Three problems related to engine belts and pulleys have been reported for the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Vehicle's transmission failed. 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.
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.
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.