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1997 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 →
14Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14.5

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
19956
199614
199721
199829
199916
2000
Compare all Cabrio years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Engine And Engine Cooling
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Air Bags
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1
All reported categories
Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Service Brakes, Air
1Structure
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 4 of 14 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 4 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 →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Tires complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1998
Tires

RIGHT REAR TIRE WALL BLEW OUT. DRIVER DID NOT HIT AN OBJECT. TIRE CUT GASH IN GASOLINE TANK AND CUT BRAKE LINE. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO SCENE. NO FIRE RESULTED. VW DISCLAIMS ALL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT A GAS TANK THAT CAN BE CUT THROUGH BY A BLOWN TIRE IS INADEQUATELY PROTECTED, TOO THIN OR OTHERWIDE …

Read full complaint

RIGHT REAR TIRE WALL BLEW OUT. DRIVER DID NOT HIT AN OBJECT. TIRE CUT GASH IN GASOLINE TANK AND CUT BRAKE LINE. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO SCENE. NO FIRE RESULTED. VW DISCLAIMS ALL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT A GAS TANK THAT CAN BE CUT THROUGH BY A BLOWN TIRE IS INADEQUATELY PROTECTED, TOO THIN OR OTHERWIDE DEFECTIVE. VW DENIES A DESIGN DEFECT. ALTHOUGH NOBODY WAS HURT, THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPIC IF A SPARK HAD IGNITED TE SPILLING GASOLINE. PLEASE CONTACT OWNER AT ABOVE TEL. NUMBER OR AT HOME 818-360-5485 OR HER HUSBAND KENNETH HELD AT 909-596-1848 OR SAME HOME TEL.

NHTSA ODI #540168

Official recalls

0

No 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

1

PE00033 · 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.