IllustrationCAR 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
1996 Volkswagen Cabrio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cabrio years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reportsAUTOMATIC 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
UPON LOW SPEED IMPACT, 5 MPH, BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS EXPANDED CAUSING MINOR BURNS AND 'CUTS' ON PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT. SINCE ACCIDENT ON 03-25-01, THE DEALER HAS YET TO RECEIVE THE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS-TODAY'S DATE, 04-16-01. IN SPEAKING WITH VWOA'S ENGINEERING & PARTS DEPTS, THEY SAID DO NOT USUALLY STOCK ITEM IN US AND TH…
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UPON LOW SPEED IMPACT, 5 MPH, BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS EXPANDED CAUSING MINOR BURNS AND 'CUTS' ON PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT. SINCE ACCIDENT ON 03-25-01, THE DEALER HAS YET TO RECEIVE THE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS-TODAY'S DATE, 04-16-01. IN SPEAKING WITH VWOA'S ENGINEERING & PARTS DEPTS, THEY SAID DO NOT USUALLY STOCK ITEM IN US AND THAT THE AIRBAGS RESPONDED "CORRECTLY" IN DECELERATION MODE. BESIDES THE COST OF REPLACING THE AIRBAGS, THE DAMAGE TO THE VW WAS MINIMAL (SCRATCH ON LT FT. FENDER & THE NEED TO REPLACE THE LT. FT. SIDE MARKER). IS THERE A PROBLEM W/THESE AIRBAGS? SHOULD THEY HAVE GONE OFF @ SUCH A LOW SPEED? IF SO, THEY COULD HAVE GONE OFF IN HITTING A PARKING GARAGE 'PYLON', NO? PLEASE INFORM ME ASAP ON WHY VWOA DOES NOT HAVE PARTS IN US! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE GAS MILEAGE WAS GROSSLY LOW SO EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE I WOULD HAVE THEM CHECK OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM NOTHING WAS EVER DONE AND THE GAS MILEAGE HAS NEVER GOTTEN BETTER NOW I HAVE APPROX. 42,000MI ON THE VEHICLE AND STILL HORRIBLE GAS MILEAGE AND NO POWER II THOUGHT IT WAS CATA…
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FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE GAS MILEAGE WAS GROSSLY LOW SO EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE I WOULD HAVE THEM CHECK OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM NOTHING WAS EVER DONE AND THE GAS MILEAGE HAS NEVER GOTTEN BETTER NOW I HAVE APPROX. 42,000MI ON THE VEHICLE AND STILL HORRIBLE GAS MILEAGE AND NO POWER II THOUGHT IT WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS COVERED UNDER THE FED EMMISSIONS WARRANTY BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSORS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THESE O2 SENSORS AND EVERYTHING I HAVE READ LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE FAULTY FROM TIME OF PURCHASE!*AK
VEHICLE LEAKS GAS. GAS LEAK IS COMING FROM ENGINE AREA OF VEHICLE. ALSO VAVLE GASKET WAS REPLACED WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DELAERS THEN NOTED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. *AK
HOOD LATCH FAILED.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.