Four problems related to starter have been reported for the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
On several different occasions now my 1997 Volkswagen Jetta gl has failed to start. Because this has happened at night and almost always away from home this has been a potentially dangerous situation. There is never any warning that this is going to happen. The car may be working fine and then the next time it is time to start it, it simply won't start. We have had to have the car towed several times now. Once out of a parking garage -at 5:00 pm during rush hour. Once I was by myselfon a Sunday in a town I was not familiar with at a not very nice gas station getting gas when the car failed to start. I was there several hours before I could get in contact with family members to come and rescue me. Each time we have taken the car to a Volkswagen dearlership and had it "fixed". My question is how many times do we have to have it fixed???? I have gone on various sites and the comment is that the 1997 Jetta has starting problems. If this is so then doesn't this mean that the starter or the wiring is defective. Granted the car probably won't blow up because of this but a car should be reliable enough just to start - shouldn't it? we have had the car four years now and have had repeated failures. Sometimes it would start eventually but we have had 3 different occasions when it would not start and it went in for repairs. Twice ( two different dealerships) we were told it was a bad starter and it was supposedly replaced. The combined cost - $1100. 00. The third time we protested and demanded that it be fixed - that time - $150. 00. Now we are up against a fourth trip to a dealership. I am 56 years old and have had many different cars - old & new, but never have I had an experience like this!!! and I know I am not the only one!.
We bought the 1997 Jetta used in 2000. Since then it had it's ignition changed (new key to start engine). The third starter was just put in. We thought the new starter would fix the problem of the engine not turning over, but it's back again less than 21 days after the starter was put. It's in the shop , starter was checked; it's not the starter.
Malfuctioned iginition switch is causing starter to engage when applying clutch. Feel free to provide any further information.
Problems with ignition switch and tire equipment. The dealer replaced the ignition switch and starter assembly. On another occasion, while the consumer was driving, the rear tire fell off the vehicle, themechanic informed the consumer it was due to ball bearing seizing which caused a tremendous amount of heat.