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1999 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 →
29Owner 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
6
199614
199721
199829
199916
200038
200123
2002
Compare all Cabrio years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
10Engine And Engine Cooling
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Structure
4
All reported categories
Equipment
3Exterior Lighting
3Power Train
3Steering
3Visibility
3Air Bags
2Seat Belts
2Suspension
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
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: 14 of 29 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Equipment complaints

3 reports
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33,000 miles · Feb 28, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

1) DUE TO VANDALISM, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS REPLACED BY A REPUTABLE SHOP. I USED THE POWER TOP ONCE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THEN FOLLOWING THAT WINTER, THE POWER TOP FAILED. IT WAS BEYOND WARRANTY ACCORDING TO DEALER WHEN I DISCOVERED THE FAILURE. DEALER WANTS $1200 FOR REPLACEMENT. 2) THE 6 CD CHANGER STOPPED WORKING JUST…

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1) DUE TO VANDALISM, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS REPLACED BY A REPUTABLE SHOP. I USED THE POWER TOP ONCE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THEN FOLLOWING THAT WINTER, THE POWER TOP FAILED. IT WAS BEYOND WARRANTY ACCORDING TO DEALER WHEN I DISCOVERED THE FAILURE. DEALER WANTS $1200 FOR REPLACEMENT. 2) THE 6 CD CHANGER STOPPED WORKING JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 3) CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INTERMITTENT AFTER A THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT IN MARCH 2003. DEALER WANTS $800 FOR REPLACEMENT. 4) THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER BECAME INTERMITTENT IN SEPT 2003. IT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE CONTACTS CLEANED. IT ONLY WORKS ON EXTREMELY COLD MORNINGS, ONLY ON THE FIRST START. ALL OTHER GAUGES WORK ON THE MODULE. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 5) THE RADIO SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING (NO POWER) AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE IN JAN 2004. DEALER WANTS $600 FOR REPLACEMENT. 6) THE SMOG PUMP FAILED DEC 2005, AND CHARRED THE HARNESS WIRING. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A SALVAGED SMOG PUMP BY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. DEALER WANTED $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10183792

36,000 miles · Mar 30, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

CONVERTIBLE TOP ACCUMULATING SOME KIND OF BLACK SUBSTANCE THAT HARDENS AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. AT THE THREE YEAR MARK, THE CAR JUST BEGAN TO DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY. TIMING BELT, CONVERTIBLE STOPPED WORKING, ABS BRAKES KICK IN WHEN NOT SUPPOSED TO, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 40K MILES. KEY LOCK BUTTON FELL OUT, CANNOT …

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CONVERTIBLE TOP ACCUMULATING SOME KIND OF BLACK SUBSTANCE THAT HARDENS AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. AT THE THREE YEAR MARK, THE CAR JUST BEGAN TO DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY. TIMING BELT, CONVERTIBLE STOPPED WORKING, ABS BRAKES KICK IN WHEN NOT SUPPOSED TO, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 40K MILES. KEY LOCK BUTTON FELL OUT, CANNOT GET IT TO STAY IN. SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FELL APART. INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES NOT MADE WELL, LOOSENED AND FEEL AS IF THEY MAY FALL OFF. CD CHANGER HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013682

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2000
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR EXACTLY ONE MONTH WHEN THE A/C BEGAN TO NOT WORK. I SENT IT IN TO BE FIXED AND EXACTLY 1 WEEK LATER IT WAS BACK B/C THE A/C WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TWICE B/C OF THE BRAKES. THERE WERE OTHER SMALL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN BETWEEN THOSE VISITS. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS …

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I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR EXACTLY ONE MONTH WHEN THE A/C BEGAN TO NOT WORK. I SENT IT IN TO BE FIXED AND EXACTLY 1 WEEK LATER IT WAS BACK B/C THE A/C WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TWICE B/C OF THE BRAKES. THERE WERE OTHER SMALL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN BETWEEN THOSE VISITS. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE, THAT SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE PROBLEMS WHICH I HAVE HAD. I HAVE NOT OWNED THE CAR FOR 1 YR AND FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE HAD WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719938

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.