SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2001
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT DECELERATE. HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES TO CONTROL VEHICLE. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. BUT, THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT HAD CAUSED THE SITUATION.*AK THE FLOOR MAT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO D…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT DECELERATE. HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES TO CONTROL VEHICLE. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. BUT, THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT HAD CAUSED THE SITUATION.*AK THE FLOOR MAT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO DECELERATE, THIS WAS ACCORDING TO 2 OTHER DEALERS.*YD

NHTSA ODI #894441

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.