AI DamageVolkswagen Cabrio: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Volkswagen Cabrio across 12 model years: 187 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 14% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 12% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 12% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 42 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 31 complaints (17% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 26 complaints (14% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 22 complaints (12% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 22 complaints (12% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1995–2002
- automatic, 4-speed 1995–2002
- manual, 5-speed 1995–2002named in 5 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 187 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 42 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 31 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 22 | 13 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 5 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Car involved in front end accident and the passenger side airbag deployed but the driver side did not and personal injury was the result, the car was turning left on city street and was struck in right front
Now I have my case on the docket to sue vw for faulty disc/hub assembly that separated due to corrosion. I have the parts and photos to submit. I injured my right ankle on july 9, 2009 when the wheel detached from my car without warning and after it had been recently inspected and cleaned by brake king.
While driving approximately 50 mph, the contact was involved in a head-on crash and the frontal air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained lacerations on her face and a rib fracture. The passenger of the other vehicle was also injured.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen cabrio convertible. The contact stated while driving at 50 mph, the rear passengers wheel fractured from the vehicle. The vehicle spun out of control and crashed into an embankment. The contact sustained unknown injuries and was transported to the hospital via ambulance.
Driver's airbag did not deploy with an impact of 30-35 miles per hour and $6,000 damage to the front end. It was a rear-end collision. The passenger airbag deployed. We are concerned that the driver's side did not.
I was driving home from a weekend away, I was on i95 north near mile marker 120.00 traveling about 15-20mph when traffic came to a complete stop, I made a complete stop and the car behind me hit me goin gabout 15mph and pushed me into the suv in front of me the first impact pushed my passenger and myself forward and…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.