2000 Volkswagen CABRIO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
39,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 26.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1
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 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 7 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2003: 7; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10004865 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005352 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
CAR WILL NOT START AT SEEMINGLY RANDOM TIMES. CAR EITHER HAS TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP OR IN SOME INSTANCES LEFT ALONE FOR HOURS AT A TIME. SOMETIMES AFTER LETTING IT REST, IT WILL START AGAIN AND OTHERS NOT. THIS HAS OCCURED 4 TIMES SO FAR AND EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP TRIED FIXING THE ECM AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED IT, BUT IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH A NEW BABY AND VW CONTINUES TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014472 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
I PURCHASED A CABRIO 2000 FROM JOE HEIDT IN RAMSEY NEW JERSEY THE CAR DID NOT START ONE MORNING IT WAS TOWED THEN WITHIN MONTHS IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN , IT WAS TOWED TWICE NOW IT HARDLY ACCELERATES IT GOES VERY SLOW WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE POWER TRAIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015155 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, THE DEALER REPAIRED/REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015212 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030715 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
MY ENTIRE EXHAUSE SYSTEM ALL THE WAY UP TO THE MANIFOLD WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I HAVE HAD THE MAIN PART OF THE SYSTEM REPLACED BUT NOW AM TOLD THAT THE PIPE LEADING TO THE MANIFOLD AND THE HEAT SHIELD ARE ALSO BAD AND ARE VIBRATING BADLY. I WAS TOLD BY THE VW DEALER-WHERE I HAVE MY WARRANTY THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THAT THIS IS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MUFFLER PLACE THAT DID THE WORK TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE DONE MORE THAN 10 CABRIO'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK DONE AT VW AS THE ENGINE WILL N…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047633 · 2003-11-26 (November 26, 2003)
WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY, MANUAL TRANSMISSION BROKE. 5 TH GEAR DISENGAGED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR IT BEHAVED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. CAR DE-ACCELERATED TO A HALT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 50,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057111 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
WATER CONTINUOUSLY ENTERS INTO THE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH POORLY DESIGNED RUBBER SEALS ALONG THE CONVERTABLE TOP, PERMENANTLY DEFORMED DUE TO POOR DOOR DESIGN. REPLACEMENT SEALS EXCESSIVELY PRICED (500 PER SEAL, 4 SEALS TOTAL, PLUS LABOR).
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057111 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V244000 · Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual
Reported: 2002-09-12 (September 12, 2002)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗