AI Damage1998 Volkswagen Cabrio: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio filed 21 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and visibility. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 21
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 33% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 24% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 10% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- Structure: 7 complaints (33% of all).
- Visibility: 5 complaints (24% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (19% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (19% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 3 complaints (14% of all), 3 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
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 21 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Screw secured factory wheel weights create leaks in cold weather when tires cold causing raqpid deflatiion and separation from rim. Thought it was a freak accident until it happened for the third time causing loss of control (right rear wheel) and exit from highway. Tire disintegrates from heat within 10 seconds.
Seat belt didn't work. Noticed the problem 3 weeks prior to accident contacted dealer. Dealer didn't have the part available. Also, neither airbag deployed.
Clutch inhibitor relay was faulty--car would not start and had it towed to dealership to fix, passenger seatbelt has been replaced 3 times already, abs light came on 4 days before accident took car into chapman's to be fixed but when I went to stop at a light I pressed on breaks and it slowed a little bit, and it…
1998 volkswagen cabrio gls front windshield header has rusted and no longer capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle. The consumer had to incur the cost of having the front windshield replaced after the front windshield cracked because of the deformities in the windshield header.
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).
While consumer was driving the oil light came on. Consumer placed oil into the vehicle, and oil light came on again. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer, and it was discovered that engine was defective, and no oil was in the bottom of the engine.
The convertible top ripped above the rear window. The consumer contacted the manufacturer and the dealer and was told the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer told the owner that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. Provide further details.
Convertible top shredding. Huge rips all over it. Class action suit filed in california. The manufacturer would like me to obtain an attorney or pay for half the repair costs. However, those included in the class action will be able to get theirs replaced.
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 8,077 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Cabrio has 16 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 21, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, visibility, electrical system. Total complaints: 21. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: infotainment or screen glitches (10%), seat belts (10%), warning lights, check engine (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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.