Why would the stereo for a 1996 jetta not work?

Question

Looking at bying this car but the stereo doesn't work. want to make sure there isn't some kind of big problem with wiring or something.

Answer 1

At worst, you just get another radio installed.  So price a replacement radio and negotiate the selling price.

Good Luck...

Answer 2

well... you guessed it... either the radio is just shot or the wiring is jacked up... unfortunately if you don't own the car you can't start poking around and figure out which reason is right.  

However, you can easily bypass the wiring to a radio if that is the problem so if that is the only issue with the car just use it as a reason to knock off a few hundred dollars from the price.