the mufflers are garbage!

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  Never Buy a VW - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ihatevw - March 21 - 3:10 pm

  I really hate this car with a passion. Literally every day something goes wrong. Yesterday my starter went. I had it replaced. Today the idle is going crazy and its smelling like gas really bad. The coolant system is terrible. Pretty much everything on this car is designed poorly and made of plastic. The exhaust rattles of the underside of the car. The electrical system is total junk. I have had problems with this car since day one. If you are reading this and are considering getting a VW, please go buy a Honda, seriously.

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  what will fall off next... - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By last VW? - January 27 - 10:00 am

  71,000 miles... 4 exhausts, starter (@26k miles, dealer said was not surprised.. and wouldnt cover a new one), altenator (@45k miles, not covered), power steering pump, radiator, 3rd set of tires (alignment does not hold), body molding falls off, trunk leaks, randomly stalls in the rain (plugs, wires, dist. cap, solenoid, etc.. replaced 3 times), AC unit died, interior lights behind dash died (~$500 to rip out dash to replace $3 bulb). This thing is less reliable then the old land rover I have, and maintance costs are about the same.

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  This car will be my last VW - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Buffmeat - September 2 - 10:00 am

  We have had numerous problem with this vehicle and have less than 60,000 miles. My favorite was replacing the air bag clock spring twice. We also had a fun problem with the shocks rubbing with 2 people in the back seat and the tail pipe fell off at 10,000 miles. The only thing I can say good about the car is we live in the midwest and the car starts every morning no matter how hot or cold.

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  Even the service manager agrees - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tcb - October 15 - 2:43 am

  This car has been the worst vehicle I have ever owned. The electrical system has had to be rewired, the starter replaced, the computer replaced, and the windows have been repaired numerous times. Even the service agrees that they are all common Jetta problems, hes just never seen them in one place.

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  Save yourself! - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By EPureza - August 4 - 10:00 am

  This car sucks! Definitely not worth the money youll spend. Power window regulators break regularly, all four of them for $350 a pop. Power locks and alarm will malfunction, beware possibly VW services ploy so youll dump more money into it. Why even put heated seats, it only lasted less than 3 years and cost $600 to fix. Dont be fooled by its look! Save yourself!

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  Dont buy VW - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Liz - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I will never again buy a German VW. poor quality. If you like to replace parts a lot, this is thw car for you.

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  Low-reliability car. - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By babalooo - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle has had numerous problems from a blown manual trans, to engine, drive train, emissions, problems, you name it. Pure crap car: poor engineering, poor materials, poor design, just plain poor overall. Everyone else I know that has a VW has the same problem. VW will not fix these know generic problems like trans seal, broken locks, etc. Never again!!!

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  This is a crappy car! - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Fed-up - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I will never own another Volkswagen. The timimg belt went on this one at 94,000! I was told by the Dealer to have it checked at 100,000. Then the transmission went at 112,000. Crappy, crappy car. You need special tools to work on it so you can only go to a VW dealer who charges three times as much as a regular mechanic. My friend who lives in Germany told me that Volkswagen wasnt any good. I should have listened.

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  Excellent Engine POOR Everything else - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By wss6 - February 26 - 2:00 am

  Drove this car with clean highway miles and easy on the clutch; Was fun to drive for first 6 months. Since purchase I have replaced 3 ignition modules, 2 wheel bearings, body molding, door locks, and a myriad of other mechanical and body components. When the dashboard lights failed and the check engine light came on for the 2nd time I got rid of the car. LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE - DONT BUY THIS CAR. I will never buy another Volkswagon.