AI Damage1991 Volkswagen Cabrio: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Volkswagen Cabrio filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 71% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 29% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 5 complaints (71% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1989 (na) volkswagen cabrio. While filling the vehicle with fuel, the contact noticed leaks from the fuel tank. The vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 91v201000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
The contact noticed fuel leaking from the seam of the fuel tank. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was inspected for nhtsa campaign number: 91v201000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Horrible gas smell coming from rear drivers side, confirmed gas tank is leaking at the seam. Have gotten terribly sick with stomach pain and terrible headaches from the smell and afraid vehicle is going to blow up.
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.
Gas tank is leaking at seam, can smell gasoline coming into engine, fire hazard.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Cabrio has 16 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Volkswagen Cabrio?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (29%), smoke, burning smell, fire (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Volkswagen Cabrio?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1991 Volkswagen Cabrio from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1991 models
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.