1997 Volkswagen Golf Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Golf years
- Not enough data 23rd of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Volkswagen Golf. That ranks 23rd out of 29 Golf model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (3 complaints, 43%), typically at around 80,000 miles. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
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- 7owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Volkswagen Golf problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 | 43% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 14% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 14% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 14% | 208,800 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Volkswagen Golf recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Volkswagen Golf.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving at night bringing a friend home and as i was approaching an off ramp, i felt something burning on my legs. I looked down to try to see what it was and when i looked up, my windshield was completely covered in fog. Thankfully there was a shoulder on the exit, so i pulled over and shut…
Air conditioning is leaking condensation into the car, fogging up front window and compromising visibility. Floorboard is soaked with water, clouding windows. *nm
Transmission will not shift when needed into higher gears, and sometimes falls out of the proper gear and into a lower gear when it's not supposed to, causing engine to rev way too high while on the freeway. Car does not run properly as a result, and i can't really drive it until it's fixed. I…
Transmission failed while shifting. Driver pulled over, and noticed that transmission light flashed on and off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced due to the housing shaft. *ak
While inspecting the vehicle consumer noticed four doors' molding separated from vehicle. Consumer glued molding on twice, but problem recurred. Dealership and manufacturer were contacted.*ak
Other Volkswagen Golf years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Golf | 11 | 0 |
| 2022 Golf | 81 | 0 |
| 2021 Golf | 7 | 1 |
| 2020 Golf | 6 | 2 |
| 2019 Golf | 63 | 6 |
| 2018 Golf | 29 | 6 |
| 2017 Golf | 117 | 5 |
| 2016 Golf | 85 | 9 |
| 2015 Golf | 131 | 12 |
| 2014 Golf | 12 | 5 |
| 2013 Golf | 43 | 5 |
| 2012 Golf | 48 | 6 |
| 2011 Golf | 110 | 6 |
| 2010 Golf | 69 | 4 |
| 2009 Golf | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 Golf | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 Golf | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 Golf | 12 | 1 |
| 2005 Golf | 19 | 2 |
| 2004 Golf | 28 | 2 |
| 2003 Golf | 26 | 2 |
| 2002 Golf | 74 | 3 |
| 2001 Golf | 116 | 5 |
| 2000 Golf | 88 | 5 |
| 1999 Golf | 64 | 4 |
| 1998 Golf | 18 | 1 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 Golf | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 Golf | 43 | 4 |
See all Volkswagen Golf problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Volkswagen Golf?
Owners most often report power train, equipment, latches/locks/linkages problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Volkswagen Golf?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 Volkswagen Golf a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Golf model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.