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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2004

Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

Read full complaint

WHEN STARTING CAR 75% OF THE TIME ABS AND (HAND) BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SWITCH ON THOUGH BRAKE NOT ENGAGED; AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS AND A/C DIDN'T WORK. WAS TOLD IT IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. ALSO, WINDOW AUTOMATIC CLOSE MALFUNCTIONING WHICH DEALER SERVICE SAYS IS UNRELATED. NECESSITATED ABOUT $1,800 PARTS AND LABOR. ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MERCY GENERALLY OF VW DEALER SERVICE SINCE MANY MECHANICS DO NOT STOCK THE COMPUTER NECESSARY TO DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SERVICE PROBLEMS WITH TWO VW DEALERS IN MY AREA (NORTHERN VIRGNIA). ONE DEALER (ALEXANDRIA VW) FAILED TO TIGHTEN WHEEL NUTS AFTER A ROUTINE CHECK-UP AND CLAIMED AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR THAT NOTHING WAS AMISS. ANOTHER (STOHLMAN IN VIENNA, VA.) REPLACED THE IGNITIION SWITCH BUT BROKE A PART WHILE DOING SO, SO THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088451

12,000 miles · Apr 22, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE REAR BRAKES WORE OUT BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017322

17,000 miles · Aug 27, 2002

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

THE BRAKES WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8017360

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2002

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AT 2 MILES WHEN BRAKING IN REVERSE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WOULD COME FROM REAR WHEELS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK ABS LIGHT CAME ON, REPLACED ROTORS. *YD

NHTSA ODI #8007034

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.