1997 Volkswagen Jetta Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 7%of 54 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 130,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the 54 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 130,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Accelerator sticks when in high RPM, if you hit the brake it slows the car down a little but the car continues to accelerate. This has happened 2 times when I'm going around 60pmh and have dropped into 4th gear to pass someone. I had to shut the car off to stop it from accelerating. Then when the car was shut off and in park and the emergency brake was up, I tried turning the car on and as soon as I turned it on it revved up really high. It finally turned on normally after in turned it on and off a couple times. …”
NHTSA complaint #10301811, filed 2010-01, 165,000 miles“For several years the cruise has had intermittent engagement. (when the set button is pressed, the cruise does not engage). We took the vehicle to the vw dealer and they said the cruise module was bad. We did not have $380 to pay for cruise, so we elected to not repair. But one time, without warning , the cruise engaged and pulled the gas pedal down, almost to the floor. My wife was driving the vehicle with my son in the car and she said she is positive did not press any button on the cruise. She was driving at highway speed and the pedal just started pulling down. …”
NHTSA complaint #10078868, filed 2004-06, 102,000 miles“After a casual sunday afternoon drive ( in my 1997 Volkswagen Jetta ) at moderate speeds I parked the car for about 30 minutes while I ate lunch. I then started the car, pulled out of the parking lot, and put the blinker on to make a right hand turn. I stopped at a light, and while the car was in drive and the brake was on, the car lurched forward with sudden acceleration. I thought I was imaging it, but then immediately the car began racing wildly (like it was going 80mph). …”
NHTSA complaint #10096312, filed 2004-10Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 3% |
| 2024 | 3 | 7% |
| 2023 | 3 | 7% |
| 2022 | 2 | 5% |
| 2020 | 3 | 6% |
| 2019 | 16 | 3% |
| 2017 | 7 | 4% |
| 2016 | 12 | 7% |
| 2015 | 4 | 2% |
| 2014 | 11 | 3% |
| 2013 | 17 | 3% |
| 2012 | 14 | 3% |
| 2011 | 26 | 4% |
| 2010 | 30 | 4% |
| 2009 | 29 | 3% |
| 2008 | 6 | 3% |
| 2007 | 6 | 3% |
| 2006 | 18 | 3% |
| 2005 | 11 | 4% |
| 2004 | 7 | 3% |
| 2003 | 7 | 2% |
| 2002 | 17 | 2% |
| 2001 | 14 | 2% |
| 2000 | 17 | 4% |
| 1999 | 26 | 7% |
| 1998 | 8 | 4% |
| 1997 | 4 | 7% |
| 1996 | 2 | 6% |
| 1995 | 7 | 3% |
| 1994 | 6 | 5% |
| 1992 | 8 | 27% |
| 1991 | 5 | 16% |
| 1990 | 4 | 18% |
| 1989 | 3 | 11% |
| 1988 | 4 | 21% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsEquipment
4 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology