1999 Volkswagen CABRIO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 29 complaints (17.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 27.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 17.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 2 |
Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005275 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
BEIGE CONVERTABLE TOP DISCOLORING AND DETERATING. TEARING AROUND REAR WINDOW AND TURNING A RUST COLOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013682 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
CONVERTIBLE TOP ACCUMULATING SOME KIND OF BLACK SUBSTANCE THAT HARDENS AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. AT THE THREE YEAR MARK, THE CAR JUST BEGAN TO DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY. TIMING BELT, CONVERTIBLE STOPPED WORKING, ABS BRAKES KICK IN WHEN NOT SUPPOSED TO, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 40K MILES. KEY LOCK BUTTON FELL OUT, CANNOT GET IT TO STAY IN. SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FELL APART. INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES NOT MADE WELL, LOOSENED AND FEEL AS IF THEY MAY FALL OFF. CD CHANGER HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041605 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)
BATTERY LITERALLY EXPLODED UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063883 · 2004-03-25 (March 25, 2004)
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYS ON, AS DOES THE ABS LIGHT, THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT, THE CARS BATTERY EXPLOADED, THE DRIVERS POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS, THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE RADIO HAS A MALFUNCTION, THE HYDROLIC PUMP FOR AUTOMATIC TOP MALFUNCTIONED & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS SOME OTHER MORE MINOR PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075055 · 2004-06-09 (June 9, 2004)
GAUGE CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN NO SPEEDOMETER OR TACHOMETER. THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO GUESS YOUR SPEED. THE ONLY CORRECTION IS REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER AND THE ODOMETER CANNOT BE RESET. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT IN 12 MONTHS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075055 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081002 · 2004-07-13 (July 13, 2004)
ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF A NEW 1999 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT QUIT WORKING. IN JULY 2001 THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WENT BAD. THREE YEARS LATER, THE CABLE HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. IN OCTOBER OF 2001 A COMPUTER CHIP WENT BAD AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IN JANUARY 2003 THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THOSE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON BUT NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086807 · 2004-08-13 (August 13, 2004)
LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR, THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THAT INCIDENT, MY BRAKES AGAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER, MY BRAKES AGAIN NEEDED WORK. MY CAR FAILED ITS YEARLY INSPECTION DUE TO TIE RODS. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100818 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE CAR HAD 8,000 MILES ON IT. YOU PUSH ON THE GAS AND THE CAR GOES JUST ENOUGH TO PUT YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE FOR 3-4 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX TWICE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME IT'S FIXED, BUT IT'S NOT. MY CAR NOW HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ONE WANTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100818 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.