1999 Volkswagen CABRIO problems and owner complaints
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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 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 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 ↗
Owner report 10380241 · 2011-01-27 (January 27, 2011)
THIS HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS CAR. WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF WATER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP TEMPORARILY AND I'M UNABLE TO MANEUVER. IF I'M ON A CORNER I HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 750545 · 2001-08-15 (August 15, 2001)
VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHUT DOWN IN MOVING TRAFFIC. IT'S BEEN AT THE DEALER 6 TIMES, FOR UP TO 7 DAYS AT A TIME AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN OR DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. I FEEL IT'S A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE CAR SHUTS DOWN IN MOVING TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING. CAR STARTS UP AFTER COMPLETELY STOPPING, PUTTING IT IN PARK TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTING IT. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IN THE ELECTRICAL BECAUSE THE CAR LOOSES ALL POWER. NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH, NO POWER STEERING ETC. WHAT IS A REASONABLE LE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 750545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149186 · 2006-02-01 (February 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE FUEL LINE FRACTURED. THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE WAS GAS LEAKING WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVING AT THE RESIDENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE LEAK WAS IDENTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN ROUTE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11398220 · 2021-02-27 (February 27, 2021)
THE FUZEBOX IN THIS CAR IS UNPROTECTED FROM WATER AND CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND ANY TIME WATER MAY LEAK INTO CAR. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO HER BACK IN IT A HOUR LATER IT WOULDN'T CRANK THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVERED THE FUZE BOX WAS MELTED FROM GETTING TOO HOT DUE TO IT LEAKING THRU THE ANTENNA O TO THE RELAYS FILLING THEM WITH WATER AND THEN CAUSE A DRIP TO COME FROM RELAYS ONTO FUZE AND BURN OUT THE FUZE SLIT FOR THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CAUSED MY CAR NOT TO CRANK AT ALL. THIS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE A HUGE PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8015107 · 2002-07-30 (July 30, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH ON A FLAT SURFACE ENGINE HAD STALLED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8015107 at NHTSA ↗