U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Volkswagen CABRIO problems and owner complaints

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: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
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.

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Exterior Lighting

Component breakdown data
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.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

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.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2013

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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 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 10083107 · 2004-08-01 (August 1, 2004)

VEHICLE FIRST SUFFERRED SERIOUS POWER AND IGNITION PROBLEMS ONE RAINY DAY. ON TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER WE WERE INFORMED THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND IT WOULD BE $750.00 FOR NEW SPARKPLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, AND ROTOR. I AM AN ENGINEER AND FOUND THAT PRICE OFFENSIVE WRT THE WORK ASSOCIATED. I REPLACED THESE ITEMS AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF DEBUGGING THE IGNITION SYSTEM I FINALLY FOUND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AT THE CONTROL LINES TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WHEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER WAS APPLIED. I SEALED AND WATER PROOFED…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083107 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088451 · 2004-08-23 (August 23, 2004)

WHEN STARTING CAR 75% OF THE TIME ABS AND (HAND) BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SWITCH ON THOUGH BRAKE NOT ENGAGED; AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS AND A/C DIDN'T WORK. WAS TOLD IT IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. ALSO, WINDOW AUTOMATIC CLOSE MALFUNCTIONING WHICH DEALER SERVICE SAYS IS UNRELATED. NECESSITATED ABOUT $1,800 PARTS AND LABOR. ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MERCY GENERALLY OF VW DEALER SERVICE SINCE MANY MECHANICS DO NOT STOCK THE COMPUTER NECESSARY TO DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SERVICE PROBLEMS WITH TWO VW DEALERS IN MY AREA (N…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088451 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10367381 · 2010-11-16 (November 16, 2010)

I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO, WHICH VW DOES NOT MAKE ANYMORE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHY. THE CAR IS ALWAYS BEING FIXED. ONE MAJOR ISSUE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE FRONT AXLES IN THIS CAR. 3/27/07 KARL'S CUSTOM VW; 6/28/08 BIG O TIRES; AND NOW, 11/16/2010 I AM TOLD BY SUNDEVIL AUTO ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ARE SAGGING CAUSING AXLES TO BIND, THE CAR NEEDS 4 TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND 2 AXLES. VW PARTS ARE OBVIOUSLY INFERIOR. I THOUGHT VW VEHICLES WERE SUPPOSE TO LAST OVER 200,000 MILES. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME? I AM UNEMPLOYED AND CANNOT AFF…

Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367381 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10505121 · 2013-03-31 (March 31, 2013)

THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON MY 2001 CABRIO MAY AND HAVE CAUSED A SHORT WHICH SPARKED UNDER HOOD CAUSING SMOKE AND POSSIBLE FIRE ALSO, THE COMPUTER OVER HEATS CAUSING SHORTS WHICH MADE THE TRANSMISSION FAIL AND GAUGES FAIL, THE US GOV. (DIVISION) THAT HANDLES SUCH FAULTS SHOULD FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO RECALL EVERY AND ALL CARS FOR REPAIRS! THE US OWNERS ARE PAYING FOR VOLKSWAGENS MISTAKES, PARTIALLY FOR THEIR DECISION TO HAVE THESE CARS MADE IN MEXICO EVADING TAX'S AND WHICH HAS MADE THESE AUTOS CHEAP AND FLAWED. THESE CARS ARE UNSAFE AND THE ELE…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505121 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8007037 · 2002-04-08 (April 8, 2002)

VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING, DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LOW. *YD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007037 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8007039 · 2002-04-08 (April 8, 2002)

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP. THERE WAS ALSO A SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL DEFECTS. *JG *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007039 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8007035 · 2002-04-08 (April 8, 2002)

VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK ENGINE CRACKLES; OIL PAN LEAK FOUND; CRUISE CONTROL FIXED THEN BROKE AGAIN, DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, ENGINE STILL REVVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND AT STOPS, ALSO EXPERIENCING HARSH DOWNSHIFTS. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007035 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8017366 · 2002-08-27 (August 27, 2002)

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 8017366 at NHTSA ↗