2001 Volkswagen CABRIO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
42,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 38 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 21.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 15.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 7.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 10; 2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10009477 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THE TIE ROD BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WHEEL TO WOBBLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016781 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
MY 2001 VW CABRIO WITH 11,000 MILES HAD THE HEATSHIELD ON THE HEADER PIPE BREAK AWAY. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN TO SUCH A RELATIVELY NEW CAR?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017322 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
THE REAR BRAKES WORE OUT BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041555 · 2003-10-09 (October 9, 2003)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: IN MARCH, 2003, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2000 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO CONVERTIBLE. WHEN THE CAR HAD 13,611 MILES ON IT, WE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NOT OPERATING. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AT THE TIME, SUCH AS THE WINDOW SWITCHES NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND THE FACT THAT THE ALARMS HAD GONE OFF AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES, LOCKING UP THE RADIO. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORT MYERS DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE CAR, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD BEEN REPLACED, AND THE O…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047365 · 2003-11-22 (November 22, 2003)
AIR BAG WARNING: I TOOK MY CABRIO TO THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) DEALER SERVICE TO FIX A TURN SIGNAL LEVER THAT FAILS TO SELF-CANCEL AFTER MAKING LEFT-HAND TURNS. VW DEALER REPORTS THAT AIR BAG CARTRIDGE IS INTEGRATED INTO THE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY AND THE AIR BAG IS INOPERABLE, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ANY AIR BAG PROBLEM. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL TIMES. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 40,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048946 · 2003-12-01 (December 1, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING TOUCHED. THE CAR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL, THEN THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 5000. THE GAS PEDAL WAS CHECKED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T STUCK DOWN, OR BEING PRESSED BY THE RUG. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED BEFORE IT COULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065950 · 2004-04-12 (April 12, 2004)
DRIVER SEAT BOLT SHEERED OFF CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN SEAT SLID ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDALS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 42,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074918 · 2004-06-07 (June 7, 2004)
ON 4/21 I TOOK MY 2001 CABRIO IN TO BE SERVICED AT ESSERMAN IN MIAMI. THEY ORDERED THE WIPER FLUID CONTAINER BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED AND THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT. I PHONED EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT OBTAIN A DATE FROM THE NAT'L PARTS CENTER ON WHEN IT WOULD ARRIVE AND FINALLY SUGGESTED THAT I PHONED VW ADVOCATE. I PHONED VW ADVOCATE [phone removed] ON 6/1 AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK TO SEE WHEN THE PART COULD SHIP TO THE DEALER AND PHONE ME BACK. NO CALLS RECEIVED. ON 6/7 I PHONED AGAIN AND THE PART IS STILL O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074918 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 ↗