Volkswagen CABRIO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
167 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 167 complaints (12.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 16.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 12.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.0% |
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 | 21 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Electrical System: 21; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 88 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1995: 3; 1996: 6; 2000: 18; 2001: 12; 2002: 22; 2003: 28; 2004: 22; 2005: 13; 2006: 4; 2007: 6; 2008: 9; 2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2016: 3; 2018: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 14 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 508475 · 1996-09-10 (September 10, 1996)
BRAKES FAILED TEN DAYS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THERE WERE ALSO CONTROL PANEL MALFUNCTIONS AND STEERING PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 509212 · 1996-09-25 (September 25, 1996)
VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE 14 WARRANTY REPAIRS, SINCE PURCHASED NEW, INCLUDING BRAKE FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 509212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 963660 · 1995-04-12 (April 12, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE NEAR THE BATTERY UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129197 · 2005-07-18 (July 18, 2005)
1-2) I FOUND THE FOLLOWING RECALL FOR THE VW JETTA. THE DEFECTIVE HAZARD AND TURNSIGNAL PORTION OF THE RECALL HAS HAPPENED TO MY 1997 VW CABRIO HIGHLINE SINCE 2001 GETTING WORSE EACH YEAR. SEE BELOW, RECALL DATED DECEMBER 24, 2004. I HAVE NOT HAD A CONSEQUENCE DUE TO THIS, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT MY CAR COULD BE HIT FROM BEHIND WITHOUT HAZARDS OR TURNSIGNALS. 3) I TOOK MY CABRIO IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2003 TO REQUEST HELP WITH DEFECTIVE HAZARD AND TURNSIGNALS AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR LABOR TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AND TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11093775 · 2018-05-14 (May 14, 2018)
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK OF MY 1989 VW CABRIOLET.I CONTACTED THE DEALER 4 WEEKS AGO AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT. THEY SAID THEY FOUND THE RECALL AND IT WAS STILL OPEN. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME NO PROBLEM. THEY THEN SAY THEY CANNOT FIND PARTS. IT'S IS A HUGE DEAL IF THE GAS TANK BLOWS UP AND THEY ACT LIKE IT'S NOT. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T FIND PARTS SO THEY DON'T CARE. I FEEL LIKE THE SEAMS OF THE TANK ARE LEAKING AND VW IS RESPONSIBLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11093775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021326 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
1991 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET FUEL TANK LEAKING FROM SPOT-WELDED SEAM. VW AGREED TO REPLACE TANK FOR FREE, BUT ONLY AFTER MANY CALLS TO THEIR PRODUCT COMPLIANCE DEPT OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. VW MECHANICS CLAIM THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT, BUT NO RECALL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 893446 · 2001-08-06 (August 6, 2001)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SURGE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY IN WARMER WEATHER. *NOTE: TRANMISSION WAS REBUILT BY DEALERSHIP PREVIOUSLY FOR SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 893446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116479 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)
MANUFACTURER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR CAN LURCH FORWARD, FROM 1ST GEAR TO 3RD GEAR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A BAD TRANSMISSION (CAR HAS ONLY 46,100 MILES, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE, AND SHOULD BE WARRANTY, AND REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER, EVEN IF THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD).*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723027 · 2000-05-22 (May 22, 2000)
CAR WANTS TO STALL WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND RUNS VERY ROUGHLY, AS THOUGH IT MIGHT JUST STOP RUNNING UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL WAS EMPLOYED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724335 · 2000-06-21 (June 21, 2000)
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING (ALWAYS UPHILL, WITH ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED, AND USUALLY IN 3RD GEAR AT AROUND 30 MPH) THE ENGINE (AND POWER STEERING) SIMPLY CUTS OUT (TACH DROPS TO ZERO). IT IS POSSIBLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART IT BY PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH AND TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED A FUEL RELAY AND CONDUCTED THE FULL 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND IS A LEMON-LAW BUYBACK ('COURSE THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT UNTIL I HAD MY HEART SET …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724335 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1989: 0; 1991: 3; 1992: 1; 1993: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 0