2001 Volkswagen Cabrio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

38Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 Volkswagen Cabrio

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 38 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Visibility: 8 reports
Electrical System: 7 reports
Air Bags: 5 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

02V244000 — Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Cabrio years →

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

What owners reported most

Visibility

8 Electrical System

7 Air Bags

5 Engine And Engine Cooling

5 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

All reported categories

Power Train

3 Vehicle Speed Control

3 Exterior Lighting

2 Fuel System, Gasoline

1 Latches/locks/linkages

1 Seat Belts

1 Service Brakes, Electric

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

25 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

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.

Visibility. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. 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.

6 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

5 reports

Clear category filter

20,246 miles · May 10, 2005

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES: HAD 2ND ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON THE ENGINE, THE WIRING HARNESS BURNT UP. UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER REPLACED PARTIAL WIRING OF THE HARNESS. ALSO 3 IGNITION SWITCHES PUT IN. MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR,OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE FAILED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TWO HOLE WIRING HARNESSES, AN ORIGINAL HA…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10120558

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2001 VW CABRIO WITH 11,000 MILES HAD THE HEATSHIELD ON THE HEADER PIPE BREAK AWAY. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN TO SUCH A RELATIVELY NEW CAR?

NHTSA ODI #10016781

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK ENGINE CRACKLES; OIL PAN LEAK FOUND; CRUISE CONTROL FIXED THEN BROKE AGAIN, DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, ENGINE STILL REVVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND AT STOPS, ALSO EXPERIENCING HARSH DOWNSHIFTS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8007035

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFireInjury

A PICKUP TRUCK STOPPED SUDDENLY AND MY VEHICLE REAR ENDED HIM AT 25 TO 35MPH. UPON IMPACT MY VEHICLE IGNIGHTED IN FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #9005620

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2001

Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingCrashFireInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END FENDER BENDER AT 25 MPH, ACCIDENT CAUSED A FIRE IN THE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT MANUFACTURER SENT AN ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT THE INJECTOR VALVE BROKE ON IMPACT AND SPRAYED FUEL OVER ENGINE, WHICH WAS THE REASON THE AIR BAGS DID GO OFF.*SLC

NHTSA ODI #899180

Recall campaigns

02V244000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Sep 12, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.